Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Records
Registros Parroquiales de la Iglesia Católica del Estado de Michoacan, México.

Record Description
This collection of Catholic Church records for the State of Michoacan covers the years 1579-1992.

Usually separate registers were maintained for baptisms, marriages, and deaths. However, in localities with a small population the records of baptisms, marriages, and burials were recorded in the same register. Confirmations were usually recorded with the baptismal registers, but can also be found with deaths or marriages. Generally, entries were created in chronological order. Early registers may have some ecclesiastical documents written in Latin.

Catholic Church parish records cover 95 to 100% of a city’s population. This collection only includes the parish records that were centralized into the diocesan archive. For a list of records by localities and dates currently published in this collection, select the Browse.

Mexican Catholic Church parish registers were created to record baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials occurring in the parish.

Catholic Church parish records are a reliable source for doing Mexican genealogical research.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
Important genealogical information found in Catholic Church baptismal records include:




 * Place and date of the baptism
 * Given name
 * Gender, place and date of birth or age at baptism
 * If legitimate or illegitimate
 * Parents names, sometimes their residence and/or place of birth
 * Names of maternal grandparents
 * Names of paternal grandparents
 * Names of godparents

Important genealogical information found in Catholic Church marriage records include:




 * Place and date of the marriage
 * Name of the groom
 * Age of groom, his place of birth and/or residence
 * Name of the groom’s parents
 * Name of the bride
 * Age of bride, her place of birth and/or residence
 * Names of the bride’s parents
 * Sometimes, the parents' place of origin and/or civil status
 * Names of witnesses

Important genealogical information found in Catholic Church burial records include:




 * Place and date of the burial
 * Burial place
 * Name of the principal
 * Place and date of birth or age at time of death
 * Cause of death
 * Residence of the deceased
 * Place of death
 * Civil status of the principal, if married the name of the spouse may be given
 * If principal left progeny

Important genealogical information found in Catholic Church confirmation records include:


 * Date and place of confirmation
 * Name of person being confirmed
 * Parents’ or godparents’ names

How to Use the Record
The Catholic Church parish records are an excellent source for genealogical research in Mexico. These may also be the only records available for Spanish research before civil registration was implemented in 1871.

To search the collection, select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the “Nombre de Ciudad/Pueblo” ⇒ Select “Nombre de Parroquia” ⇒ Select “Tipo de registro y años” that takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

Related Websites

 * History of Michoacan
 * Michoacan Research Tips

Related Wiki Articles

 * Mexico Church Records
 * Mexico Church History
 * Michoacan

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1649-1909,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/DGS-004768299_00504?cc=1883388&amp;wc=11972481: accessed 10 July, 2012), Aporo &gt; San Lucas &gt; Informacion matrimonial 1916-1930 &gt; image 504 of 539 images, Martiniam Domingues and Natividad Vazquez, 1929; citing Arquidiocesis de Michoacan, Mexico.