Spain, Province of Cádiz, Municipal Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in the Collection?
This collection consists of various municipal records for the cities and towns of the province of Cádiz, Spain for the years 1784-1956. For additional details about the history of these records and help using them, see the wiki article Spain, Municipal Records (FamilySearch Historical Records).

Cities and parishes covered by the collection include: Arcos de la Frontera, Bornos, Cádiz, Espera, Gilbratar, Jerez de la Frontera, Medina Sidonia, Puerto de Santa María, Puerto Real, Rota, San Fernando, Tarifa, Vejer de la Frontera, Villamartín.

The collection is being published as images become available.

Collection Content
This collection includes civil registration records, censuses, military records, and other miscellaneous records, including nobility records (hidalguías),

Sample Images
Civil Registration

What Can This Collection Tell Me?
The following lists indicate potential information given in each type of record. It must be remembered that every record may not provide all the listed information, as record-keeping practices often varied by time and location.

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before beginning a search in these records, it is best to know the full name of the individual in question, as well as an approximate time range for the desired record. When entered into the search engine on the Collection Page, this information provides the quickest, most reliable path to finding the correct person. Of course, other information can be substituted as necessary.

Search by Name by visiting the Collection Page: Fill in the requested information in the initial search page to return a list of possible matches. Compare the individuals on the list with what is already known to find the correct family or person. This step may require examining multiple individuals before a match is located.

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page: Images of records in this collection may be accessed by following this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "City or Municipality" ⇒Select the "Parish" ⇒Select the "Record Type and Years" to go to the images.

Compare the information found on the images with what is already known determine if a particular record relates to the correct person. This process may require examining multiple records before the correct person is located.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Spanish. For help reading the records, see the following wiki articles:


 * Spanish Genealogical Word List
 * Reading Spanish handwritten records
 * Script tutorial for Spanish

I Found Who I was Looking for, Now What?

 * Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names.
 * Use the residence and names of the parents to locate church records Spain Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records).
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family.
 * The name of a marriage officiator is a clue to their religion or area of residence in the province. However, ministers may have reported marriages performed in other provinces.
 * Compile the marriage entries for every person who has the same surname as the bride or groom; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Use the marital status (whether a divorce or death dissolved a marriage) to identify previous marriages.
 * Witnesses often were relatives of the parents.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, Now What?

 * Remember that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times, so pay attention to other relationships (parents, spouse, siblings, children, etc.) that can confirm whether you have the right person/record.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * A boundary change could have occurred that changed where records were kept. If you are unable to find your ancestor(s) in these civil registers, then try searching in the areas surrounding Cádiz.
 * Church records are also a good substitute when birth, marriage, and death records can’t be found or are unavailable.
 * Spain Baptisms
 * Spain Catholic Church Records
 * Spain Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * The individual could have emigrated to another country. Search the records of nearby areas or immigration/emigration records:
 * Spain Emigration and Immigration

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.

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry): Image Citation:

Top of Page