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 the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden and amidst the unpredictable climate of the late Little Ice Age.
Since then, people have been leaving the islands in waves, from Barra and Uist to Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, from Harris and North Uist to Cape Breton and Australia, and from Lewis to Ontario and Quebec, to mention a few of the largest emigrations.
Stories
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Tell us your story
If you have a story of family members who left the Western Isles and settled in another part of the world, and would like the … 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
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