While researching clues for the Guthrie-Lyon marriage associated pedigree for the recent ‘Guthrie of Eassie & Hilton: Debunking Tradition‘ article, I came across many collections of primary source materials. Many of them are in Latin or a mix or Old Scots and Archaic English. Some can be found in organized publications; others cannot. Utilizing translation tools, I have spent the last couple of months creating Special Collections of Guthrie-focused source material.

If you are planning to document the origins of the Guthrie family, very distant Guthrie ancestors, or just want to browse some of the fascinating life experiences, trials and tribulations of Guthries in the Medieval Era and Middle Ages, this is the place to get started.

Curated for you under the Research & Resources section of the Guthrie Genealogy blog is a growing list of Primary Sources and Special Collections. Every mention of the Guthrie name or place has been extracted and those entries explored. That’s hundreds of translations, transcriptions, and details about the document’s historic or genealogical significance.

Here’s a breakdown of Guthrie Genealogy’s Special Collections:

Primary Sources (SCT)

• A list of Primary Sources in Scotland for Guthrie Research, 1100s-1600s
• Many of these are already available as part of the Special Collections
• Includes a list of some other published Primary Record Series that have gathered information from specific sources.
• These Scottish records go far beyond Guthrie research and should be used for any of your genealogical research in Scotland.

ACTS OF THE LORDS OF COUNCIL IN CIVLIL CAUSES & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Civil Causes: Volume 1 (1478-1495) is not available online
Civil Causes: Volume 2 (1499-1501), Volume 3 (1501-1503
Public Affairs: 1501-1554

The Acts of the Lords of Council in Civil Causes (also styled Acta Dominorum Concilii) is one of the most important surviving records of late medieval and early modern Scottish governance and justice. It preserves the decisions of the Lords of Council — the king’s chief advisory and judicial body — in a wide range of civil disputes involving land, inheritance, debt, contracts, and family affairs. 

EXCHEQUER ROLLS OF SCOTLAND

23 Volumes covering years 1264 – 1600

These rolls record royal revenues from crown lands, baronies, burgh customs, teinds, and feudal casualties, together with the appointments and activities of chamberlains, custumars, sheriffs, and other officials. They supply an unparalleled window into Scotland’s fiscal machinery, land tenure, economic conditions, and the networks of lairds, merchants, and crown servants who operated within it.

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND

A chronological Guthrie Master Index of NLS primary documents with any Guthrie reference 1471 – 1780, with a few from the 19th century.

The National Library of Scotland, located in Edinburgh, is the country’s legal deposit library and holds the world’s most comprehensive collection of Scottish literature, history, and archival records. For the Guthrie Research project—which traces the extensive genealogy, migration, and local history of the historic Scottish Guthrie family—the library serves as an invaluable, irreplaceable repository. It houses critical primary source materials, including centuries-old land charters, personal family papers, and rare regional manuscripts that allow researchers to chart the family’s lineage with pinpoint accuracy. Ultimately, the library provides the foundational documentary evidence required to preserve the Guthrie family’s distinct historical legacy within the broader fabric of Scottish heritage.

NATIONAL RECORDS of SCOTLAND (NRS)

A chronological Guthrie Master Index of NRS primary documents with any Guthrie reference. There are also a few additional documents/references added to the list.

• Pre-1500s, 1500s, 1600s, 1700s (pending), 1800s (pending), and Undated

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) serves as the primary national archive preserving Scotland’s legal, civil, and historical documents from the 12th century to the present. For Guthrie research, the NRS is uniquely vital because it houses the specific, private papers of the historic Barons of Guthrie (collection GD188), which include land writs, charters, and estate records dating back to 1388. Beyond these noble papers, the archive provides essential access to Old Parish Registers, wills, and Kirk Session documents that allow researchers to trace ordinary Guthrie lineages well before the onset of modern statutory recording in 1855. These resources collectively bridge the gap between early medieval Clan origins in Angus and modern genetic genealogy.

PEOPLE OF MEDIEVAL SCOTLAND

The People of Medieval Scotland (PoMS) database is a free and valuable resource for anyone researching Scottish ancestry before the era of parish registers. Covering the period 1093–1371 (with ongoing expansion), it indexes individuals mentioned in surviving medieval charters and related documents. Rather than offering compiled family trees, PoMS uses a factoid-based structure that records people performing specific actions — such as witnessing charters, holding land, or interacting with institutions. This makes it especially useful for identifying associates, landholding patterns, and social networks in medieval Scotland. For Guthrie researchers, PoMS provides helpful early context regarding the lands of Guthrie and the possible connection to the de la Carneille / de la Kernelle family in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

RECORDS OF THE PARLIAMENTS OF SCOTLAND

All Guthrie mentions beginning with the Reign of James III (1460-1488) through the Reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714).

The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (RPS) is a comprehensive, searchable database containing the official proceedings, acts, and minutes of the Scottish parliament from 1235 until the Act of Union. For Guthrie research, this collection is incredibly valuable as it documents the legislative, judicial, and political actions of prominent family members, including parliamentary attendance, land ratifications, and official appointments. It acts as a primary tool for tracking the high-level civil involvement of the Barons of Guthrie and early regional branches in Angus, providing vital historical context alongside local estate records. Furthermore, its modern translations and standardized names allow researchers to easily pinpoint specific Guthrie individuals within medieval Latin and early Scots parliamentary texts.

REGISTRUM EPISCOPATUS BRECHINENSIS

Volumes 1 & 2 produced a few Guthrie entries from the 15th-early 17th centuries.

Brechin Bishopric Register, the key 19th-century edited cartulary of charters and documents for the Angus diocese.

REGISTER OF THE GREAT SEAL OF SCOTLAND (RMS)

14 Volumes plus Specialty Tables covering years 1306 – 1424.

The Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum (RMS) or Register of the Great Seal of Scotland is the central record of royal charters, land grants, and titles issued under the crown from 1306 to the present day. For Guthrie research, it provides the legal and territorial foundation for the family’s prominence, detailing the official crown ratifications and successions of the Barons of Guthrie and their various estate holdings. These entries often specify family connections, marriage contracts, and geographic properties, making it an invaluable tool for verifying medieval and early modern lineages. Because it spans centuries of royal administrative history, it bridges the gap between early Clan Guthrie origins and the detailed estate papers found in local archives.

REGISTER OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND (RPSC)

First Series: 14 Volumes 1545 – 1625
Second Series: 8 Volumes: 1625 – 1660
Third Series: 16 Volumes: 1661 – 1691

The Privy Council served as the monarch’s key advisory and executive body in Scotland, handling a wide array of matters including state policy, justice (both public and private litigation), royal proclamations, local governance, religious affairs, border management, trade, military levies, and responses to crises such as plagues, witchcraft accusations, and political unrest. This collection contains 3 series of documents covering council acts from 1545 to 1691 over 38 volumes. All Guthrie mentions have been extracted, transcribed, and the role, historical and genealogical significance explored.

REGISTER OF THE PRIVY SEAL OF SCOTLAND (RSS)

8 Volumes, but only 1 with full online access. Volume 1 covering 1488-1529.

The Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum (RSS) or Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland is the official record of documents authenticated by the monarch’s private seal, spanning from 1488 until the mid-20th century. It primarily contains records of a more personal or localized nature than the Great Seal, including royal appointments, charters, pensions, and passports. For historians and genealogists, these records provide a critical window into the daily administration of the Scottish kingdom and the individuals who interacted directly with the Crown. Because the entries capture property transitions, titles, and official offices, they serve as a vital primary source for tracing corporate, local, and family lineages across centuries of Scottish history.