Spain, Diocese of Lugo, Catholic Parish Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Foreign Language Title
Registros Parroquiales de la Iglesia Católica, Diócesis de Lugo, España

Collection Time Period
The Family History Library collection of the Roman Catholic Church parish records of the Diocese of Lugo, Spain covers the years from 1550 to 1930.

Record History
Parish priests performed the baptisms, marriages, deaths, burials, and other holy sacraments in their assigned parish or parishes. All of the original parish records were kept in the parish archive; however, the older records were centralized into the diocesan archive. Usually separate registers were maintained for baptisms, marriages, and deaths, however, in localities with a small population the records of baptisms, marriages, and burials were recorded in the same register. Confirmations were usually recorded with the baptismal registers, but can also be found with deaths and/or marriages. Generally, entries were created in chronological order. Early registers may have some ecclesiastical wording written in Latin.Catholic Church parish records cover about 95 to 100% of the population. However, this collection only includes the parish records that have been centralized through the years into the diocesan archive.

Why This Record Was Created
Catholic Church parish registers were created to record the sacraments of baptisms, marriages, deaths, burials, and other ordinances that pertain to each Church’s jurisdiction.

Record Reliability
Catholic Church parish records are a reliable source for doing Spanish genealogical research in Lugo.

Record Description
Most of the parish records from the Diocese of Lugo have been preserved well, but some earlier entries may have some damage.

Record Content[[Image:Spain Lugo Catholic Church Records Baptism.jpg|thumb|right]]
The key genealogical facts found in most baptismal records are:


 * Date and place of the event
 * Name of the principal
 * Date of birth or age at time of baptism
 * Gender
 * Legitimacy
 * Parents names, their residence, and place of origin
 * Names of paternal and maternal grandparents, their residence and/or place of origin
 * Name of godparents
 * Name of witnesses

The key genealogical facts found in most marriage records are:


 * Date and place of the event
 * Complete name of the bride and groom
 * Civil status of bride and groom (widowed, single, divorce) at the time of the event
 * Residence and/or place of origin of the bride and groom
 * Sometimes the age of the couple at the time of the marriage
 * Parents names, their residence and/or place of origin
 * Sometimes, the parent’s civil status at the time of the event
 * Names of witnesses

The key genealogical facts found in most death records are:


 * Date and place of the event[[Image:Spain Lugo Catholic Church Records Death.jpg|thumb|right]]
 * Name of the deceased
 * Civil status of the deceased (single, married, widow)
 * Name of the spouse
 * Residence and/or place of origin
 * Age at time of death
 * Cause of death
 * Burial place
 * It may say if the person left a testament
 * Some entries may give the names of the children left at time of death

How to Use the Record
The Catholic parish records are an excellent source for genealogical research in Spain. These may also be the only records available for Spanish research before civil registration was implemented in 1871.

Related Websites
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Related Wiki Articles
Spain Catholic Church Records

Sources of This Collection
Digital images of the original records housed at the Diocesan Archive of the Diocese of Lugo (Archivo de la Diócesis de Lugo).

How To Cite Your Sources
Instructions for citing this source can be found at: Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)