How can we help you...

Aberdeen City Records

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives hold records relating to Aberdeen City.  The documents range from charters, minutes and accounts, to maps, plans and photographs.  Originally, their function was of a practical and administrative nature but many records now constitute a valuable source for the study of all aspects of Aberdeen’s history.

The main collections include:

Burgh Records

The Archive holds the finest and most complete collection of medieval and early modern burgh records in Scotland. The centre of this collection is an unrivalled series of council registers - or minutes - which date from 1398. These records chronicle the political, social and economic life of the Royal burgh. The burgh records include:

  • Council Minutes from 1398
  • Guildry Accounts from 1452
  • Town's Correspondence from 1552
  • Treasury Accounts from 1559
  • Registers of Deeds from 1569
  • Kirk and Bridgework Accounts from 1571
  • Apprentice Registers from 1622
  • Register of Burgesses from 1632

The records of the former burghs of Woodside and Old Aberdeen are also held by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives.  Burgh Records are held at our Town House office.
Back to Top

School Records

School records for Aberdeen City are kept by the archives.  While we do not hold individual pupil records, log books and admission registers for various schools in the city are.  These records, which are a valuable source of information, are kept at our Old Aberdeen House branch.  A list of schools in Aberdeen City, along with Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire, Morayshire and Banffshire can be found on our Online Catalogue. Please contact our Old Aberdeen House office through the Contacts page for further information.
Back to Top

Cemetery Records

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives hold cemetery records for 10 cemeteries in Aberdeen.  These records include burial registers, lair registers and other information.  These records have been digitised and are being made available through Deceased Online.  The website is still being added to, so please keep checking back.  A full list of the cemetery records we hold can be found on our Online Catalogue under the reference BR and a fuller guide to the records can be found on our Burial Records page.  For records not held by the Archive of other cemeteries in Aberdeen please contact Bereavement Services.
Back to Top

Valuation Rolls

Valuation rolls have survived for Aberdeen City from 1855.  These list the name of the owner of a property, the name of the head tenant, and the rateable value of the property.  They survive up to the present date, though domestic properties are not included from 1990. A fee is charged to those using these records for commercial, business or legal purposes (this includes finding out the length of tenancy for house purchasing) and for staff searches.  Please see our Table of Fees for further information, or contact our Old Aberdeen House branch where these records are held. 

Records for Aberdeenshire, Moray, Kincardineshire and Banffshire are also available. Please see our Catalogues page for further information.

Please note that the Valuation Rolls are the property of the Grampian Valuation Joint Board and not that of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives.
Back to Top

Church Records

Kirk Session records for St. Nicholas, St. Clement’s, St. Clement’s Free, Langstane and Greyfriars churches are held by the Archive.  In addition to matters of church discipline, the records can contain communion rolls, payments to the poor, baptisms, marriages, and some burials. A list of the Church of Scotland records held by the archives can be found on our Catalogues page.  Please note that access to digitised Kirk Session records for the whole of Scotland can now be accessed free of charge in both of our searchrooms.

As well as the records of the established church, the City Archives holds records for many of the Congregational, Methodist and Episcopalian churches of Aberdeen.  Please see our Catalogues page for further information.

The Church of Scotland records held by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives in our Town House office are held under the Charge & Superintendence of the Keeper of the Records of Scotland.  This means that although the records are held by us, ownership of the records remains with the National Archives of Scotland.
Back to Top

Burgh Register of Sasines

The register of sasines records transfers of land rights within the historic Aberdeen burgh boundary and is a valuable source of information.  The records begin in 1484 and continue until 1809, after which date the registers can be found at the National Archives of Scotland, along with those for the North East counties.  These records are held in our Town House office under the Charge & Superintendence of the Keeper of the Records of Scotland.
Back to Top

Tax Lists

The tax lists, or ‘stent rolls’, as they are sometimes known, for the burgh of Aberdeen date back to the 15th Century.  The first comprehensive series of property taxation are the Police Commissioners’ rent rolls, which run from 1795 to 1860, and are held in our Town House office.
Back to Top

Photographs

The main photographic collection consists mainly of photographs taken by the photographers of the Aberdeen District Council, largely between 1950 and 1985, with copies of earlier photographs included.  A full list of photographs can be found on our Catalogues page, or contact our Town House office for further information.
Back to Top

Deposited Records

Deposited records can include almost anything, from family papers to business records.  Records include the Hall Russell shipbuilding company and NORCO, as well as many others.  A list of some of the other deposited records can be found on our Catalogues page.
Back to Top

For more information on other records relating to Aberdeen, please see our Online Catalogue or contact the Archives Team either by emailing archives@aberdeencity.gov.uk or by telephoning our Town House office on +44 (0)1224 522513.  Please see our Contacts page for further information

Back to the Archives Home page.