Aberdeenshire's Archives date back to the 14th century. These consist of documents in many forms, dating from the early 17th century to the present day and covering the three ancient counties of Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine. Records range from minutes, registers, accounts, letters, and log books, to maps, plans and photographs. Originally, they were created for practical and administrative purposes but many of them are now a valuable source for all kinds of research.
The collections include records of:
- Aberdeenshire Council (from 1996) - present
Grampian Regional Council (1975 – 1996) and the District Councils of Banff and Buchan, Gordon and Kincardine and Deeside.
Deposited collections from other organisations and individuals relating to Aberdeenshire.
19 Burghs across Aberdeenshire
The records of these self-governing towns (until 1975) include Town Council minutes, accounts, letters, plans and harbour records, and are a vital source for local history. The burgh records vary from burgh to burgh and are as follows:
| Catalogue Reference | Burgh | Period records cover | Date founded | Type of Burgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS/Bahr | Aberchirder | 1890 - 1964 | 1889 | Police Burgh |
| AS/Kbal | Ballater | 1890 - 1975 | 1891 | Police Burgh |
| AS/Kban | Banchory | 1844 - 1975 | 1885 | Police Burgh |
| AS/Bbnf | Banff | 1372 - 1975 | c. 1189-1198 | Royal Burgh (William the Lion). Police Burgh 1840. |
| AS/Aeln | Ellon | 1873 - 1975 | 1707 | Burgh of Barony - Earls of Buchan. Police Burgh 1893. |
| AS/Afra | Fraserburgh | 1801 - 1975 | 1546 | Burgh of Barony - Frasers of Philorth. Burgh of regality 1601, Police Burgh 1840. |
| AS/Ahty | Huntly | 1834 - 1975 | 1488 | Burgh of Barony - Earls of Huntly. Burgh of Regality 1684 - Dukes of Gordon. Police Burgh 1834. |
| AS/Ains | Insch | 1819 - 1975 | 1677 | Burgh of Barony. |
| AS/Kber | Inverbervie | 1708 - 1975 | 1341 | Royal Burgh (David II). |
| AS/Aivr | Inverurie | 1793 - 1975 | c. 1178-1882 | Royal Burgh (William the Lion, confirmed by Mary Queen of Scots 1588). Police Burgh 1866. |
| AS/Akin | Kintore | 1747 - 1975 | 1506-7 | Royal Burgh (James IV). Police Burgh 1873. |
| AS/Klrk | Laurencekirk | 1780 - 1975 | 1779 | Burgh of Barony - Lord Gardenstone. Police Burgh 1889. |
| AS/Bmcd | Macduff | 1783 - 1975 | 1528 | Burgh of Barony - Earls of Buchan. Reerected 1783 - Duff family, Earls Fife. Police Burgh 1853. |
| AS/Aomd | Oldmeldrum | 1893 - 1975 | 1671 | Burgh of Barony - Urquharts of Meldrum. Police Burgh 1893. |
| AS/Aphd | Peterhead | 1807 - 1975 | 1587 | Burgh of Barony - Keiths, Earls Marischal, later Merchant Maiden Hospital of Edinburgh. Police Burgh 1862. |
| AS/Bpsy | Portsoy | 1889 - 1975 | 1550 | Burgh of Barony - Ogilvy of Boyne. Police Burgh 1889. |
| AS/Arhy | Rosehearty | 1811 - 1975 | 1681 | Burgh of Barony - Forbes, Lord Pitsligo. Police Burgh 1892. |
| AS/Kstn | Stonehaven | 1617 - 1975 | 1587 | Burgh of Barony - Earl Marischal. New and Old Town merge and form Police Burgh 1889. |
| AS/Btur | Turriff | 1858 - 1975 | 1511/12 | Burgh of Barony - Hay, Earls of Erroll. Police Burgh 1858. |
Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine County Councils (1889 – 1975).
The county councils of Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine, along with their district councils, were established in 1890. They were responsible for discharging many local authority functions up to 1975, including roads, public health, housing, education and planning. Minutes and accounts survive for all the county councils and for some district councils.
| Catalogue Reference | County Council |
|---|---|
| ASActy | Aberdeen County Council |
| ASBcty | Banff County Council |
| ASKcty | Kincardine County Council |
Parochial Boards (1845 – 1930)
From 1845 until the introduction of the welfare state in 1948, responsibility for poor relief was borne by parochial boards, parish councils and county councils. Minutes, applications for relief and registers of poor survive for many parishes, and many have been indexed by the Aberdeen and North-East Scotland Family History Society. Please visit our Online Catalogue and Poor Relief pages for further information.
Please note that these records are subject to the Data Protection Act and that this may place restrictions on the use of material by researchers. Identification will be required to view records under the Data Protection Act.
Schools, School Boards (1874 – 1918) and County Education Authorities (1918 – 1930)
Education in the north-east was administered by parish school boards from 1873 to 1919 and by county council education authorities from 1919 to 1929. The minutes of these bodies are a useful source of information on school buildings and the employment of teachers.
Head Teacher's log books and pupil admission registers survive for several hundred north-east schools. These records mostly post-date the Education (Scotland) Act 1872 which made it compulsory for children to attend school, but some records do survive before this.
Please note that these records are subject to the Data Protection Act and that this may place restrictions on the use of material by researchers. Identification will be required to view records under the Data Protection Act.
For further information please see our guide on Education and School Records or search our Online Catalogue. You can also watch a video showing examples of these records: Aberdeenshire School Records
Commissioners of Supply
The minutes and accounts of the Commissioners of Supply document the administration of counties by landowners until the establishment of county councils in 1890. Records survive for the counties of Aberdeen from 1654, Kincardine from 1762 and Banff from 1772. The records also contain the minutes and accounts of the turnpike road trustees and commutation road trustees. These bodies were charged with building and maintaining the north-east's roads from the 1790s to the 1870s.
| Catalogue Reference | Commissioners | Date |
|---|---|---|
| AS/Acom | Aberdeenshire Commissioners of Supply | 1653 - 1950 |
| AS/Bcom | Banffshire Commissioners of Supply | 1772 - 1930 |
| AS/Kcom | Kincardineshire Commissioners of Supply | 1762 - 1930 |
Assessed Tax & Valuation Rolls
Valuation rolls record the address and use of the property, the owner (proprietor) and occupier (tenant) and the value of the property for the purposes of local taxation. Valuation rolls are extremely useful in finding out the whereabouts of people between the census years. See our Valuation Rolls pages for more information.
Moray
Records for Moray, including some school and poor relief records for areas of historic Banffshire, are held by the Moray Council Heritage Centre. For further information contact:
Local Heritage Service
Elgin Library
Cooper Park
Elgin
IV30 1HS
01343 562639
heritage@moray.gov.uk