England Beginning Research SeriesLesson 3: Understanding Civil Registration

Welcome! This series of lessons will help you learn how to conduct genealogical research on an ancestor from England.

Click the ‘next’ button below to get started.

This lesson should take you 15 minutes to complete.

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Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to do the following:

Describe civil registration. Access civil registration indexes. Order a certificate online. Identify the information that may be included on a civil

registration certificate.

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The Lucas Family

Civil Registration

The government registration of births, marriages, and deaths of the people of

England.

Civil Registration began in England1 July 1837 and continues to the present.

Civil Registration Process

Event Occurs: birth, marriage,

death

Report within 40 days to the local Register Office

Recorded in a book at the local

Register Office

Quarterly the local registrar sent copies to the

national office, the General Register

Office (GRO)

Obtaining a Civil Registration Record

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• Obtain the ancestor’s name, the approximate date for the event, and a location.Step 1

• Locate and search the index that contains the needed information on that ancestor.Step 2

• With the reference information given in the index, order the certificate.

Step 3

Step 1 – Name, Birth date, and Birthplace

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• Obtain the ancestor’s name, the approximate date for the event, and a location.Step 1

• Locate and search the index that contains the needed information on that ancestor.Step 2

• With the reference information given in the index, order the certificate.

Step 3

Step 2: Locate and search the Civil Registration Index

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• Obtain the ancestor’s name, the approximate date for the event,and a location.Step 1

• Locate and search the index that contains the needed information on that ancestor.Step 2

• With the reference information given in the index, order the certificate.

Step 3

Step 2: Locate and search Civil Registration Index

Copyright © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

• Obtain the ancestor’s name, the approximate date for the event, and a location.Step 1

• Locate and search the index that contains the needed information on that ancestor.Step 2

• With the reference information given in the index, order the certificate.

Step 3

Indexes are arranged by:

Event type Year Quarter Surname, alphabetically Given name, alphabetically

Understanding Civil Registration Indexes

Earlier indexes were handwritten and used roman numerals.

Information was added to the Indexes

1866Death indexes - Age of deceased

1911 Birth indexes - Mother’s maiden name

1912Marriage indexes – Spouse’s surname

Events are found in the index by date of registration

(not necessarily the date of the event).

Civil Registration indexes are filed by Quarters

1st quarter = Jan, Feb, Mar

2nd quarter = Apr, May, Jun

3rd quarter = Jul, Aug, Sep

4th quarter = Oct, Nov, Dec

Using Civil Registration Indexes

Locating a Registration District Using England Jurisdictions 1851

http://maps.familysearch.org

Locating a Registration District Using England Jurisdictions 1851

Newbold on Avon Registration District

Civil Registration Indexes

www.freebmd.org.uk

www.ukbmd.org.uk

www.findmypast.co.uk

www.ancestry.co.uk

www.thegenealogist.co.uk

FHL, microfiche and microfilm

Obtaining a Certificate

• Obtain the ancestor’s name, the approximate date for the event, and a location.Step 1

• Locate and search the index that contains the needed information on that ancestor.Step 2

• With the reference information given in the index, order the certificate.

Step 3

www.freebmd.org.uk, Search an Event

www.freebmd.org.uk, Enter Data

www.freebmd.org.uk, Results

Registration District Information

Registration District Information

How Complete Is FreeBMD?

Percent of births in FreeBMD: 1930-1949

Registration Process

• Obtain the ancestor’s name, the approximate date for the event,and a location.Step 1

• Locate and search the index that contains the needed information on that ancestor.Step 2

• With the reference information given in the index, order the certificate.

Step 3

Registration Process

Registration Process

Registration Process

Registration Process

Registration Process

Civil Registration, Birth Certificate

Civil Registration, Marriage Certificate

Civil Registration, Death Certificate

The Lucas Family

Congratulations!You have completed the Understanding Civil Registration lesson in the series. The next lesson in this series is called Understanding Church Records.

Copyright © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc.