Birth, marriage and death records can help you assemble some of the most basic biographical details about your ancestors. Civil registration for births, marriages and deaths was introduced in 1837 in England and Wales, 1855 in Scotland and 1864 in Ireland. But before this, the information you need may be in a church register. Use the links below to guide you to the records you need.

England and Wales

Before 1837

After 1837

Scotland

Before 1855

After 1855

Ireland

Before 1921

After 1922

Channel Islands

Isle of Man

Abroad or at sea (British persons only)

New online - a new partnership project between The National Archives and S&N Genealogy Supplies means that you can now access images of these records online. BMD Registers provides access to the non-parochial and nonconformist registers 1567-1840, held in RG 4, RG 5 and RG6. This includes the births, marriages and burials certificates and notes of the Society of Friends' (Quakers) plus the birth registry of Baptist, Presbyterian and Protestant Dissenters (known as 'Dr Williams Library'). Basic searching is free of charge, but there is a fee for advanced searching and to download images.