Collection Information
Civil registration was introduced in the UK in 1837. For vital record information before the nineteenth century, parish records (primarily baptisms, marriages and burials) are the best source. They can go as far back as 1538.
Our England & Wales Birth, Marriage and Death (BMD) Index collections (1837 - 2005) provide the most complete resource available online. All of these records are completely name searchable. For vital records before 1837, we have the Parish Registers, where you can find UK parish baptism, marriage and burial records.
Births, marriages and deaths are key events that mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Civil Registration records, usually kept by a civic authority, Parish Registers, or church authorities, give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to new generations.
Sample Images
Search Tips
- When a birth, marriage or death is registered, a certificate is filled out and the information is kept on file and added to the summary register, or Index, of all the events. As in books, the Indexes won't tell you everything, but will give you key information, such as names, dates (specifically quarters) and places (the district the event occurred).
- For any births, marriages or deaths before 1837, you should be searching through the Parish Registers, which you can find in our UK Parish Baptism, Marriage and Burial Records collection.