Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

BrazilRio de Janeiro

What is in the Collection?
This collection includes civil records of births, marriages, deaths with corresponding indexes created by various civil registration offices in the state of Rio de Janeiro from 1829 to 2012. Some of these records have been indexed and are searchable as part of this collection.

The records are written in Portuguese; see the section "For Help Reading these Records" for access to translation helps.

Earlier records are completely handwritten. Later records are handwritten on pre-typed forms.

Additional images and indexed records will be published as they become available.

For details about the contents of these records, and help using them see the wiki article: Brazil Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records).

Sample Images
The information in each record varies by year.

Death records may include the following information:


 * Name of informant
 * Date, place, and time of death
 * Name, gender, and age of deceased (Keep in mind that the death record for women may be filed under her married name.)
 * Deceased's nationality, state of birth, and residence
 * Cause of death
 * Parents' names and their residence
 * Names of witnesses
 * Burial place

How Do I Search the Collection?
When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, and family relationships.

Some record sets have indexes; these indexes were created at the end of the year. Copy errors could have been made in the index, so you want to find the actual record to verify the information is correct. Using the index is a helpful way to find the actual record.

See the sections below for tips and uses for searching and finding the record of your ancestor in this collection and using the information in the record.

If you are unable to find a record for your ancestor in this collection, see the corresponding section below.

To search this collection by name: Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

To search by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the appropriate "Município” (Muncipality) ⇒ Select the appropriate Civil Registration Office ⇒ Select the appropriate "Record Type and Years" which takes you to the images.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

For Help Reading these Records
These records are in Portuguese. For help reading the records see the following guides:


 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Brazil Language and Languages

What do I do Next?

 * 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 birth date or age along with the place of birth to find the family in census records Brazil Census.
 * 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 county. However, ministers may have reported marriages performed in other counties.
 * 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 to identify previous marriages.
 * Witnesses often were relatives of the parents.

To learn more about using the information in civil records, view this lesson for free: Brazil Beginning Research Series Lesson 2: Civil Registration Records - English

Tips to Keep in Mind
When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

For death records, the information in records is usually reliable, but depends upon the knowledge of the informant.

Regarding marriage and death records, name changes, shortened names, or nicknames may have been used by your ancestors, so pay attention to other relationships (parents, spouse, siblings, children, etc.) that can confirm whether you have the right person/record.

Continue to search the marriage records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the bride and groom who may have married in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.

Continue to search the indexes and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have lived in the same area or a nearby area.

What if I Can't Find Who I'm Looking For?
A boundary change could have occurred and the record of your ancestor is now in a neighboring. Search the records and indexes of neighboring cities, provinces, and regions.

Church records are also a good substitute when birth, marriage, and death records can’t be found or are unavailable.


 * Brazil Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Brazil Church Records

Or your ancestor immigrated to another country. Search the records of nearby areas or immigration/emigration records: Brazil Emigration and Immigration

Known Issues with This Collection
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image. Collection Citation:

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