Genealogy in the Gaidhealtachd

Clan and Family History in the Highlands

Highland Roots has offered personal family history research from the beautiful city of Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands, for over 30 years. In that time its founder, historian and genealogist Graeme Mackenzie, has acquired an unrivalled understanding of Highland genealogy.

Graeme's work as a clan historian and organiser of gatherings - for MacKenzies and MacMillans in particular - has also given him a unique insight into the Highland Clans, past and present, which he has frequently lectured about in North America, and also in Australasia. In 2013 he took the lead in the creation of the Association of Highland Clans and Societies which brought together over 45 clans and names in the Highlands of Scotland; and in the same year he publsihed the first edition of "Genealogy in the Gaidhealtachd: Clan and Family History in the Highlands of Scotland". A second edition has since been published by the Highland Family History Society, of which Grame was Chairman for some years, and whose Journal he now edits.

You can access some of the knowledge Graeme has acquired over the years on this website. Discover more from the books & articles listed on the Publications page - which include a new booklet on Clan Legends, Myths & Traditions published in 2024, a collection of essays on the Septs and Related Names of Clan MacKenzie and a two part paper "In Search of Clan MacMillan" published in 2025 - and see if Graeme is coming to speak near you on the News page

Family History in Scotland

Register House in Edinburgh (above right) houses the National Archives of Scotland. Together with the General Register Office Scotland in New Register House (above left), it's now home to the Scotland's People Centre - a unique national genealogical collection, that includes official records such as church registers, censuses, and modern registers of birth, marriage and death. Much of this material has been made available online at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk.

Clan History in the Highlands

The Highland Archive Centre in Inverness (above) provides full access to Scotlands People, along with the archives of all the old councils in the northern Highlands and papers from many Highland familes and estates. It has a Family History Room with an extensive library of local histories, maps, transcriptions of graves from Highland cemeteries, and clan genealogies. It's also home to the Highland Family History Society: www.highlandfhs.org.

Resources for Research in Scotland

Scottish Genealogy	Scottish Churches	Highland Genealogy	Highlands Defined
Highland Counties	Highland Parishes	Highland Burghs	Highland Clans
Highland Surnames	Highland Forenames	Septnames and Clans	Clan Contacts
For more information on all these topics read the book Genealogy in the Gaidhealtachd by Graeme M. Mackenzie

Research in Canada and the USA

With the ever-multiplying amount of genealogical data available online, it's now possible to help many descendants of Scots trace their ancestors in the United States and Canada, and Graeme has considerable experience using such sources. This means that in some cases - though by no means all - it may be possible for him to trace Americans and Canadians back to their immigrant ancestor, whose identity is required to start a search in Scotland.

Highland Roots on tour

Graeme Mackenzie frequently speaks on Scottish Genealogy, Clan and Family History in the Highlands, the History of the Highlands, and other related topics. A list of currently available lectures/seminars can be found here.

See News Page for list of forthcoming events in the UK & the USA
and details of Graeme's last lecture tour in New Zealand & Australia