Spain, Diocese of Lugo, Catholic Parish Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

This wiki article describes a collection that is scheduled to be posted for free online at FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site.

Foreign Language Title
Registros Parroquiales de la Iglesia Católica, Diócesis de Lugo, España

Collection Time Period
The Family History Library collection of the Roman Catholic Church parish records of the Diocese of Lugo, Spain covers the years from 1550 to 1930.

Collection History
Parish priests performed the baptisms, marriages, deaths, burials, and other holy sacraments in their assigned parish or parishes. All of the original parish records were kept in the parish archive; however, the older records were centralized into the diocesan archive. 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 and/or marriages. Generally, entries were created in chronological order. Early registers may have some ecclesiastical wording written in Latin.

Population Coverage
Catholic Church parish records cover about 95 to 100% of the population. However, this collection only includes the parish records that have been centralized through the years into the diocesan archive.

Why This Collection Was Created
Catholic Church parish registers were created to record the sacraments of baptisms, marriages, deaths, burials, and other ordinances that pertain to each Church’s jurisdiction.

Collection Reliability (Heading 3)
Catholic Church parish records are a reliable source for doing Spanish genealogical research in Lugo.

Collection Description
Most of the parish records from the Diocese of Lugo have been preserved well, but some earlier entries may have some damage.

Collection Content
The key genealogical facts found in most baptismal records are:

• Date and place of the event • Name of the principal • Date of birth or age at time of baptism • Gender • Legitimacy • Parents names, their residence, and place of origin • Names of paternal and maternal grandparents, their residence and/or place of origin • Name of godparents • Name of witnesses

The key genealogical facts found in most marriage records are:

• Date and place of the event • Complete name of the bride and groom • Civil status of bride and groom (widowed, single, divorce) at the time of the event • Residence and/or place of origin of the bride and groom • Sometimes the age of the couple at the time of the marriage • Parents names, their residence and/or place of origin • Sometimes, the parent’s civil status at the time of the event • Names of witnesses

The key genealogical facts found in most death records are:

• Date and place of the event • Name of the deceased • Civil status of the deceased (single, married, widow) • Name of the spouse • Residence and/or place of origin • Age at time of death • Cause of death • Burial place • It may say if the person left a testament • Some entries may give the names of the children left at time of death

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

Related Websites
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How To Cite Your Sources
Instructions for citing this source can be found at: Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)

Bibliographic Information
Microfilm copies of the originals are housed at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Digital images of the original records in this collection are housed at the Diocesan Archive of the Diocese of Lugo (Archivo de la Diócesis de Lugo).

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Spain Catholic Church Records

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