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 Marriage Records in the UK

Viewing Marriage Records: 1837 - 2005

After 1837, marriage records are easily searchable and the best way to view them is online through services like BMDindex.co.uk and TheGenealogist. These online services provide searchable records with a user-friendly interface, and prices start from as little as £5.

As you can see, the records are available in image format for records from 1837 to 1983, and database format for records 1984 - 2004.

There is also the option of creating a surname map, which is a new feature at BMDindex.co.uk - you simply type in a surname and year, and it will give you the places where people with a particular surname lived at that time.

You can also search transcripts of the marriages at TheGenealogist.co.uk. They have added these records to a new tool that lets you search across all their Birth, Marriage and Death transcripts with built in SmartSearch technology, automatically showing partners full name where available, and enabling you find potential parents from a birth, potential children to a marriage and potential birth records from a death record.

Viewing Marriage Records: 1538 - 1837

Parish Records available on CD-ROMMarriage Records before 1837 are only available in Parish Registers. This is because BMD records have only been kept by law since 1837. Parish Records give you baptism, marriage and burial information.

Parish Records were started in 1538 - a law was passed that ordered each clergyman to record baptisms, marriages and burials in the prescence of a Churchwarden. These records were kept in a book in the church - today, they are kept in a County Record Office.

However, since archivists are reluctant to allow handling of these old and unique books, it is advised you view the records on CD-ROM or online - this will not only save you time, but the records are searchable so you can find the person you are looking for in seconds rather than going through an old book which could take hours.

Which website shall I use?

The Genealogist

The Genealogist - UK census, BMDs and more online

TheGenealogist is a vast online research site.

Whether you are a beginner and have a lot of research to do or are already an experienced family historian, TheGenealogist offers more resources and better value-for-money in the long-term.

It's not just census that you can get online to help with your family history research. TheGenealogist offers all these different types of data in a premium subscription:

  • Births, marriages and deaths 1600 - 2005
  • Census indexes & transcripts
  • Parish records
  • Non-conformist records
  • Wills, probates & testaments
  • Directories
  • Military & regimental records
  • School, college & university registers
  • Peerage & Heritage records
  • Newspapers & magazines
  • and more...

Why choose TheGenealogist.co.uk?

  • Award-winning site
  • BMDs 1600-2005
  • Census indexes and transcripts 1841 to 1911
  • Parish Registers
  • The widest coverage: 1127 to 2005
  • Quality data, checked by experts
  • The widest range of records
  • Unique search tools

Find out more at www.thegenealogist.co.uk.

 

Search for your ancestors:

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Surname

Born In/Date From

Died In/Date To

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BMD Index

BMDindex.co.uk has the index to the complete range of birth, marriage and death records (BMD) from 1837 onwards as published by the GRO - that's 169 years of data, or an amazing 255 million events! Access from only £5.

BMD Registers

The Official Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial BMDs Service, in association with The National Archives. For records of birth, baptism, marriage, death and burial taken from non parish sources.

 

S&N Genealogy Supplies

UK Genealogy supplies and Family History site offering products including UK genealogy software, storage products, data CDs (census, parish records, directories and more), books and charts.

GENfair

The “One-Stop Shop” for Family and Local Historians. Browse tens of thousands of family history products from hundreds of suppliers.