Whether you are looking to obtain a copy of a certificate or just want to verify a person’s details then these basic records can be easily traced.
BMD Records – England & Wales
In England and Wales, you will find records of Births, Marriages and Deaths are kept by the General Register Office. This is part of the National Office of Statistics. (ONS). They have been keeping BMD records since July 1837 when it was required by law to record every birth, marriage and death. Prior to that you will need to search Parish Records.
To order a copy of a record you will probably need an index number for which there is a charge. A free database of index numbers can be found on the website FreeBMD. Accessing the index at some libraries and archive centres is also possible.
Scotland’s Records
Scottish BMD records are kept by the Registrar General for Scotland at the New Register House in Edinburgh. Registers of births, marriages and deaths are available from 1855 to the present. Church Registers and Census returns can be found on the same website.
You can search the statutory records at https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
Records in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s Birth, Marriage and Death records are recorded by the General Register Office of Northern Ireland (GRONI). They can be found at the Nothern Irish government’s website requires registration so you may find it easier searching at https://www.emeraldancestors.com/
Earlier records before this statistical data may be found in local parish registers. These are generally kept in local council archives, however a growing number are being made available by Online Parish Clerks. These are transcribed by volunteers and listed on FamilySearch.org.
Birth certificates usually show:
- Date and place of birth
- Name and gender
- Names of parents (including mother’s maiden name)
- Father’s occupation
- Name, description and address of the informant
- Date of registration
Marriage certificates usually show:
- Date and place of marriage
- Forenames and surnames of bride and groom
- Ages of bride and groom (‘full age’ means 21 or over)
- Abode of bride and groom
- Father’s name and occupation for both bride and groom
- Names of witnesses
Death certificates usually show:
- Date and place of death
- Full name
- Age at death
- Occupation
- Cause of death
- Name, description and address of the informant
- Date of registration
