England Marriage Records

How to Find England Marriage Records Using Guided Research
To find a marriage record, choose the county the marriage occurred:


 * Don't know the county? — Go to How to Estimate Marriage Information

The England counties listed above are based on historic boundaries pre-1974. The records dating before 1974 are located within the information found in the historic counties. This practice better assists our patrons who are researching their ancestors before the modern time period.


 * England Birth Records
 * England Death Records

Introduction to Marriage Records
In England there are two record types that can give marriage information, Church Records and Civil Registration.

Before 1837 only churches recorded birth, marriage, and death information in England (see England Church Records). In the early 1800s, Parliament recognized the need for accurate records for voting, planning, taxation, and defense purposes. Legislation was passed to create a civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths for England and Wales and, for registering the same for British subjects abroad. England (and Wales) registration began on 1 July 1837, and covered births, marriages, divorces and deaths. However one problem with English civil registration is that coverage was not universal, especially in the earlier years before tougher laws in 1874. Use Church Records in these cases.

Church Records - Before 1837
Church records are the main source for marriage information prior to 1837. Although a nationwide order was given in 1538 that each parish keep a register of baptisms, marriages, and burials, many parishes did not start to keep registers until later and some early records have since been lost or destroyed. Beginning in 1598, copies of entries from many parishes were copied and sent annually to the bishop for the diocese of that area and these copies are known as Bishop’s Transcripts or BTs. The percentage of parish registers being kept in 1600 is around 54% and in 1555 14.8% and only 7.2% in 1538. Other records must be used to help establish ancestry.
 * More information
 * England Guided Research

Civil Registration - After 1837
Coverage and Compliance In 1837, the government in England and Wales required all births, marriages, and deaths to be recorded. Initially, up to 15% of events were not recorded, but that did not last long. By 1875, registration was mandatory and there were penalties for non-compliance. Most events since 1875 are registered. A birth had to be registered with the register office within 42 days. The law required all marriages to be recorded in a civil register immediately after the ceremony. Because a death certificate was required for burial beginning in 1837, almost all deaths were registered.
 * More information
 * England Guided Research

Church Records
Typically, the English married in their 20's. You may find records that show a couple’s “intent to marry” in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Sometimes, however, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married. Church of England parish register marriage records usually contain:

After 1753, the records are more likely to show:
 * Marriage date
 * Name of the bride and groom
 * Residence of the bride and groom
 * Marital status of bride and groom
 * May list the dates that the marriage was announced (also called “banns published”). 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.
 * After 1753, a form was used for parish registers
 * After 1753, whether marriage was by banns or license
 * After 1753, the full names of usually two witnesses
 * After 1753, the minister's name

After 30 June 1837, marriage records also include: There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry, see Marriage Allegations, Bonds and Licences in England and Wales.
 * Age of the bride and groom
 * Name and occupation of fathers of bride and groom
 * 1) By Banns. A law required couples to have the minister announce or post notice of their intent to marry for three consecutive Sundays, unless they obtained a license. This gave others the opportunity to object to the marriage. Beginning in 1754, officials recorded banns in separate registers. Banns registers contain information almost identical to marriage registers, but banns usually do not list the witnesses or marriage date.
 * 2) By License. A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop, for a license when:
 * 3) *Circumstances made it desirable to marry without waiting the three weeks required for the proclamation of banns.
 * 4) *The bride and groom lived in different dioceses.
 * 5) *A couple preferred not to subject themselves to publication of banns (common among upper classes and nonconformists).

Civil Registration
A marriage certificate gives: The law required all marriages to be recorded in a civil register immediately after the ceremony. Marriages were often performed at the bride’s parish Because the marriage information found in the civil certificates of marriage, are an exact replica of the church registers of marriage, there is no need to consult civil records(for which payment is requirement) if the Anglican Church records are more freely available elsewhere.
 * marriage date and place
 * names of the bride and groom, their ages, their marital "condition" (single or widowed), their professions, and their residences at the time of the marriage
 * names and occupations of their fathers (and sometimes whether they were deceased)
 * signatures or marks of the bride, groom, and witnesses
 * also notes whether the bride and groom were married in a church (with the denomination given) and, if so, whether they were married by banns or by license.

<!--

How Information from Marriage Records can Help Research
Marriage records can help you find the following information:


 * Addresses to assist in researching deeds or city directories, locate on maps, or narrow your search in an un-indexed census
 * Birth date and/or place to research for the bride and groom
 * Church records for the marriage
 * Determine which children belong to which mother in the case of multiple marriages
 * Information about previous marriages
 * Maiden name for a woman
 * Newspaper announcement
 * Parents' names (and possibly birth places) to research

Places to look for Marriage Records

 * Church records of marriages
 * City and County civil registrations
 * Family Bibles and personal histories
 * Google and other website search engines, and don't forget to search Google Books
 * Locating United States Vital Records
 * Newspapers often listed articles about marriages
 * Obituaries sometimes give marriage dates
 * Online records sites like Ancestry, Fold3, MyHeritage, Heritage Quest...
 * State Archives
 * Submitted genealogies posted by others UsGenWeb, Genealogy links, Gengateway, Usgennet, FamGen, Rootsweb, Genealogy.com, MyTrees.com, Ancestry.......
 * Gretna Greens in the United States. When an eloping couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like out-of-state counties.

Places to Search for a Maiden Name

 * Family Bibles and personal histories
 * Cemetery records burial, sexton, purchase and maintenance of plot, headstone
 * Census records Federal and State
 * Church records death, marriage and christening, membership
 * Death records, certificates (Church and Civil)
 * Land records deeds, morgages
 * Marriage records application, license, certificate (Church and Civil)
 * Military records service and pension, enlistment
 * Naming patterns are names passed on as a given or middle name, name multi generational
 * Newspapers birth, marriage and death announcements, society pages

Tips
-->
 * Marriages may have been documented and recognized by both a civil and a church authorities, the civil process may include applications, license and certificate, the church records may include marriage register and ministers records.
 * Witness to the marriage may prove to be related to the bride and groom.
 * An announcement of the marriage may have been placed in a local newspapers and church publications, Probate records and wills.