Parish Registers were instigated by Thomas Cromwell from 1538 in the reign of Henry VIII, recording every wedding, baptism and burial. There are gaps in the records for a variety of reasons, such as the civil war, but these records are a prime source for building family trees. From 1597 a copy of the records had to be made and sent to the Bishop. Sometimes the Bishops' Transcript may contain more information than the original, so it can often be worthwhile tracking down both. For more information on Parish Registers there is a brief history on the Wikipedia Parish Register page.
After 1837 Civil Registration was introduced and the Local BMD and GRO BMD records become the primary source.
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Births, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates - BMD Index |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Complete GRO indexes online & Non-Parochial BMDs service. Includes overseas BMD's for armed forces. |
| Extra Info: | Includes Pre-1837 Non-Conformist BMDs |
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Find My Past - BMD's, Parish Records and More |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Find My Past - BMD's, Parish Records and More |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | A Romany Gypsy & Traveller Heritage Project |
| Link: | https://www.romaheritage.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Romani Parish and Census records |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | ADDYMAN One Name Study |
| Link: | https://ons.addyman.homeip.net/ |
| Description: | ADDYMAN One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Parish Records |
| Title: | Baptisms - England and Wales Christening Records |
| Link: | England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1980 |
| Description: | England and Wales Christening Records, 1530-1980 |
| Extra Info: | Not complete. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Census, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | BATSTONE One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.thebatstones.org.uk/OneNameStudy/index.... |
| Description: | BATSTONE One Name Study |
| Classification: | Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | BLISS Family History Society and One Name Study |
| Link: | https://blissfhs.com/ |
| Description: | BLISS Family History Society and One Name Study |
| Classification: | Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | BOLSTRIDGE One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.bolstridge.co.uk/genealogy/index.php |
| Description: | BOLSTRIDGE One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Use sources to search for types of information such as burials. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | CLUETT / CLEWETT Records and One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.cluett.org.uk/ |
| Description: | CLUETT / CLEWETT Records and One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Part way down the home page is the Search link. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | CREE One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.cree.name/ |
| Description: | CREE One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | CRIBB Family Name |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20150801100140/http://w... |
| Description: | CRIBB Family Name Birth, Marriage and Death and Burial Records |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer active. Most data still seems to be available. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | DACKOMBE / DACOMBE Family History |
| Link: | http://www.terrys.org.uk/ |
| Description: | DACKOMBE / DACOMBE Family History |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | DALTON Data Bank and One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.daltondatabank.org/ |
| Description: | DALTON Data Bank and One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | DEBENHAM Family History |
| Link: | https://debenham.org.uk/Personal/ |
| Description: | DEBENHAM Family History |
| Extra Info: | DEBENHAM and DEBNAM family history. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | DIBDEN One Name Study |
| Link: | https://www.angelfire.com/ar3/dibden_onename/ |
| Description: | DIBDEN One Name Study, Including Variants |
| Extra Info: | Many references to the DIBDEN name. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | DOIG and Variants One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.doig.net/ |
| Description: | DOIG and Variants One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Including Doig, Doige, Doigg, Doeg and Doegg |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | DYSON Family of Worcestershire |
| Link: | http://www.dyson-family-of-worcestershire.co.uk/ |
| Description: | DYSON Family of Worcestershire |
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Census, Parish Records, Pedigrees, Visitations |
| Title: | England Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | England Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | England Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes 1861-1901 Censuses; 1837-2005 GRO BMD; visitations and other records. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | English Clandestine Marriages |
| Link: | https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/england-clandestine-marriages |
| Description: | English Clandestine Marriages from 1667 to 1775. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Family History Books via Family Search |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Family History Books via Family Search |
| Extra Info: | More than 40,000 digitized genealogy and family history publications from the archives of some of the most important family history libraries in the world. Read online for free. Includes some parish register transcripts. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Family Search - Maps |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search - Maps |
| Extra Info: | Maps showing where parish boundaries are, when registers were first started. Not complete coverage. Click on map in the map screen to view road names. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Bishops Transcripts, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Family Search Records Collection - England |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search Records Collection - England |
| Extra Info: | An increasing number of records, including census and parish records. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Family Search Records Collection - Worldwide |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search Records Collection - Worldwide |
| Extra Info: | Includes the England and Wales 1841 & 1861 Census, and foreign records, such as the American census that contains Britons who were aboard. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | FE(A)THERSTON((E)HAUGH) One Name Study |
| Link: | https://featherstone.one-name.net/ |
| Description: | FE(A)THERSTON((E)HAUGH) One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | FOSKETT One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.foskett-genealogy.co.uk/ |
| Description: | FOSKETT One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Click on records for many FOSKETTs. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, National, Parish Records |
| Title: | FreeReg Project |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Transcriptions for Parish Registers |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | HAWGOOD One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.hawgood.co.uk/Ons/ |
| Description: | HAWGOOD One Name Study |
| Classification: | Parish Records, Pedigrees, Visitations |
| Title: | Hertfordshire County Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | Hertfordshire County Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | Hertfordshire County Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes parish register extracts; Visitations of Hertfordshire, 1572 and 1634 |
| Classification: | Deaths, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Hertfordshire Online Indexes |
| Link: | https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/librarie... |
| Description: | Hertfordshire Online Indexes |
| Extra Info: | Use the Hertfordshire Names Online Search. Includes marriage licenses 1538-1922 and fatalities 1827-1933. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Obituaries, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | HOCKLEY Family History |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~hockley/genealogy/h... |
| Description: | HOCKLEY Family History |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | HOLLINGWORTH One Name Study |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20110611071735/http://h... |
| Description: | HOLLINGWORTH One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of the site -most information still seems to be available. HOLLINGWORTH and variations. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | HUTCHINGS Family Website |
| Link: | http://www.hutchings.me |
| Description: | HUTCHINGS Family Website |
| Extra Info: | Mainly HUTCHINGS in and around Sturminster Newton, Dorset, although transcriptions of all areas for census. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Internet Archive |
| Link: | http://archive.org/ |
| Description: | Internet Archive |
| Extra Info: | Has many scanned books, including some parish registers. Click on texts and then search the archive. Note baptism and baptisms give different results. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | KITNEY and KIDNEY Family Genealogy |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20140527190335/http://k... |
| Description: | KITNEY and KIDNEY Family Genealogy |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of the site. Most information is still available to view. Be patient, some pages (especially census) make take a while to download. |
| Classification: | Births, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | LEECH / LEACH Family Genealogy |
| Link: | http://www.leechfamily.myzen.co.uk/ |
| Description: | LEECH / LEACH and Related Family Genealogy |
| Extra Info: | Also includes Harris, Jordan / Jurdan, Sparrow, Wilson-Webb / Webb, Death, Doyle, and Savage. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | LEVEY Family History and Genealogy |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20150911094613/http://w... |
| Description: | LEVEY Family History and Genealogy |
| Extra Info: | This is an archived copy of a site which is no longer active. Most of the parish registers and census information are still available. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Marriages - England and Wales |
| Link: | England & Wales Marriages, 1538-1988 |
| Description: | England and Wales Marriages, 1538-1988 |
| Extra Info: | Not complete. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | NINEHAM One Name Study |
| Link: | https://web.archive.org/web/20160310234812/http://... |
| Description: | NINEHAM One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer live, however most information still seems to be available to view. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records |
| Title: | Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial BMDs |
| Link: | https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/affiliate/?affid=... |
| Description: | Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial BMDs from the National Archive, hosted by The Genealogist |
| Extra Info: | They include the birth records at Dr Williams' Library in London, hospital records of maternity, overseas registrations for British citizens and those on board ships. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Nonconformist Register - Northowram of Coley Register |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/nonconformistreg00byuhe... |
| Description: | Nonconformist Register - Northowram or Coley Register 1644-1752 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Parish Registers 1584-1620. Index of surnames and place names at end of book. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register - William Bradock's Guide 1910 |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregister00braduof... |
| Description: | Parish Register - William Bradock's Guide 1910 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. It explains that start of parish registers and other associated items, such as Phillimore marriages, Hardwicke's marriage act, banns, explanation of register entries, foundlings, as well as some interesting register extracts. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Aldenham, Hertfordshire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregisterso02alde |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Aldenham, Hertfordshire |
| Extra Info: | Online book, published 1910. Registers 1660-1812. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Aldenham, Hertfordshire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregisterso00aldeu... |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Aldenham, Hertfordshire |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Registers 1559-1659. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Ardeley, Hertfordshire, Extracts |
| Link: | https://archive.org/details/extractsfrompari00arde... |
| Description: | Extracts of the Parish Registers of Ardeley, Hertfordshire |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Extracts 1546-1701. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Thorley - St James the Great, Hertfordshire |
| Link: | http://www.friends-stjames.org/ |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Thorley - St James the Great, Hertfordshire |
| Extra Info: | Baptisms 1751-1960, marriages 1754-1961 and burials 1813-1992. Also database and transcriptions of the monuments in the churchyard. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Parishmouse Family History Guides |
| Link: | https://www.parishmouse.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Parish Registers, Parish Records and Historical Directories. |
| Extra Info: | Each parish page provides a list of adjacent parishes, historical descriptions of the parish, links to free parish registers and records. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | PENNYFATHER One Name Study |
| Link: | https://pennyfather.one-name.net/ |
| Description: | PENNYFATHER One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | POULTON Web - Also MELLOR, WHITE, TWEED and Associated Families |
| Link: | http://www.thanksfrank.co.uk/ |
| Description: | POULTON Web - Also MELLOR, WHITE, TWEED and Associated Families |
| Extra Info: | Many names and places included on this site. The name index also indicates records for that name. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | POWIS Surname and variants One-name Study |
| Link: | http://www.4trudy.co.uk/ |
| Description: | POWIS Surname and variants One-name Study |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | PRATLEY One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.pratley.info/ |
| Description: | PRATLEY One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | PURSGLOVE One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.pursglove.org.uk/ |
| Description: | PURSGLOVE One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Includes variants such as Purseglove, Purslove, Purselove, Purssglove. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | RAMSDALE Family Register |
| Link: | http://www.ramsdale.org/ |
| Description: | RAMSDALE Family Register |
| Extra Info: | Includes variants Ramsdall, Ramsdal, Ramsdell, Ramsdill and Ramsdaille. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Romany References and Records |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20091026134802/http://g... |
| Description: | Romany References and Records |
| Extra Info: | This is an archived copy of a site that is no longer active, although most information still seems to be available. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | SACKETT Family Association |
| Link: | https://www.sackettfamily.info/ |
| Description: | SACKETT Family Association |
| Extra Info: | Click on Research Databases for transcriptions. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | SERCOMBE, SIRCOMBE, SURCOMBE, or SIRCOM One Name study |
| Link: | http://www.mit.edu/~dfm/genealogy/sercombe.html |
| Description: | A Compilation of SERCOMBE Families |
| Extra Info: | Scroll down to sources of information. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | STERRY One Name Study |
| Link: | https://www.sterryworldwide.com/ |
| Description: | STERRY One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Includes extracts from civil registration, parish records and marriage licences. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | STONER Genealogical Databases |
| Link: | http://www.stoner.org.uk/ |
| Description: | STONER Genealogical Databases |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | STRANGE, STRAINGE and Variants One Name Study |
| Link: | https://yourtotalevent.com/people/Strange/idxpepl.... |
| Description: | STRANGE and STRAINGE Family History |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | STRUDWICK One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.strudwicke.com/ |
| Description: | STRUDWICK One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | SWANTON Family Records |
| Link: | http://www.ginnisw.com/ |
| Description: | SWANTON Family Records |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Therfield Village Data |
| Link: | http://www.hagger.org/Therfield/index.htm |
| Description: | Therfield Village Data |
| Extra Info: | Includes Therfield people found in the Sandon records. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | WELLS Family Research |
| Link: | http://sites.rootsweb.com/~wellsfam/wfraone.html |
| Description: | WELLS Family Research |
| Extra Info: | Scroll down for country specific records. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | WESTAWAY One Name Study |
| Link: | https://web.archive.org/web/20210903002103/http://... |
| Description: | WESTAWAY One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer active. Most information is still available to view. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | YEO One Name Study |
| Link: | https://yeoonline.net/ |
| Description: | YEO One Name Study |
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