Question: What Can I Learn from the Birth, Death or Marriage Certificate?
Answer: When researching ancestors from England and/or Wales, civil registration records after 1837 can provide a wealth of information:
Information in a Birth Certificate
- date and place of birth
- name and sex of the child
- full name and maiden surname of the mother
- full name and occupation of the father (if married to the mother, or if he signed the registration entry)
- from 1969, the place of birth of both parents
- the informant's name, address, and relationship to the child
Information in a Marriage Certificate
- date and place of marriage
- marital status of the bride and groom
- whether by banns, license, or certificate
- names and ages of the bride and groom ('full age' indicates that the person was over 21)
- current addresses and occupations of the bride and groom
- names and occupations of their fathers
- names of witnesses
Information in a Death Certificate
- name of the deceased
- date and place of death
- given age (from 1866)
- cause(s) of death (after April 1969)
- occupation (or the name and occupation of husband if the deceased is a married or widowed woman)
- name, address, and family relationship of the informant
- date and place of birth
- address of the deceased
- maiden name (if a married or widowed woman)
