Dorset Civil Registration

The mandatory civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths in Dorset was introduced on 1 July 1837 and it was throughout England. The registration districts were organised based on poor law unions. Records are held in the Dorset Record Office.

Civil Registration Districts in Dorset

• Beaminster - included Somerset parishes
  • Misterton not transferred to Dorset
  • Seaborough transferred to Dorset from 1895
• Blandford
• Bridport
• Cerne
• Dorchester
• Poole
• Shaftesbury
• Sherborne - included Somerset parishes that were later transferred to Dorset
  • Goathill transferred to Dorset in 1895
  • Holwell transferred to Dorset in 1844
  • Marston Magna not transferred to Dorset
  • Poyntington transferred to Dorset in 1895
  • Sandford Orcas transferred to Dorset in 1895
  • Trent transferred to Dorset in 1895
• Sturminster
• Wareham
• Weymouth
• Wimborne

In 1837 some Dorset parishes were included in registration districts organised in neighbouring counties

• Axminster - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to Devon
  • Axminster part of Dorset until 1844
  • Chardstock part of Dorset until 1896
  • Charmouth not transferred to Devon
  • Dalwood part of Dorset until 1844
  • Hawkchurch part of Dorset until 1896
  • Lyme Regis not transferred to Devon
  • Stockland part of Dorset until 1844
  • Thorncombe transferred to Dorset in 1844
• Chard - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to Somerset
  • Wambrook transferred to Somerset in 1895
• Mere - included Dorset parishes
  • Bourton
  • Silton
• Wincanton - included Dorset parishes
  • Buckhorn Weston
  • Kington Magna