Isle of Man Civil Registration

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Isle of Man

Civil Registration

How to Find the Records

Online Collections

• 1821-1911 Isle of Man, Births and Baptisms, 1821-1911 at MyHeritage - index ($)
• 1607-1910 Isle of Man Births and Baptisms, 1607-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1844-1918 Isle of Man Deaths and Burials, 1844-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1606-1911 Isle of Man Marriages, 1606–1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1598-2009 Isle of Man Parish Registers, 1598-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

• ManxBMD.com
• The Isle of Man Family History Society
• Ancestry ($)
• Findmypast ($)
• MyHeritage ($)

Offices to Contact

Civil Registry
The Registries Building
Deemsters Walk
Bucks Road
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 3AR

Telephone: +44 1624 687039
Email: civil@registry.gov.im
Contact page

Castletown Registration Office
Castletown Commissioners
Civic Centre
Farrant's Way
Castletown
Isle of Man
IM9 1NR

Telephone: +44 1624 825005
Email page

Peel Registration Office
Peel Town Commissioners
Town Hall
Derby Road
Peel
Isle of Man
IM5 1RG

Telephone: +44 1624 842341
Email page

Ramsey Registration Office
Ramsey Town Commissioners
Town Hall
Parliament Square
Ramsey
Isle of Man
IM8 1RT

Telephone: +44 1624 810100
Email page

Ordering Records

Online

Certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates can be ordered from the official government website. Records date to 1606. To apply for certified copies, go to Online services. The certificate can be ordered using either the exact date or the volume and page number and other identifying information, such as name and town. If the specific certificate is not known, then a search between a specific number of years can be ordered from the website. However, it costs more money to ask them to search for the certificate than simply ordering the exact certificate. To know which certificate to order, search online indexes on other websites, such as on ManxBMD.com.

Go to the Order Certificates webpage to learn more about the cost of ordering certificates.

By Mail or in Person

Certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates can be ordered in person or by mail.
The address to the Civil Registry is: Registries Building
Deemsters Walk
Bucks Road
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 3AR
Tel: +44 1624 687039
Email: civil@registry.gov.im
Website: www.gov.im

Go to the Order Certificates webpage to learn more about the cost of ordering certificates.

Historical Background

In 1878, the Isle of Man government mandated the registering of all births and deaths on the island. In 1884, marriages were include. Some registers date to before 1878.

In 1849, an act was passed allowing dissenters from the Church of England to register their births and marriages with the government. Prior to this, baptisms and marriages recorded in a dissenter church (i.e. not Church of England) were not accepted as proof of parentage or marriage in the eyes of the law. However, beginning in 1849 dissenters could register and legitimize their births and marriages with the state.

The Registrar General's office, newly formed, also accepted voluntary registration of births and marriages and the retrospective registration of church records found in dissenter churches (some records dating to the early 1800s). Therefore, while most registers began in 1878, some registers can date to 1849 and even before that. More information about civil registration can be found at Manx Note Book.

Before 1878, church records are the primary source for finding baptism, marriage, and burial information on the Isle of Man.

Coverage and Compliance

Most records are indexed and cover most of the population.

Information Recorded in the Records

Births

A birth certificate usually gives:

• birth date and birthplace
• child’s name and sex
• father's name and occupation
• mother's full name including her maiden name
• informant’s name, relationship to the baby, and residence
• when registered and the name of the registrar

Marriages

A marriage certificate usually gives:

• marriage data 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 often 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.

Deaths

A death certificate usually gives:

• death date and place
• full name of the decedent, their sex and age, their occupation (or for a child, usually the name of a parent)
• cause of death
• name, residence and relationship of the informant to the decedent
• date registered and the name of the registrar.
  

On certificates for adults, the names of parents are never given. In considering whether to order a death certificate, remember that the information on the certificate may be limited or inaccurate because it is based on the informant’s knowledge. It can be helpful for those looking for clues about persons born or married before 1878.

Indexes of the Records

Although the actual certificates cost money to order, there are multiple indexes available online that will help narrow down and locate the correct certificate to order. Minimal information is included in these indexes.

Births

Collection	Database or Website	Year Range	Index or Images
Birth Index	ManxBMD.com	1849-2013	Index
Index to Births: 1576-1960	The Isle of Man Family History Society	1576-1960	Index
Isle of Man Births and Baptisms, 1607-1910	FamilySearch	1607-1910	Index
Register of births, deaths, and marriages of the Isle of Man, 1821-1964	FamilySearch	1821-1964	Images
Isle of Man, Select Births and Baptisms, 1821-1911 ($)	Ancestry	1821-1911	Index
Isle Of Man, Births and Baptisms 1600-2010 ($)	Findmypast	1600-2010	Index
Isle of Man, Births and Baptisms, 1821-1911 ($)	MyHeritage	1821-1911	Index

Marriages

Collection	Database or Website	Year Range	Index or Images
Marriage Index	ManxBMD.com	1849-2013	Index
Index to Marriages: 1576-1960	The Isle of Man Family History Society	1576-1960	Index
Isle of Man Marriages, 1606–1911	FamilySearch	1606-1911	Index
Register of births, deaths, and marriages of the Isle of Man, 1821-1964	FamilySearch	1821-1964	Images
Isle of Man, Select Marriages, 1849-1911 ($)	Ancestry	1849-1911	Index
Isle Of Man, Marriages 1598-1979 ($)	Findmypast	1598-1979	Index
Isle of Man, Marriages, 1849-1911 ($)	MyHeritage	1849-1911	Index

Deaths

Collection	Database or Website	Year Range	Index or Images
Death Index	ManxBMD.com	1877-2015	Index
Isle of Man Deaths and Burials, 1844-1918	FamilySearch	1844-1918	Index
Register of births, deaths, and marriages of the Isle of Man, 1821-1964	FamilySearch	1821-1964	Images
Isle of Man, Select Deaths and Burials, 1844-1911 ($)	Ancestry	1844-1911	Index
Isle Of Man, Deaths and Burials 1598-2011 ($)	Findmypast	1598-2011	Index
Isle of Man Deaths and Burials, 1844-1911 ($)	MyHeritage	1844-1911	Index