Birth and Death Date Calculators

Calculating Birth Dates
Sometimes a birthdate is not know and the date of death with the age listed in Years-months-days is provided. This requires a calculator to be used to determine the birthdate. There are several different kinds of calculators to use in determining a person's birth or death date. The method used by the calculator will give you different results.

Age of death can be found in:

Ways for Calculating Dates
There are different ways to calculate a date from an age at death:
 * Calendar month method
 * In addition, the calendar month method can be done two ways:
 * Subtract days first, then months and years
 * Subtract years first, then months and days

This can be explained with this example:
 * 30 day month method (also known as 8870 method)
 * Death date: 1 Apr 1870
 * Age at death: 0 years 1 month, 4 days
 * Three answers can be given:
 * Calendar month method:
 * Subtract days first, then months and years: 28 Feb 1870
 * Subtract years first, then months and days: 25 Feb 1870
 * 30 day month method: 27 Feb 1870 (matches 8870 method)

Which Method Should be Used?
Although, the calendar month method may take into account the correct number days of the month, it is a common belief that the 30-day-month method or the 8870 hand method used for years before calculators is the method most often used. This 30 day month method would have been the easiest way for the individual to calculate the date for the tombstone inscription.

Tips

 * Be aware that some of these websites have other types of calculators with different functions, explanations and tips, with various kinds of information.
 * Some calculators may require you to put a 0 in a box instead of leaving a box blank, also using a 0 in front of a single digit month may or may not be required.
 * Due to possible errors or different methodology used in Calculated dates from original calculations. (found on the tombstone, obituary or death certificates), please make a note in your records that the date was calculated..
 * Calculators can be used to approximate a birth year from: 1) census data  2) birth date from wedding date and age.
 * Use either the Julian or Gregorian Calendar. Do not used the two together.
 * There is what is called a 30-day-month/or **8870 method which assumes that all months have 30 days. As searchancestors.com says: "...many of the headstones and obituary ages at death appear to have been computed using this method. It's an approximation which agrees with the exact calendar month method about 2/3 of the time.)"
 * searchforancestors.com: "Because of the change from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar, the calculator may not work for anyone born between Sept. 2, 1752 and Sept. 14, 1752 or when days were lost at the calendar changeover."
 * The calendar was changed from the Julian to Gregorian calendar at some point in a country's history. Each country had a different date. Be sure to do the calculation with the correct calendar. Use this resource: change from Julian to Gregorian calendar Dates by country.

How to calculate by hand - Estimated date
There is what is called a 30-day-month/or **8870 method which assumes that all months have 30 days, many of the headstones and obituary ages at death appear to have been computed using this method. It's an approximation which agrees with the exact calendar month method about 2/3 of the time.

When the online calculator is not available, use the **8870 formula or the 30 day month length

For example: If a person died May 6, 1889 at age 71 years, 7 months and 9 days:

18890506 Year, day, month of death (yyyymmdd) 1889--05--06 -710709 Subtract age at death (yymmdd) 71yr-07mo-09dd _________   18179797    -Subtract constant 8870 ________ 18170927 Born 27 Sept. 1817 (yyyymmdd) 1817yr-09mo-27dd

This person was born on September 27, 1817