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.
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
 - Wincanton - included Dorset parishes
 
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