Family History

Recently there has been much interest in family history from those living in Glasgow or from those who have had roots in the past within Glasgow.

Family history is not just about trying to find the names of your ancestors, but about understanding the world in which they lived. Whether your family have come from humble beginnings or had an affluent background, there is a wealth of information you can find to gather a picture together of how your ancestors lived.

In the 19th and 20th centuries Glasgow’s population grew due to the highland clearances, industrialisation and the Irish potato famine. Within a short period of time overcrowding within Glasgow’s housing became an increasing problem for the City Fathers, conditions were documented by Thomas Annan’s photographic work. For the majority, emigration to a new country was seen as an opportunity and an alternative to living in slum conditions. Many people wanted a better life for themselves and their families and  were encouraged to take the perilous passage by ship to America, Canada and Australia in search of a better life.

You can find Census records, Parish Records, Poor Law Records and  Burial Records which can all be accessed to find birth, death and marriage records. Archives can be accessed to find information on buildings, work places, newspapers, maps etc. A good place to start your research is the Glasgow Genealogy Centre.

The Virtual Mitchell and Glasgow Museums Photographic Library can provide  images of people and places in Glasgow. Thomas Annan’s Images can give you an insight into how working class Glaswegians lived before the 1866 Improvements Act and Scottish screen can also provide you with film of everday life in Glasgow.