News

We are delighted to announce that Shetland Family History Society (SFHS) are now part of the VisitScotland Ancestral Welcome Scheme.

Do you live in Shetland?

Before we even host the next Surname of the Month (see post here) we are busy planning the next one! The Pearson event, part of a larger programme, will be held in the Vidlin Hall on Thursday, 28th July from 2:00 - 4:30 pm.

Surname of the Month, Henry – information now confirmed. Work is on-going investigating and preparing material for the launch of the next Surname of the Month, Henry, a name which has been present in Shetland for 400 years.

Abernethy … Staatsarchiv Bremen. At the Kirk of Weik in Unst Kirk 31st August 1661 John Abernethie Clerk to the Kirk Session writes a testimonial for Harman Dethine and Gert Dethine, his brother. Merchants of Breman, Burgesses of Bremen -the first known Archives record of an Abernethy in Shetland.

Anyone with a family or general interest in the Great War or indeed just an interest in Shetland genealogy would find this an extremely worthwhile event to attend.

Society member Jasmine Moncrieff, member no. Member 2229, reports on the recent event to celebrate Surname of the Month. A new venue and a new story. The Arcus Story. Our ‘Surname of the Month’ continued with Arcus as our July project.

Launch voted a huge success … Saturday the 9th May, 2015 saw the launch of the latest in the series of Surname of the Month events organise by the Society.

Are you visiting Shetland this year? If you are perhaps you would like help with any genealogy research or perhaps even with getting in touch with any living Shetland relatives. We can possibly help there; revised opening times for the Society premises in Lerwick have been published here.

It is perhaps little known but the Shetland Family History Society offer a research service from its base at Hillhead, Lerwick.

A plea in Coontin Kin No. 35 Simmer 2000 asking seamen and women to allow information from their Discharge Books to be copied and retained by the Society for research by future generations has resulted in almost 1000 responses.

At a combined event organised by the Burra History Group and the Shetland Family History Society, the launch of the third Surname of the Month was a most enjoyable evening.