Family HistoryEast Renfrewshire has two main centres where family history can be studied: the Heritage Centres at Giffnock and Barrhead hold valuable resources to help the family historian. Giffnock Heritage Centre has the Census for East Renfrewshire from 1841 to 1901; Old Parish Registers for the old Eastwood area; International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) for Scotland; I.G.I for the UK; Valuation Rolls from 1898; maps and photographs. Barrhead Heritage Centre has the census from 1841 to 1901 and the Neilston Parish Old Parish Registers. It also has the Barrhead News (microfilm and microfiche) from 1897 to the present.
We can show you how to use these resources, as well as demonstrate how to use the Internet to assist with family research. Beginners’ classes in family history are also available and you should contact the Local History Librarian if you are interested in these (see contact details below).
Websites for Family History
For useful websites to help you get started in tracing your family tree and to help you gain access to relevant historical records and documents please visit our Useful Web Links page.
Useful Addresses for Family History
There are several organisations and societies locally and within easy reach of East Renfrewshire that can help you in your search for information. Many offer relevant services and others will provide advice and support. The addresses of a selection of these organisations can be found on the Useful Addresses page.
Heritage Centres
We have two Heritage Centres in East Renfrewshire, the main one is in Giffnock Community Library and the other is in Barrhead Community Library. The centres have archival records that are invaluable in searching for information on relatives from the local area, these include local Census records and Old Parish Records; Giffnock also has Valuation Rolls and Electoral Registers. More details of the archival records available can be found on the Heritage Centres pages.
Local History Books
There is a collection of local history books at each of the Heritage Centres and at Neilston Library that can help those looking into their family history gain a better understanding of what it was like to live in the days when their ancestors were alive. More information about some of these books are on the Bibliography and Publications for Sale pages.
Local History Librarian
Amanda Robb
Local History Librarian
GIffnock Heritage Centre
Giffnock Library
Station Road
Giffnock
East Renfewshire
G46 6JF
Tel: 0141 577 4976
Fax: 0141 577 4978
E-mail: localstudies@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
