Isle of Man, Parish Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
Parish Registers from the Isle of Man containing baptisms, marriages, and deaths. These records have been provided by Manx National Heritage as Records Custodian for the individual churches on the Isle of Man and as such all rights are reserved. Enquiries regarding the reproduction of images should be referred to

Manx National Heritage, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3LY Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin, Doolish, Ellan Vannin, IM1 3LY T +44 (0)1624 648000 | F +44 (0)1624 648001 E [mailto:enquiries@mnh.gov.im enquiries@mnh.gov.im]

This collection was created as part of the development of Manx National Heritage’s iMuseum at the National Library and Archives

Baptisms (christenings), marriages, and burials were recorded on blank pages in a bound book called a register. The events of baptism, marriage, and burial were all recorded in one volume until 1754, when a law required that marriages be recorded in a separate book. The records are usually recorded in English with a few in Manx, which is the historical language of the island.

In 1530, King Henry VIII established the Church in England, also known as the Anglican Church, the State Church, or the Episcopal Church. In 1537, the Church of England mandated that parishes begin keeping church registers by the next year (1538). The Manx Church was then under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of York, but the first parish registers did not begin until1598. These records have numerous gaps until 1610. At that time, the Archdeacon of Manx issued an order requiring the ministers under him to keep a register book recording the christenings, marriages, and burials.

Starting in 1812, preprinted registers were introduced, and then separate registers were kept for baptisms, marriages, and burials. However, use of the preprinted registers was not required, so not all parishes used them. The preprinted registers contained additional information not previously recorded.

In 1910, all parish registers were passed temporarily to the General Registry so that government staff could make handwritten copies of all records prior to 1849. These copies, together with the original registers spanning 1849-1883, were subsequently microfilmed in the late 1940s, together with indexes arranged by parish for baptism and marriage entries.

This collection covers records for the years 1598 through 1950.

Parish registers were created to record the church events of baptism or christening, marriage, and burial. Baptism, which was also called christening, was performed soon after the birth of a child. Marriage in the church legally united a man and a woman for civil legal reasons and for the purpose of founding a religiously-sanctified family. Burial was a function of the church to inter the deceased soon after death.

Parish registers are the most reliable and accurate family history source until 1878 for births and marriages and until 1884 for marriages, when the government instituted the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths.

Citation for This Collection:
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Record Content
Baptism records usually contain the following information:


 * Baptism date
 * Baptism place
 * Name of the child
 * Sex of the child
 * Names of the parents

After 1812, you may find this additional information:


 * Legitimacy of the child
 * Marital status of the parents
 * Social class of the parents
 * Name of the father and often the mother’s given name
 * Residence of the parents

Marriage records usually contain the following information:


 * Marriage date
 * Names of the bride and groom
 * Nationality

After 1812, you may find this additional information:


 * Ages of the bride and groom
 * Names of the parents or other relatives
 * Residence of the bride and groom
 * Marital statuses of individuals and couples
 * The dates that the marriage was announced. This normally took place on three separate occasions prior to the marriage and gave anyone with a valid reason a chance to object to the marriage
 * Names of the witnesses
 * Whether a spouse is single or widowed at the time of the marriage

Burial records usually contain the following information:


 * Burial date
 * Burial place
 * Name of the deceased
 * Age of the deceased

After 1812, you may find this additional information:


 * Spouse’s name
 * Parents’ names
 * Residence of the deceased
 * Sex of the deceased

How to Use the Records
Parish registers are one of the best sources for identifying individuals and connecting them to parents, spouses, and other generations.

The following are a series of ways you can use these records:


 * Baptism or christening records list the parents’ names, which you can use to connect your ancestor to an earlier generation.
 * You may find a birth date listed or be able to approximate a birth date from the age.
 * After 1812, the baptismal records may list a place of residence, making it easier to identify your family by where they lived.
 * The records also list the father’s occupation, which makes it easier to identify your ancestor’s family when more than one family with the same name lived in the parish.
 * Marriage records sometimes state the residence for the bride and groom, which you can use to look for their baptisms and identify the children of this couple.
 * Sometimes the groom’s occupation is listed, which could help you find more records about the groom.
 * Marriage records after 1754 list the names of witnesses, who were often family members.
 * Signatures in the records might be used to identify a particular individual by the handwriting style.
 * After 1812, and sometimes before, burial records include the age of the deceased, which you can use to approximate the person’s birth year and find the baptismal record.
 * If the deceased is a child, the parents’ names might be given. This information helps to extend your family another generation.
 * The occupation of a deceased male might be given (especially after 1812) and can help identify your ancestor when there is more than one person by that name in the area. Knowing the occupation might also provide you the opportunity to find other records about your ancestor.
 * The witnesses or sponsors are often relatives.

To search for a person in a parish register, you must know the following:


 * Where the person lived and the corresponding parish
 * When the person lived (If you do not know the time period, you must estimate it from what you know of more recent generations.)

Related Websites

 * Manx National Heritage The Library and Archives are found at this site.
 * Genealogy Pages -- Isle of Man -- Parish Registers

Related Wiki Articles

 * Isle of Man
 * Quick Research Links - England
 * Quick Research Links - Wales
 * Quick Research Links - Ireland
 * Quick Research Links - Scotland
 * Quick Research Links - The Channel Islands

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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
"Isle of Man, Parish Registers, 1598-1950" database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 9 November 2011). entry for Ann Baker, buried 19 February 1855; citing Parish Registers, FHL microfilm 004,497,268, Image 00,084; The Manx National Heritage, Parish Registers Isle of Man.