England Marriage Records
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How to Find England Marriage Records Using Guided Research[edit | edit source]
To find a marriage record, choose the county the marriage occurred:
- Don't know the county? — Go to England Guided Research
The England counties listed above are based on historic boundaries pre-1974. The records dating before 1974 are located within the information found in the historic counties. This practice better assists our patrons who are researching their ancestors before the modern time period.
Introduction to Marriage Records[edit | edit source]
In England there are two record types that can give marriage information, Church Records and Civil Registration.
Before 1837 only churches recorded birth (baptism), marriage, and death information in England (see England Church Records). In the early 1800s, Parliament recognized the need for accurate records for voting, planning, taxation, and defense purposes. Legislation was passed to create a civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths for England and Wales and, for registering the same for British subjects abroad. England (and Wales) registration began on 1 July 1837, and covered births, marriages, divorces and deaths. However one problem with English civil registration is that coverage was not universal, especially in the earlier years before tougher laws in 1874. Use Church Records in these cases.
Church Records - Before 1837[edit | edit source]
Church records are the main source for marriage information prior to 1837.
Although a nationwide order was given in 1538 that each parish keep a register of baptisms, marriages, and burials, many parishes did not start to keep registers until later and some early records have since been lost or destroyed. Beginning in 1598, birth entries from many parishes were copied and sent annually to the bishop of the area diocese. These copies are known as Bishop’s Transcripts or BTs.
Civil Registration - After 1837[edit | edit source]
Coverage and Compliance
In 1837, the government in England and Wales required all births, marriages, and deaths to be recorded. Initially, up to 15% of events were not recorded, but that did not last long. By 1875, registration was mandatory and there were penalties for non-compliance. Most events since 1875 are registered.
A birth had to be registered with the register office within 42 days. The law required all marriages to be recorded in a civil register immediately after the ceremony. Because a death certificate was required for burial beginning in 1837, almost all deaths were registered.
Content of Marriage Records[edit | edit source]
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Typically, the English married in their 20's. You may find records that show a couple’s “intent to marry” in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Sometimes, however, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married. Church of England parish register marriage records usually contain:
- Marriage date
- Name of the bride and groom
After 1753, the records are more likely to show:
- Residence of the bride and groom
- Marital status of bride and groom
- May list the dates that the marriage was announced (also called “banns published”). This normally took place on three separate occasions prior to the marriage and gave anyone with a valid reason a chance to object to the marriage.
- After 1753, a form was used for parish registers
- After 1753, whether marriage was by banns or license
- After 1753, the full names of usually two witnesses
- After 1753, the minister's name
After 30 June 1837, marriage records also include:
- Age of the bride and groom
- Name and occupation of fathers of bride and groom
There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry, see Marriage Allegations, Bonds and Licences in England and Wales.
- By Banns. A law required couples to have the minister announce or post notice of their intent to marry for three consecutive Sundays, unless they obtained a license. This gave others the opportunity to object to the marriage. Beginning in 1754, officials recorded banns in separate registers. Banns registers contain information almost identical to marriage registers, but banns usually do not list the witnesses or marriage date.
- By License. A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop, for a license when:
- Circumstances made it desirable to marry without waiting the three weeks required for the proclamation of banns.
- The bride and groom lived in different dioceses.
- A couple preferred not to subject themselves to publication of banns (common among upper classes and nonconformists).
Civil Registration[edit | edit source]
A marriage certificate gives:
- marriage date and place
- names of the bride and groom, their ages, their marital "condition" (single or widowed), their professions, and their residences at the time of the marriage
- names and occupations of their fathers (and sometimes whether they were deceased)
- signatures or marks of the bride, groom, and witnesses
- also notes whether the bride and groom were married in a church (with the denomination given) and, if so, whether they were married by banns or by license.
The law required all marriages to be recorded in a civil register immediately after the ceremony. Marriages were often performed at the bride’s parish
Because the marriage information found in the civil certificates of marriage, are an exact replica of the church registers of marriage, there is no need to consult civil records(for which payment is requirement) if the Anglican Church records are more freely available elsewhere.