News

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.

ANDERSON … Origin of Anderson … Most surnames originating in Shetland were patronymic - the children taking their father's forename with -son added to it. Andersons are descended from men called Andrew.

A new initiative launched in Shetland … The official launch of the Sharing Shetland Surnames initiative takes place on Sunday, 8th June.

Members should note that current memberships expire on 31st December 2013. You can renew or purchase a membership here online. If renewing please quote your current membership number, which if you have forgotten, has been sent out with your latest issue of our journal Coontin Kin.

We would love to have images to populate all the parish map pop-out windows. Two images is the minimum we are looking for so if anyone would like to donate images of any of these parishes please email the Editor at: [email protected]