Scotland's Census Goes Online

25th January 2002

A snapshot of Scottish life one century ago is now available online following today's release of the 1901 census records as digital images.

The data, released by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS), will enable customers to trace their ancestry, discover who lived in their house 100 years ago, their age, occupation, place of origin, whether they spoke Gaelic and even the state of their health.

The GROS has used new imaging technology to scan the census returns collected on the 31 March 1901. Images of the census pages are linked to an index of over four million individual names.

Details of the census can be obtained by logging onto the Scots Origins pay-per-view website (www.origins.net) or by visiting the GROS research rooms at New Register House, Edinburgh.

Today's release of the census data complements this morning's launch, by VisitScotland of ancestralscotland.com This site provides a direct link to the 1901 census data and other sites to provide a comprehensive one-stop internet guide to tracing family history.

The site describes the basics of genealogy, illustrates where historical parishes are located within modern Scotland, the origins of names, clan ancestry and places to see and visit. It is designed to promote interest in and tourism to Scotland among the millions of people of Scottish decent living abroad.

The provision of 1901 census images online, together with the earlier release of 1891 census data, is part of the GROS's major Digital Imaging the Genealogical Records of the people of Scotland (DIGROS) project. This project will include the digital imaging of all the records held by the GROS including all open census records, statutory registers of births, marriages and deaths and parish registers of the Church of Scotland - some of which date from the 16th century. The project is due to be completed by the end of 2003 and will result in a uniquely comprehensive online resource, confirming the GROS's position as a leader in access to genealogical records which began with the establishment of the Scots Origins website in 1998.

The 1901 images have also been available on microfilm since December, and copies have been purchased by many local library services.

Because of anticipated high demand for this service, customers may experience delays in accessing the records for the first few days.