Compulsory civil registration began in Scotland in 1855 and this year was the first and finest of all the subsequent years.

The amount of information requested in the certificates was astonishing and it was decided that the difficulties of obtaining in every case, these very full details made it impracticable. The details required were reduced in 1856 and again were modified in 1861, but from then on have remained virtually the same. 

• Forename and surname

• Rank, profession or occupation

• Whether single, married or widowed (No name of spouse from 1856-1860)

• Date, time and place of death

• Gender

• Age at death (except 1855-1865) - ages for these years are being added retrospectively

• Forename, surname and rank or profession of father and if deceased

• Forename and maiden surname of mother and if deceased

• Cause of death and duration of final illness

• Name of medical attendant who certified the death

• Signature and qualification of informant and their residence (if not the place of death)

• When and where registered and signature of registrar

• Place of burial, name of undertaker and when the doctor last saw the deceased alive (1855-1860)

• From 1967 the deceased date of birth is recorded

1855 register entries

In 1855, the first year of compulsory civil registration additional information was recorded:

• Deceased's place of birth

• How long in the district or parish

• Children in order of birth, their names and ages in 1855 or ages and date of death if occurred prior to 1855. This was removed from 1856

Check relationship of informant to deceased. A neighbour or grandchild may not know all the facts about the deceased and give erroneous information.

If deceased married more than once, the names of all spouses should be entered on the death certificate.