About the society

We are a non-profit society and member of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies. With a knowledgeable and enthusiastic group of members, dedicated to the promotion and study of genealogy and ancestry, our focus is primarily in the Lothians but we also cover other areas of Scotland to follow a family tree line.

Our reference only library is located alongside the School Library and whether you are a novice or accomplished researcher, live locally or at a great distance, we are here to help. The Society is located close to the National Records of Scotland and our local researchers may be the key to helping you solve your ‘brick wall’. We also have access to a collection of publications and maps covering Scotland and Northern England. 

We meet on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm (except July and August) at the Lasswade High School Centre, Bonnyrigg, EH19 2LA. If you’re interested in finding out more please pop along!

We have a large number of publications for sale on Burial Indexes, Monumental descriptions and books: Full list of available items.

Meeting in person: we are a friendly bunch and support each other’s individual research with our access to the library’s computers and the internet. Alongside this, many of our members are experts in genealogy and are vital members of wider projects such as the indexing of Midlothian burial records.

Events: we are delighted to have regular speaker evenings with a wide variety of ancestry related subjects; talks, question and answer sessions, videos and lectures.

Unable to travel to the meetings? Not a problem, and you are still very welcome to join our society. We have online resources you can sign up for, check out our Facebook page, and many of our events are hybrid. We have members from all over the world and with such a wide membership we have a rich and varied collective knowledge.

Can I get help with my research without joining? Of course! Some of the members are happy to assist with simple research, you can reach us through our online form. It may be that our society does not hold the answer but we’ll be able to connect you with experienced researchers. We would welcome a no obligation donation for assistance.

Can I sign up to a Newsletter? Yes! We publish a quarterly online newsletter brimming with interesting case studies from our members, some top tips and interesting local history. We hold backdated copies on the member’s pages of our site. Want to sign up?

Can I just turn up? Our archivists and experts will try and help anyone who has reached a ‘brick wall’ with their research. Join us on Wednesdays from 7pm to 9pm (except July and August) at Lasswade High School Centre, EH19 2LA. You are more than welcome to come along for the evening before deciding if being a member is for you. To ensure fire safety measures are adhered to we would ask you to sign up to an event evening - there are no events planned at the moment.

How much is the membership? Annual membership is £15. Membership will give you access to our members area of the website, free admission to our speaker evenings and access the physical / reference only resources in our library - want to join our society?

"Meeting people of like-minded interest has been wonderful. I've become hooked on my research on the fishers of Prestonpans!” 🔸

"Meeting people of like-minded interest has been wonderful. I've become hooked on my research on the fishers of Prestonpans!” 🔸

“I've now managed to go back a further three generations!” 🔸

“I've now managed to go back a further three generations!” 🔸

🔸 “The monthly talks are amazing, and I always look forward to them”

🔸 “The monthly talks are amazing, and I always look forward to them”

“Immediately felt welcome,

and we always have fun at our meetings"

🔸

“Immediately felt welcome, and we always have fun at our meetings" 🔸

🔸 “The Society Library has been invaluable - I have found so much information amongst the local and national resources held in their on-site Library.”

🔸 “The Society Library has been invaluable - I have found so much information amongst the local and national resources held in their on-site Library.”

enjoy the newsletter” 🔸 "I really

enjoy the newsletter” 🔸 "I really

“I’m having great fun and haven’t looked back” 🔸

“I’m having great fun and haven’t looked back” 🔸

Meet the committee

  • Lorna Kinnaird

    As Chairperson of the Lothians Family History Society and a professional genealogist based in Scotland, I have seen first-hand how invaluable the Society can be to anyone tracing their roots. Membership has not only helped me uncover crucial evidence of my own early ancestors through access to shared resources and local expertise, but it has also offered a vibrant platform for exchanging skills, stories, and strategies with fellow researchers. The Society is more than a repository of records—it's a community where beginners and seasoned genealogists alike can learn from one another, unlock family mysteries, and bring history to life.

  • Gordon Stevens

    I started my family history research as a result of getting a box of photographs that my grandfather left me.

    Many of the photos had names and dates on the back of them, and I recognised quite a few and by asking my parents and other family members who they all were, and to confirm the names. However my curiosity got the better of me and I started to compile a paper 'family tree' and tried to put facts to the faces and names. I joined the society about 20 years ago and I could really further my research. Family Trees only come alive when you add facts and stories to the 'tree' - then the fun starts!

  • Christine Hannan

  • Anne Wood

    I joined LFHS in 2009. I had started to look into my family background and was going into Register House to do research. I'm not sure how I found that there was a Society in Bonnyrigg but decided I would go and find out more about how they could assist.

    I joined the Society - and then the addiction began!

  • Sheila Petrie

  • Vacant

  • Vacant

  • Elaine Hignett

    I joined the society in October 2023, two years after my Mum’s passing.

    I realised there were so many questions I had not asked her (or my Dad) about the family and where we had come from, although I knew my maternal great grandparents had come over from Ireland and my paternal relations were Cheshire born and Cheshire bred, strong in t'arm and weak in t'head - a reference to Cheshire bowmen in wars gone by. (I'm English by the way!)

    I was surprised to find I have also got Welsh ancestors and have just found my first Scotswoman from Loch Tay, plus another half sister from my Mum when I took a DNA test.

    It's fascinating! And the society members have been so helpful and friendly.

  • Liz Cowie

    I am one of the founding members of the society and the reason I joined the was to find out whether or not my grandfather's sister had gone to Australia and who took her, as well as finding out what happened to her.

    I found out that she did indeed go to Australia, after her mother passed in 1881, with her mother's brother  and his wife.

    She married and had a family there!

  • May Wilkins

    I joined the Society in 1997 as retirement loomed and when there was less access to Genealogical material online. My research led me to a trip to Dublin to add to the material I had already accumulated and to travel around the country to see for myself where my family lived. (I even met a relative I never knew I had!)

    Family history is such an obsessive hobby and we have always been happy to pass on our skills to new members.

  • Item description

  • Vacant position