The National Records of Scotland (NRS) is a non-ministerial department of the Scottish Government responsible for civil registration—including births, deaths, marriages, and adoptions—the national census, demographic statistics, and archival services. Formed in 2011 through the merger of the General Register Office for Scotland and the National Archives of Scotland, NRS maintains one of the most comprehensive historical record collections in the UK, spanning documents from the 12th century to today. Based in Edinburgh’s historic General and New Register Houses, the agency preserves and makes accessible key public records such as census data, legal registers, wills, and maps. NRS also promotes public access to genealogy services, supports archival practices across Scotland, and maintains the official Scottish Register of Tartans.