How to trace Dundee ancestors

With many specialist records relating to the shipping and jute industries which have employed thousands of the city’s people over the years, it’s easy to discover the Dundee your ancestors would have known.


Dundee Family History Centre
Opened in 2007, Dundee’s Family History Centre houses several services under one roof, with registrars, graves administration and local history housed together. The local history section has maps, plans, photographs and drawings, and the registrar can help researchers to draw up a family tree for a fee.
If you wish to conduct your own research, records include old parochial records, censuses, with wills and records of the Lord Lyon available soon.
Central Library, The Wellgate, Dundee DD1 1DB; tel: 01382 431516; e-mail: [email protected]; website.

Photopolis
A website of old Dundee photographs, taken from the collections of the city’s Family History Centre. You can search by keyword or browse categories including people, streets, working life and transport. Copies of the photographs can be purchased via the website.
Visit the Photopolis website.

University of Dundee Archive Services
Although this Archives holds substantial records relating to the city’s university, there are several collections of interest to family history researchers. The Archives hold papers for several Dundee families including the Cox family, who owned Camperdown Works) and the Baxters (who operated Dens Works). Also available are legal papers and family trees, and patient records for a number of local hospitals including Dundee Royal Infirmary and Arbroath Infirmary. Other items of interest include employee records for large local employers (including James Allison & Sons and J & AD Grimond Ltd) and Dundee street directories.
Tower Basement, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN; tel: 01382 384095; e-mail: [email protected]; website.



Tay Valley Family History Society
A society which promotes family history study in the Tay Valley and holds a ‘unique reference library of genealogical and local history materials’ relating to Dundee and surrounding areas. Members are welcome at the Society’s research centre which offers family history classes, a reference library and records including Old Parish Registers.
Membership is £17 per year which includes a quarterly journal, access to the member only area of the website and free use of the research centre.
179-181 Princes Street, Dundee DD4 6DG; tel: 01382 461845; website.

Dundee City Archives
A good resource for business, family and estate records relating to the city. Collections include school records, port authority records from 1814 onwards, the archives of the Dundee Sailors Home and Hostel (1928-1966) and papers relating to churches across the city.
18 City Square, Dundee DD1 3BY; tel: 01382 434494; website.