GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Newfoundland and Labrador Births

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

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1850-1949: Newfoundland, Canada, Births, Marriages, and Deaths  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1793-1899: Newfoundland, Church Records at Ancestry ($)
 * 1830s-1940s: Vital Statistics for Newfoundland Listed by District at Newfoundland's Grand Banks
 * 1810s-1950s: Parish Records for Newfoundland and Labrador Listed by District at Newfoundland's Grand Banks

Online Images (Browsable Only)
Some collections have not been indexed but are available to browse image by image.
 * 1793-1945: Newfoundland Church Records  at FamilySearch

Additional Records with Birth Information
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. Records that are used to substitute for birth events may not have been created at the time of the birth. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records.

Tips for finding births
Successfully finding birth 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 parents. Search for the parents, if known, as the child's first name may not be on the birth record.
 * Search given name. Search by given name (leave out the last name) with the approximate date of birth.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parents' names if known.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search province. Search using the province name only instead of by smaller locality.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start Records Destroyed
 * 1840 Delayed registrations of birth date to 1840.
 * 1891 Civil registration began.
 * 1920s Universal compliance was achieved.
 * Some vital and parish records have been lost as a result of fires.