Brazil, Rio de Janeiro National Archives, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Record
Brasil, Arquivo Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, Registro Civil

Record Description
This collection includes civil registers of births, marriages and deaths from the municipality of Rio de Janeiro for the years 1929-1962. Although these records originate from various civil registration offices within Rio de Janeiro, they are available in hard-copy only at the National Archives.

The records are in Portuguese; see the section "For Help Reading these Records" for access to translation helps.

For details about the contents of these records, and help using them see the wiki article: Brazil Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records).

Record Content
The information in each record varies by year.

Birth records may include the following information:


 * Registration date and place
 * Informant's relationship and gender
 * Date, time, and place of birth
 * Child's name
 * Legitimacy
 * Parents' names
 * Parents' civil status and residence
 * Mother's occupation and place of origin
 * Names of maternal grandparents
 * Father's occupation and place of origin
 * Names of paternal grandparents
 * Names of witnesses

Marriage records may include the following information:


 * Date, time, and place of marriage
 * Names of bride and groom
 * Bride and groom's age, civil status and occupation
 * Groom's parents' names
 * Birthplace of Groom's parents
 * Bride's parents' names
 * Birthplace of bride's parents
 * Names of witnesses, scribes, and judges

Death records may include the following information:


 * Name of informant
 * Date, place, and time of death
 * Name, gender, and age of deceased (Keep in mind that the death record for women may be filed under her married name.)
 * Deceased's nationality, state of birth, and residence
 * Cause of death
 * Parents' names and their residence
 * Names of witnesses
 * Burial place

How to Use the Record
When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, and family relationships.

Some record sets have indexes; these indexes were created at the end of the year. Copy errors could have been made in the index, so you want to find the actual record to verify the information is correct. Using the index is a helpful way to find the actual record.

See the sections below for tips and uses for searching and finding the record of your ancestor in this collection and using the information in the record.

If you are unable to find a record for your ancestor in this collection, see the corresponding section below.

Search the Collection
To search by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒ Select the "Município" category ⇒ Select the "Região Administrativa" category ⇒ Select the "Tipo de Registro e Anos" category which takes you to the images.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

For Help Reading these Records
These records are in Portuguese. For help reading the records, see the following guides:


 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Brazil Language and Languages

Using the Information
To learn more about using the information in civil records, view this lesson for free: Brazil Beginning Research Series Lesson 2: Civil Registration Records - English

Tips to Keep in Mind
When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

For death records, the information in records is usually reliable, but depends upon the knowledge of the informant.

For marriage and death records, name changes, shortened names, or nicknames may have been used by your ancestors, so pay attention to other relationships (parents, spouse, siblings, children, etc.) that can confirm whether you have the right person/record.

Continue to search the marriage records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the bride and groom who may have married in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.

Continue to search the indexes and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have lived in the same area or a nearby area.

Unable to Find your Ancestor?
A boundary change could have occurred and the record of your ancestor is now in a neighboring. Search the records and indexes of neighboring cities, provinces, and regions.

Church records are also a good substitute when birth, marriage, and death records can’t be found or are unavailable.


 * Brazil Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Brazil Church Records

Or your ancestor immigrated to another country. Search the records of nearby areas or immigration/emigration records: Brazil Emigration and Immigration

Related Websites

 * National Archives of Brazil
 * Brazil Research Outline
 * Brazil Research Help

Related Wiki Articles

 * Brazil Civil Registration- Vital Records
 * Brazil Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Brazil Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Brazil Deaths (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Brazil

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found it. This will help you or others to find the same record again.

Keep track of records where you did not find information about your ancestor so you and others will not waste time looking through these records in the future.

Citations for this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image. Collection Citation:  Image Citation