GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Ontario Deaths

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find death information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the death section of the Ontario Guided Research page.

Civil registration of deaths in Ontario began in 1869. Death records before this date mostly come from church records or other substitute records. See "Additional Records with Death Information" below.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1760-1923:  Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1760-1923  at Ancestry ($)
 *  1802-1967:  Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1802-1967  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1826-1989:  Ontario, Canada, Toronto Trust Cemeteries, 1826-1989  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1869-1946:  Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1946  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1885-1980:  Ontario, Canada, The Ottawa Journal (Birth, Marriage and Death Notices), 1885-1980  at Ancestry ($)

Additional Records with Death Information
Substitute records can contain information about more than one event, and are used when records for an event are not available. Because the substitute records may not be created at the time of the event, it may contain incorrect information. Search for as many substitute records as possible to corroborate information found in substitute records to help improve accuracy.

Tips for finding deaths
Successfully finding death records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search given name. Search by given name (leave out the last name) with the approximate date of birth or death.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parent's names if known.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search state. Search using the state name only instead of by county.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * Civil registration of deaths in Ontario began in 1869.
 * Death information before this date often come from church records.

Records Destroyed The following counties had record loss. Click on the county for more information.