Friends of Argyll Estates Archives

Description

Finding your Scottish Family:

Uncovering personal and place names Study Evenings

Two evenings designed to further support those that are on a journey of researching their family history.

Wednesday 3rd November 2025  and Wednesday 10th November 2025

18:00 GMT

£25

£20 -Friends of Argyll Estates Archives – Discount will automatically be applied at checkout if you have logged n.

Find out more about becoming a Friend

£20 -Students -Please email  to ask for student code .

Following on from last year’s study evenings deepen your understanding of Scottish surnames and place names and gain practical tools for your family history research. Each evening features two expert-led talks.

If you missed the last study sessions and want to catch up you can find them in our shop.

Programme Schedule

Wednesday 3 November 2025, 18:00–20:00 GMT

Surnames and Place names in Scotland – Language, Ancestry, DNA and Heraldry
Dr Bruce Durie
One of Scotland’s leading genealogists and heraldists. Author of “Scottish Genealogy” and former BBC presenter, Dr Durie is an international expert in Scottish ancestry and heraldry.

Obscure Origins of Some Family Names – Not What They Seem
Duncan Beaton
A local historian from Furnace with a lifelong passion for genealogy and Clan Campbell history. Duncan brings a personal and engaging perspective on surname origins.

Wednesday 10 November 2025, 18:00–20:00 GMT

Interpreting Place-Names in Historical Research
Dr Jacob King
Gaelic place-name specialist at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Author and co-author of multiple books on place-names, including “The A-Z of Whisky Place-Names”.

‘Where on Earth is That?’: A Guide to Online Map Resources
Donald MacDougall
Assistant Archivist at Argyll Estates Archives, offering practical guidance on using historical maps for genealogical research.