Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates in England and Wales

On 1 July 1837 civil registration was established recording all births, marriages and deaths in registers kept by the Registrar General.

In order to obtain information from the registers it is first necessary to search the General Register Office indexes and then apply for a birth, marriage or death certificate.

Certificates provide the following information:

Birth

• Registration District
• Sub-district
• County
• When Born
• Where Born
• Name
• Sex
• Name and Surname of Father - (In the case of illegitimacy this information is usually not given)
• Name, Surname and Maiden Surname of Mother
• Occupation of Father
• Description and Residence of Informant
• When Registered

Marriage

• Registration District
• Place of Marriage
• When Married

and the following information for both bride and groom:

• Name and Surname
• Age - (Sometimes given merely as "full", meaning at least age 21)
• Condition
• Rank or Profession
• Residence at Time of Marriage
• Father's Name and Surname - (The names of the mothers are not given)
• Rank or Profession of Father

Death

• Registration District
• Sub-district
• County
• When and Where Died
• Name and Surname
• Sex
• Age
• Occupation
• Cause of Death
• Description and Residence of Informant
• When Registered

English death certificates do not provide any information on parents or other family members.

If you have the complete GRO reference go to our Certificate Ordering Form

If you do not have the complete GRO reference
Use our Research Request Form. We can search the General Register Office indexes and obtain a certificate for you if the correct entry is found.