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

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

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1760-1923:  Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1802-1967: Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection) ''' at Ancestry ($)
 * 1827-1870: Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Marriages ''' at Ancestry ($)
 * 1858-1869: Ontario, Canada, County Marriage Registers ''' at Ancestry ($)
 * 1869-1873: Ontario, Canada, Civil Marriage Registrations ''' at Ancestry ($)
 * 1896-1948: Ontario, Canada Marriage Registers by Clergy ''' at Ancestry ($)

Online Images (Browsable Only)
Some collections have not been indexed but are available to browse image by image.
 * 1760-1923: Ontario, Roman Catholic Church Records  at FamilySearch
 * 1784-1834: Register of marriages, 1784-1834  at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1803-1865: Marriage bonds, license and correspondence of Ontario, Canada (Province of Upper Canada), 1803-1845, 1865  at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1854-1873: Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths, and coroners' returns, Ontario  at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1858-1930: Division registrar vital statistics records, 1858-1930  at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1907-1910: Marriage license books, 1907-1910  at FamilySearch Catalog

Additional Records with Marriage 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 marriage events may not have been created at the time of the marriage. 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.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
When an eloping Ontario couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places called a "Gretna Green". People from Ontario may have married in a different location for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Tips for finding marriages
Successfully finding marriage 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 by leaving out the last name.
 * Search for bride. Search by the bride’s name rather than the groom’s name.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate year of marriage or the county the marriage took place in.
 * 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.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
When an eloping Ontario couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places called a "Gretna Green". People from Ontario may have married in a different location for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * 1858-1869 Counties required to keep marriage registers. Clergymen of all faiths were supposed to record information from their parish registers in county marriage books, although not all complied.
 * 1869 Civil registration began.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
When an eloping Ontario couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places called a "Gretna Green". People from Ontario may have married in a different location for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens