Black Book of Taymouth Surname Index & Genealogy Guide (1428–1703) PDF

Unlock one of Scotland’s richest—and most notoriously difficult—Highland archival sources in seconds.

Originally compiled in 1598 by Master William Bowie for Sir Duncan Campbell ("Black Duncan of the Cowl") and printed by Cosmo Innes for the Bannatyne Club in 1855, The Black Book of Taymouth is a cornerstone primary source for Central and West Highland family history. However, because the original 500-page volume is written in unindexed 16th-century Middle Scots, legal Latin, and shifting Gaelic patronymics, locating a specific ancestor has traditionally required weeks of painstaking page-by-page translation.

This modern Genealogical Research Guide & Surname Index Workbook does the heavy lifting for you. Every single named individual, tenant, witness, outlaw, foster-parent, and muster-roll fencible man across the Breadalbane and Glenurchy archives (1428–1703) has been extracted, standardized, and translated into plain-English biographical abstracts with exact page citations to the 1855 edition.

📊 What’s Inside This Digital Research Workbook:

• 557 Structured Biographical & Genealogical Abstracts: Far more than a bare list of page numbers—each entry summarizes who the person was, their occupation or legal role, family relationships (fathers, brothers, wives, widows, and natural children), and the exact historical event recorded.
• 198 Standardized Surnames + 170 Gaelic Patronymic & Territorial Entries: Cross-references phonetic Middle Scots spellings (e.g., Makcwill, MacGillekeyr, Menzeis,Toscheocht) and unfixed Gaelic patronymics (M‘ic, V‘ic, and Neyn/Nic) so you never miss an ancestor hiding under a clan alias or patronymic chain.
• Parish, Barony & Estate Directory: Tracks families across Balloch (Taymouth), Finlarg, Killin, Inchaddin (Kenmore), Weem, Fortingall, Dull, Glenurchy, Glenlyon, Glenfalloch, Strathfillan, Balquhidder, Rannoch, Lorn, and Lismore.
• 6 Major Classes of Highland Records Abstracted:
  1. The Glenurchy Genealogy (1432–1648): Marriages, dowries, cadet branches, and natural children.
  2. The Chronicle of Fortirgall (1415–1579): Rare pre-parish-register death and burial dates in Fortingall, Inchaddin, Weem, Killin, and Dysart (Glenorchy).
  3. Bonds of Manrent, Fosterage & Adoptive Grants (1488–1681): Contracts of clan allegiance, calps, and adoptive "bairn's part" inheritance shares.
  4. Rentals, Bowhouse Stock & Household Books (1582–1626): Named dairy tenants, millers, smiths, brewers, and castle guests.
  5. Barony & Justiciary Court Books (1621–1642): Jury lists, bloodwite fines, cattle-theft trials, and local disputes.
  6. The 1638 Muster Rolls: Farm-by-farm lists of able-bodied men and their weapons (swords, targes, hagbuts, and Lochaber axes).
• Researcher’s Front Matter & Legal Glossary: Includes a plain-English guide to 16th-century Scottish legal terms (calp, steelbow, fiar, compurgation, herezeld) and a transparent historiographical guide explaining the source's partisan biases and limitations.

🔍 Complete List of All 198 Standardized Surnames Indexed Inside

Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) on this page to check if your family surname appears in this research guide:

Ade, Alesoun, Alexander, Andersone, Andersoun, Andersoune, Arcach, Areskyn, Aurmar, Balfour, Ballantyne, Balvaird, Banerman, Barclay, Barre, Barroun, Battisone, Baxter, Bischope, Blair, Bochannan, Borrych, Bowie, Bowy, Boyd, Broun, Broune, Brovne, Brown, Brus, Brwin, Brwn, Brws, Burdonne, Butter, Cameroun, Campbell, Camrone, Cardini, Cargill, Carswell, Chapmanboy, Charlissoun, Chrearar, Chrearer, Chrystie, Clerk, Cokbwrn, Colquhoun, Colvill, Colvine, Combrie, Comrie, Comry, Corswell, Crerar, Crerare, Crychtoun, Crystie, Culquhoun, Cunynghame, Curle, Cwnygem, Cwnynghame, Cwnyson, Dalgleische, Dauidsone, Dickson, Doer, Dog, Doire, Dormond, Dormound, Dougallson, Dougalson, Dougalssone, Douglas, Dow, Drummond, Drummound, Duncanbegson, Duncanson, Duncansoun, Edmestoun, Elder, Erskine, Erskyn, Esker, Espik, Ewiot, Farcharsone, Fargisone, Fergusone, Fleiming, Flemyng, Fostyr, Fyschear, Galt, Gass, Gaw, Glas, Gordon, Gordoun, Gow, Graham, Grahame, Granger, Grant, Gray, Graysich, Gregorii, Gressich, Hadden, Haidman, Haldin, Hamilton, Hammill, Hammiltoun, Hay, Hebrune, Henderson, Hendrysone, Henrysone, Henrysoun, Hepbwrn, Home, Huttoun, Innes, Irwine, Irwing, Jack, Jak, Jamesone, Johnesone, Johnson, Jore, Kelburne, Keyth, Kincaid, Kippen, Kyll, Kynroiss, Lacok, Latocnaye, Lawmonth, Le-Ly, Leche, Leiche, Leischeman, Leitch, Leslie, Levingstoun, Leyche, Leytht, Lindesay, Linsay, Litster, Lokhart, Lownan, MacAchrerar, MacAchrerer, MacAclerich, MacAclerycht, MacAglescherycht, MacAgowin, MacAindew, MacAlaster, MacAlester, MacAllam, MacAllane, MacAllester, MacAndro, MacAne, MacAnevellich, MacAnevoill, MacAngus, MacApersoun, MacArbre, MacArbrie, MacArthour, MacArtna, MacArtour, MacAuchlay, MacAuihlay, MacAule, MacAustillan, MacAvicar, MacAvir, MacAvyr, MacAvyre, MacAwyre, MacAynmalycht, MacAynweyll, MacBay, MacBayne, MacBean, MacBuiure, MacCairlycht, MacCallum, MacCaniss, MacCarbre, MacCarbrie, MacCarbyr, MacCarlich, MacCaule, MacCaull, MacCawis, MacCawlay, MacChale, MacChrerar, MacClagan, MacClean, MacClen, MacClerich, MacCleriche, MacClerycht, MacColeis, MacComas, MacComey, MacComie, MacComy, MacConachwy, MacConachyw, MacConilgorme, MacConoquhie, MacCorcadill, MacCouilaid, MacCouill, MacCouillaid, MacCoulcheir, MacCoule, MacCoull, MacCowle, MacCowyll, MacCrarthe, MacCrom, MacCuiure, MacCullein, MacCulloch, MacDonald, MacDonchie, MacDonell, MacDonnell, MacDougall, MacDowgall, MacDuff, MacDugall, MacDuif, MacEan, MacEane, MacEanroy, MacEiure, MacEmeweyr, MacEmoweyr, MacEncheir, MacEnduy, MacEnos, MacEntailyeour, MacEuiure, MacEvyn, MacEwar, MacEwen, MacEwin, MacEwinduy, MacEwine, MacEwir, MacEwyn, MacFarlan, MacFarlane, MacFinlay, MacGenab, MacGenayr, MacGestalcar, MacGibbon, MacGibone, MacGilbert, MacGilchallum, MacGillechallum, MacGillecheir, MacGillechonile, MacGillechonnyll, MacGillechreist, MacGillechrist, MacGillefedder, MacGillegarvie, MacGillekeyr, MacGillelan, MacGillemairtene, MacGillemartine, MacGillemertene, MacGillemoyle, MacGillenlag, MacGillepatrik, MacGillequhoan, MacGillequhonil, MacGillequhonill, MacGillequhonnill, MacGillerawyth, MacGillerioch, MacGillespic, MacGillespick, MacGillespie, MacGillespik, MacGilleveir, MacGillevene, MacGillevernan, MacGilleverthane, MacGillevorie, MacGillewra, MacGorrie, MacGrassych, MacGregor, MacGregour, MacGressiche, MacGynnab, MacGynthossych, MacGynthossye, MacHale, MacHouston, MacHuston, MacIlegirf, MacIllecheir, MacIllechonile, MacIllechreist, MacIllegerif, MacIllemertein, MacIllepatrik, MacIllereoch, MacIllevallich, MacIlleverchan, MacIllevernak, MacIllevollycht, MacIlleweyne, MacIllewie, MacIllewlane, MacIllguis, MacIllichear, MacIllichrist, MacInayr, MacIndayn, MacIndene, MacIndeor, MacIndeora, MacIndewar, MacIndla, MacIndoctor, MacIndoer, MacIndoire, MacInlestar, MacInnwer, MacInnyeskar, MacInstalker, MacIntagart, MacIntailliour, MacIntaillour, MacIntailyeour, MacIntailzeour, MacIntalyeour, MacInteir, MacIntheir, MacInthosse, MacIntosche, MacIntuorine, MacIntworine, MacIntyir, MacIntyr, MacJames, MacJok, MacKay, MacKeandley, MacKeich, MacKein, MacKeirmoit, MacKeissik, MacKellar, MacKeller, MacKellop, MacKenrik, MacKerlich, MacKerlycht, MacKermit, MacKerrachar, MacKerras, MacKerres, MacKessane, MacKewer, MacKewny, MacKie, MacKillib, MacKillop, MacKinyesker, MacKnab, MacKnie, MacKveir, MacKylt, MacLaran, MacLauran, MacLaurane, MacLaurent, MacLean, MacLecheir, MacLechreist, MacLehoan, MacLehoniell, MacLeine, MacLen, MacLereoch, MacLespy, MacLevorrie, MacLewyne, MacMesker, MacMeskir, MacMyller, MacNab, MacNabe, MacNacaird, MacNachtag, MacNachtan, MacNachtane, MacNachtyn, MacNactan, MacNair, MacNauchtane, MacNaughtan, MacNecaird, MacNeill, MacNesker, MacNevin, MacNeyll, MacNicoll, MacNivaine, MacNokerd, MacOlaine, MacOlane, MacOlcallum, MacOlchallum, MacOldouich, MacOldouycht, MacOlduy, MacOlean, MacOleis, MacOmie, MacOnachtan, MacOnauchtan, MacOnile, MacOnoquhy, MacOntochief, MacOrquidill, MacOulroy, MacPall, MacPatrik, MacPaule, MacPhatryk, MacQueane, MacQuein, MacQueine, MacQuene, MacQuherich, MacQuhewin, MacQuian, MacQuorcodill, MacRobert, MacRostie, MacRuv, MacStalker, MacTarlich, MacThomas, MacThomy, MacVaime, MacVaine, MacVane, MacVeane, MacVellen, MacVorciss, MacVorist, MacWalstoune, MacWeame, MacWerycht, MacWilliam, MacWirzicht, MacWorche, MacWorriche, MacWoyllen, MacYndocater, MacYndoir, MacYnstalker, MacYntallnour, MacYnteir, MacYnvorr, Makacherar, Makachrerar, Makaclairich, Makaclerich, Makallester, Makarbrie, Makarstir, Makarthure, Makauchlay, Makavicker, Makawlay, Makbaine, Makcarbre, Makcarbrie, Makclairich, Makclane, Makconeill, Makconnochie, Makcouilaid, Makcoull, Makcrres, Makcwill, Makdonald, Makdonaquhy, Makdormound, Makdougall, Makdoull, Makduf, Makdugal, Makduir, Makeane, Makerliche, Makessen, Makevin, Makewin, Makfinlay, Makgibboun, Makgregour, Makgregoure, Makillevollich, Makilleweyne, Makindeora, Makindoirn, Makinlay, Makinnair, Makinstalker, Makintailzeour, Makintailzeoure, Makintyir, Makkeissak, Makkerress, Makkessen, Maklauchlane, Maklaurene, Maklinow, Maklivoirrie, Makmesker, Maknab, Maknabe, Maknachtan, Maknee, Makneill, Makni, Makniche, Makolchallum, Makonaquhy, Makpaull, Makphersone, Makrobert, Makthomas, Makthomis, Mallcomson, Mawire, Maxton, Meiklejohne, Meinzeis, Meinzies, Mentetht, Menzeis, Menzes, Menzheis, Menzies, Merser, Millar, Miller, Mitchell, Moncreiff, Moncrief, Monteith, Mowatt, Murra, Murray, Naper, Neill, Neilson, Neindonald, Neyllson, Nicoleis, Niklauchlane, Nikolleane, N’Chastyllan, N’Gynnayr, N’Vane, Ogilvie, Orknay, Patone, Pawtown, Peddie, Pennant, Peter, Petir, Phietar, Pitcarne, Primroiss, Pringill, Prymrois, Puderach, Pudrach, Pudroch, Pudroche, Purdie, Pypar, Quhit, Quhyt, Quhyte, Rae, Ramsay, Reddoch, Reddoche, Reddocht, Redecht, Redhet, Redocht, Reid, Reidheuch, Reoch, Reoche, Rewen, Richie, Rid, Rioch, Robert, Robertson, Robertsone, Robertsoun, Rollok, Rothwen, Ruthuen, Ruthven, Ruthwen, Sanderis, Scandoner, Schaw, Schawe, Scherar, Scot, Scott, Scrymgeour, Shandebar, Short, Sinclair, Singlar, Smyth, Sowthyrland, Spens, Staineris, Stanness, Steinie, Stennes, Steuart, Stevinsoun, Steward, Stewart, Stewert, Stirling, Striveling, Stuart, Stwart, Suire, Symson, Taillour, Tailyeour, Toschach, Toscheach, Toscheoch, Toscheocht, Toschocht, Turnour, Vykfail, Walcar, Wardlaw, Warton, Williamsoun, Wricht, Wylzemson, Yarrow.

📥 Product Specifications & Instant Digital Delivery

• Format: High-resolution, 100% text-searchable Digital PDF Workbook.
• Length: 14 densely formatted pages (US Letter, 8.5" x 11") designed for easy desktop searching or home printing.
• Source Citation: Keyed directly to Cosmo Innes (Ed.), The Black Book of Taymouth, with Other Papers from the Breadalbane Charter Room (Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1855).
• Delivery: Instant digital download link sent immediately upon checkout. (Note: This is a digital PDF product; no physical book will be shipped.)