The Highland Ancestry Trail: Tracing Your Roots in Inverness-shire and Ross-shire

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The Highlands around Inverness hold some of the oldest family stories in Scotland. Mountains, sea lochs and long glens shaped the clans that lived here. Many of their descendants now live in Canada, America and Australia.

This trail covers Inverness-shire and Ross-shire. Both counties now sit inside the modern Highland council area, but old records still use the old names. Knowing that helps you search.

If your family name is Mackenzie, Macrae, Munro, Fraser, Chisholm, Mackintosh, Macpherson, Grant or Macdonell, there is a good chance your roots run through these glens. This guide shows you which clans to look at, which records to search and which places to visit.

Which Clans Come From Inverness-shire and Ross-shire?

Several clans held land across these two counties. Each one left records, castles and place names behind.

Clan Mackenzie and Clan Macrae link to Kintail in the west. Eilean Donan Castle stood here as a Mackenzie stronghold. Macrae families served as its constables for many years. Read more in our guide to Clan Macrae surnames.

Clan Munro is tied to Easter Ross, around Foulis. Our Clan Munro guide lists the families linked to the name.

Clan Chisholm held Strathglass, the long valley west of Beauly. The Chisholm surname guide covers the name and its spellings.

Clan Fraser is linked to the Beauly area through the Lords Lovat. See the Clan Fraser guide.

Clan Mackintosh and Clan Macpherson belong to the wider Clan Chattan family. Mackintosh lands lay around Inverness. Macpherson lands lay in Badenoch, further south. Read the Mackintosh and Macpherson guides.

Clan Grant and Clan Cameron held ground around Glenurquhart and Lochaber. Both have their own pages: Grant and Cameron.

Not sure which clan fits your name? Start with our guide to what your surname says about where you come from.

Start Your Search at Home

You can do a lot before you book a flight. Start with what you know. Write down names, dates and places from your own family. Then work back one step at a time.

Our step-by-step guide to tracing your Scottish ancestry explains the basics. Once you have a Highland name and a parish, the records below take you further.

Highland surnames change shape in the records. Mackenzie can appear as MacKenzie or Mackenzy. Gaelic names were often written down by clerks who did not speak Gaelic. Try every spelling you can think of.

The Stories Behind the Names

Culloden and the Aftermath

Culloden Moor lies just east of Inverness. The 1746 battle ended the last Jacobite rising. Many Highland families lost men that day. Others lost land and freedom in the years after. Our guide on why people still come to Culloden explains what you can see on the moor today.

Want more on this period? Follow the Jacobite heritage trail.

Strathglass and the Voyage to Pictou

Strathglass is a quiet valley today. In the early 1800s it lost many families. Historians link the clearances here to the Chisholm estate. Ships carried emigrants from the valley to Pictou in Nova Scotia in 1803. Each ship held around 120 people, according to Alexander Mackenzie’s account.

Many of those families kept their Gaelic. Some of their descendants in Nova Scotia can still name the glen their family left.

Knoydart and the Glengarry Settlers

In 1786 around 500 Highlanders sailed for Quebec. Most were Macdonells from the Glengarry and Knoydart area. Their parish priest, Father Alexander MacDonell, led them. They settled in what became Glengarry County in Ontario. The county kept its Highland name.

Knoydart saw more evictions in 1853. The estate was then under the Macdonell family’s widow, according to Mackenzie. If your Macdonell or Macdonald family came from Knoydart, check emigration lists for both periods.

For the wider picture, read our guide to the Highland Clearances trail.

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Where to Find the Records

Most of the key records are online or close to Inverness.

ScotlandsPeople is the main site. It holds Old Parish Registers, census returns and civil registers from 1855. Visit scotlandspeople.gov.uk to search.

The Highland Archive Centre sits on Bught Road in Inverness. It holds church registers, estate papers, school records and maps. It also has a Family History Room with access to ScotlandsPeople. Check the official archive page for opening days and booking before you go.

Highland Family History Society volunteers know the local records well. They are based in the same building, so ask the centre how to reach them.

Our plain guides cover each record type: census records, emigration records, valuation rolls, wills and testaments and the Register of Sasines.

A DNA test can also point you to a Highland branch. See our DNA testing guide.

Places to Visit on the Trail

Plan your route so each stop links to a family story.

Eilean Donan Castle stands where Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh meet. The castle was rebuilt in the early 20th century on the old ground plan. It is a good stop for Mackenzie and Macrae families. Check the castle’s official website for opening details before you plan a visit.

Culloden Battlefield sits near Inverness. Walk the moor and find the clan markers. Families with Mackintosh, Fraser or Macdonald roots often start here.

Strathglass is best for Chisholm descendants. Drive the valley road from Beauly and stop at the old kirkyards. Gravestones often show names the records miss.

Knoydart suits Macdonell families. The peninsula has no public road access. You can reach it by boat from Mallaig or on foot. Check ferry times before you go.

Want a full itinerary? Our five-day Highland heritage plan links many of these places.

Tips for Your Highland Search

Check the old county names. Records may list a parish under Ross and Cromarty or Inverness-shire.

Look for the parish first. A parish name unlocks church registers and estate papers.

Ask older relatives about Gaelic phrases. Even one word can point to a glen.

Keep notes on every spelling. You will need them when you search.

Last, talk to local people. Highland communities have long memories. A chat in a village shop can lead somewhere no database can.

Walk Where Your Family Walked

Your Highland ancestors left their mark on every glen. Their names survive in the records, the ruins and the Gaelic place names. Many left Scotland, but the land still holds their story.

Start with one name and one parish. The trail will do the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which clans come from Inverness-shire and Ross-shire?

Mackenzie, Macrae, Munro, Chisholm, Fraser, Mackintosh, Macpherson, Grant, Cameron and Macdonell all held land across these counties. Many related surnames also come from here.

Where can I find Highland family records?

Search ScotlandsPeople for Old Parish Registers, census returns and civil registers from 1855. The Highland Archive Centre in Inverness holds church registers, estate papers and maps.

Why did so many Highland families emigrate?

Clearances, rising rents and hardship pushed many out. Ships left Strathglass for Pictou in 1803. Around 500 Highlanders sailed for Quebec in 1786. Others left Knoydart in the 1850s.

Why does my ancestor’s name look different in the records?

Gaelic names were often written by clerks who spoke English. One surname can appear in several forms. Search every spelling and check both counties.

Can I visit the Highland Archive Centre?

Yes. It is in Inverness and has a Family History Room. Check the official page for opening days and booking details before you travel.

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Book Scotland Tours Early

Planning a trip to Scotland? Don’t let sold-out tours or packed attractions dampen your adventure. Iconic experiences like exploring Edinburgh Castle, cruising along Loch Ness, or wandering through the mystical Isle of Skye often fill up fast—especially during peak travel seasons.

Booking in advance holds your place on the popular summer tours, so your day goes on the castle walls and the loch shore, not in a ticket queue. It also leaves time for the quieter places most visitors drive straight past.

Make the most of your journey—start planning today and book the tours you most want to do.