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 images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page 

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.

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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