Mexico, Nayarit, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection of Catholic Church records for the State of Nayarit includes the years 1596 to 1967. Often in Catholic Church records, separate books were kept for baptisms, confirmations, marriage information documents, marriages, and deaths. However, in smaller areas, all records may be recorded on one register. In larger parishes a separate book was usually maintained for confirmations, while in smaller parishes the confirmations may have been included with the baptisms. In larger parishes, most of the marriage banns (informaciones matrimoniales) may be registered separately. In smaller parishes, these records were included in the marriage entry or the confirmations may have been included with the baptisms or even with marriages. In larger parishes, a separate book of confirmations was usually maintained. These records are in relatively fair condition, with the exception of some older records that may be damaged and, therefore, hard to read or missing some information. Most of the older records are handwritten in narrative style and follow a common text with some variations depending on the style used by the priest. Newer records are handwritten in formatted registers; some are even written in ledger style registers.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Spanish. For help reading the records, see the following guides:
 * Mexico Language and Languages
 * Spanish Genealogical Word List
 * BYU Spanish Script Tutorial
 * FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * Reading Spanish Handwritten Records, Lesson 1
 * Reading Spanish Handwritten Records, Lesson 2
 * Reading Spanish Handwritten Records, Lesson 3

Sample Images
Baptism or confirmation records may contain the following information:


 * Date and place of baptism or confirmation
 * Child's name and gender
 * Date and place of birth
 * Legitimacy of child
 * Names of the parents
 * Names of paternal and maternal grandparents
 * Names of godparents

Marriage records may contain the following information:


 * Date and place of marriage
 * Groom's name, legitimacy and birth date
 * Groom's baptismal date
 * Names of groom's parents
 * Bride's name, legitimacy and birth date
 * Bride's baptismal date
 * Names of bride's parents
 * Names of witnesses
 * Sometimes, the race of the betrothed

Death records may contain the following information:


 * Name, age and residence of deceased
 * Date and place of death
 * Cause of death
 * Parents' names or name of spouse, if married
 * Sometimes, burial information

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The given and surname of the person
 * The type of event
 * The estimated date of the event

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select City or Town
 * 2) Select Parish
 * 3) Select Record Type and Years to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the information to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth to find the family in 1930, Mexico National Census
 * Compile information for every person who has the same surname as your ancestor; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?
If you have been unable to find your ancestor try looking through records in the surrounding localities. Sinaloa is to the northwest, Durango to the north, and Jalisco to the east and south. New information is constantly being indexed, microfilmed or updated. Periodically check back to see if your ancestor’s records have been added. You can see if the area you’ve been looking in has been recently updated by going to Historical Records Collections. Watch for an asterisk for recently added or updated records.
 * Check for variants of given names, surnames, and place names. Transcription errors could occur in any handwritten record; also, it was not uncommon for an individual be listed under a nickname or an abbreviation of their name. Click here for a list of Spanish name abbreviations
 * Consult the Mexico Record Finder to find other records

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

"Mexico, Nayarit, Catholic Church Records, 1596-1967." Database with Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 June 2016. Parroquias Católicas, Nayarit (Catholic Church parishes, Nayarit).
 * Collection Citation:

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