Uncover Your Highland Past: Long-lost Voices of Crofters are Now Just a Click Away

For anyone tracing their roots through the misty glens and islands of Scotland, a powerful new window to the past has just opened. On 5 November 2025, National Records of Scotland released a treasure trove of history, making approximately 16,000 entries from the landmark Napier Commission freely searchable online for the first time on ScotlandsPeople.

More Than Just Records: A Family’s Story

Imagine hearing the direct testimony of your ancestors as they fought for the very land beneath their feet. Established in 1883, the Napier Commission gave a voice to crofters and cottars who were battling for fair treatment and the right to call their homes their own. (1) For five months, the commission traveled the Highlands and Islands, listening to the hopes and hardships of 775 ordinary people.

These aren’t just dry lists of names. They are intimate snapshots of crofting life. You can find your family’s name, see the exact plot of land they worked, what they paid in rent, and even the animals they relied on for survival. (2) For the first time, you might discover the crucial economic roles of women in your family or the multi-generational support networks that helped them endure, details often lost to time in standard census records.

The People Behind the History

Among the thousands of voices is John Macpherson, the “Skye Martyr,” who was jailed for his role in the Battle of the Braes. His entry, listing his croft’s valuation and his livestock, sits alongside thousands of others, painting a vivid picture of a community under pressure but fiercely resilient.

This grassroots movement was ultimately successful. The commission’s work led directly to the historic Crofters’ Holdings Act of 1886, which finally granted security of tenure. (3) These records are the raw, human documentation of that struggle — the very words and circumstances that helped reshape Highland society.

Accessing the Records

The Napier Commission returns are available to search free of charge at ScotlandsPeople, offering researchers worldwide an unprecedented opportunity to explore their Highland heritage through the authentic voices of their ancestors.

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Sources:
[1] The Scotsman, “Highland Clearances: The 16,000 records behind the hard-fought battle by crofters for land rights” (November 2025)
[2] National Records of Scotland via ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk
[3] The Scotsman, “Highland Clearances: The 16,000 records behind the hard-fought battle by crofters for land rights” (November 2025)