Help us continue and develop the work of Hebrides People
In doing so, you will help us preserve the genealogical history of the Outer Hebrides from Lewis to Barra, giving today’s youngsters access to and an interest in their own history.
Explore the St Kilda archive for free
Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, all database results for St Kilda are free. Visit the St Kilda archive to see how the database works!
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Explore Further
Emigrant Stories
The first recorded emigrations from the islands took place in the mid-1700s. The first recorded emigrations from the islands took place in the mid-1700s in … Read more
Village Histories
These stories are excerpts taken from Bill Lawson’s Croft History books. There are now almost sixty Croft History books, all available in our shop. Many … Read more
Names of the Western Isles
It is probably only in the last two hundred years that the people of the Western Isles have used surnames. Previously, although people recognised that … Read more
Western Isles Genealogy
One of the major problems with family tracing in the Western Isles is the scarcity and poor quality of written records. The decennial census is … Read more
The People of the Western Isles
The history of modern people in the Outer Hebrides begins with the melting of the icesheets and the arrival of Mesolithic Man. The oldest site … Read more
Genealogical Services
The Hebrides People ‘Cò Leis Thu?’ genealogy service can help you trace your Western Isles ancestors. We specialise in producing family trees that show people’s … Read more
Oral Tradition
Oral tradition includes song, story, and preservation of family relationships. Written records are generally late and of variable quality in the Western Isles compared to … Read more
Name Standardisation
In using any written sources, it is essential to bear in mind that the people of the Islands were overwhelmingly Gaelic speaking. These records were … Read more