Buccleuch Estate Records

Since the early 17th century a large part of rural South of Scotland has been owned by the Duke of Buccleuch and his ancestors. Records kept by the Estate are therefore a valuable source for family history.  I have done extensive research using the rental records in particular, which cover Buccleuch estates in Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire, eastern Dumfriesshire and part of Midlothian and Peeblesshire.  Happily these records are publicly available in the National Records of Scotland. However they are not indexed as such and therefore difficult to navigate for the uninitiated.

The records are particularly valuable for ancestors who were tenant farmers on Buccleuch estate land before the censuses of 1841 and beyond.  The records often go back to around 1630.  The rentals often hide family relationship information.  And I specialize in conducting research within these archives – please contact me to discuss your request.

Note that unfortunately there is currently no public access for Buccleuch records which were historically kept at Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill in Dumfriesshire. This means lands in central and western Dumfriesshire such as Penpont, Tynron, Durisdeer, Sanquhar and surrounding areas. However I’ve been able to access some of these records – see Dumfries and Galloway pages for more information.

Below for example is a list of the farms and farmtouns included in the rental rolls for 1814-15 (GD224/485/7) which cover all the Border Buccleuch estates . This particular rental appears to include named sub-tenants and cottars as well as tenants so is especially useful for genealogists..

Ettrick Forest

SELKIRK
Carterheugh and Auld Wark
Fastheuch
Fauldshope
Fowlshiels
Bowhill
Newark
Shielsheugh


ETTRICK 
Anlieshope
Easter Buccleuch
Wester Buccleuch
Mount Common
Kenwoody
Crosslea
Deephope
Gair
Roplawshiel

YARROW 
Catslackburn
Easter Delorain
Wester Delorain
Dryhope
Mid Eldinghope
Over Eldinghope
Wester Fauldshope
Gilmanscleuch
Howfoord
Easter Kerrshope
Kirkhope
Ladhope
Easter Mountbenger
Wester Mountbenger
Newburgh
Newhouse
Outer Huntly
Peel & Hawthorn
Singlie
Deuchar
Glengaber
Whitehope
Blackgrain
Kirkoshead
Yarrow Glebe
Shuttinglees
Glenlude
Catheugh

Teviotdalehead

HAWICK PARISH
Allanheugh
Blackcleugh
Branxholm
Branxholm Park
Commonside
Crumhaugh
Langhope
Easter Mains of Hawick
Wester Mains of Hawick
Falnash & Thorniehall
Goldielands
Harwood
Newbigging
Newmilnlands
Kerrsknow
Nether Southfield
Teviotside
Whitchester
Mickle Whitlaw
Little Whitlaw
Meatcroft
Crawbyres
Trinity Lands
Dangerfield
Kilnstead
Waulkmill
New Glebe
Fenwick

CAVERS PARISH
Bowanhill
Broadheugh
Coltherdscleugh & Suddenrig
Linhope
Northhouse
Peelbraehope
Priesthaugh
Skelfhill
Dockcleugh
Stobcleugh
Mosspaul
Phaehope

ROBERTON PARISH
Branxholm Moor
Chapelhall
Craik & Midshaw
Eilrig
Girnwood
Easter Highchesters
Milsington
West Cleughhead
Todshawhaugh
Todshawhill
Crouchhope
Howpasley

WILTON PARISH
Burnfoot
Boonraw
Easter Groundiston
Wester Groundiston
Borthaugh
Easter Clarilaw
Dunkster
Overhall
Stoweslee
Wiltonburn

Hassendean

Liddesdale

Braidlie & Rispielaw
Burnmouth
Hole
Flight & Clintwood
Shaws
Newlands
Roughlie
Byegate
Dinlie
Flatt
Side
Redmoss
Guildfoot
Foulshiels
Gorrenberry
Kirndean
Myredikes
Blakeburn Milnholm
Milnburnholm & Hermitage
Pouterlampert
Baxtongill
Hillhouse
Riccarton
Roan
Saughtrees & Hindhouse
Nether Sorbietrees
Upper Sorbietrees
Toftholm
Twislehope
Tweedenside & Kershope
Nether Whisgills
Stitchelhills & Lees
Sundhope
Byreholm
Castleton
Dikeraw
Nether Harden
Over Harden
Greens
Mains of Cocklake
Meins
Mangerton
Powisholm & Park
Nether Raw
Over Raw
Billhope

Eckford

ECKFORD
Wester Moss
Easter Wooden
Wester Wooden
Grimslaw
Mosstower
Smiddyhill

Lanton

LEMPITLAW
Wholefield
Eastfield of Lempitlaw
Westfield of Lempitlaw
Lempitlaw
Lurdenlaw

Melrose

Melrose Mill
Danielton Mains
Kilncroft
Newstead Mill

Eskdale

LANGHOLM
Arkin & Whitshiels
Arkinholm
Becks & Earshaw
Bigholms
Bloch & Blochburnfoot
Calfield
Cleuchfoots
Irvine & Caldtown
Middleholm
Milnholm
Brackenwrae
Potholm
Nether Wrae
Westwater
Glenloganhead
Hallcrofts of Meikleholm
Langholm Corn Mill
Waulkmill
Murtholm

WESTERKIRK
Bailliehill
Billholm
Bombie
Boonies
Burnfoot, Fingland & Straingate
Carlesgill
Dalbeath
Enzieholm
Little Harperwhat
Meikle Harperwhat
Hopsrig
Knock Mains
Mid Knock
Knockhill
Nether Knock
Lineholm
Megdale, Mountfauld & Treehope
Shiell
Nether Stenneswater
Over Stenneswater

ESKDALEMUIR
Aberlosh
Nether Cassock, Ruckhole & Pockleaf
Clerkhill & Graystonelees
Coat
Nether Dumfelling
Over Dumfelling
Cumminghead
Ganvald
Grassyards
Holm
Holm Mill
Mid Raeburn
Rinnaldburn & Cothope
Tanlawhill
Twiglees
Westside & Castlehill
Langshawburn
Fingland

EWES
Burnfoot
Bush, Burngrains and Wolfhope
Eweslees & Blackhall
Carrotrig
Glendovan & Brieryshaw
Lodgegill & Byrecleughwater
Mosspeeble
Sorbie
Nether Wrae
Over Wrae
Kirkton
Flaskholm
Tarrona
Unthank & Fiddleton
Hoghill
Brush

Canonbie

Airnlee
Albierig
Auchenrivock
Andrewsknows
Archerbeck
Barnglies
Barnglieshead
Barrascrofts,Nether
Barrascrofts,Over
Nether Bogrie
Over Bogrie
Brae----land
Broomieknow
Bruntshielbog
Bulmansknow
Canonbie Mill
Canonbie Moor
Closses
Nether Crookholm
Over Crookholm
Cronksbankhead
Drybrow
Enthorn
Forge
Forgebraehead
Glenzierbecknow
Glenzier Garden
Glenzierhead
Glenziermidtown
Nether Glenzier
Glencartholm
Graystail
Greenburn
Hagg
Hardenside
Harlaw
Harlaw Hack
Harlawhag
Harlawhill
Harlawmiln
Harlawmilnsteads
Holehouse
Hecks
Jockshill
Kerr
Knottyholm
Lymiecleugh
Middlerig
Muirburnhead
Milnsteads
Nether Mumbiehirst
Over Mumbiehirst
Newtown
Nittyholm
Orchard
Perterburn
Rowanburnfoot
Rowanburnhillhead
Sarktower
Sarkmilntown
Shillingmoss
Tarrasfoot
Tarcoon
Nether Thorniwhats
Over Thorniwhats
Todscleughside
Todhillwood
Todknowhead
Tomshielburn
Whitknow
Whitlawside
Nether Whitlawside
Windyhill
Outer Woodhead
Nether Woodhouselees
Over Woodhouselees

Here’s a link to my transcribed estate rentals, kirk session records and other records for the above estate areas. Do let me know if you find them useful for you.

Canonbie

Liddesdale (Castleton Parish)

Eskdale