Dorset Civil Registration

The mandatory civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths in Dorset was introduced on 1 July 1837 and it was throughout England. The registration districts were organised based on poor law unions. Records are held in the Dorset Record Office.

Civil Registration Districts in Dorset

 * Beaminster - included Somerset parishes
 * Misterton not transferred to Dorset
 * Seaborough transferred to Dorset from 1895
 * Blandford
 * Bridport
 * Cerne
 * Dorchester
 * Poole
 * Shaftesbury
 * Sherborne - included Somerset parishes that were later transferred to Dorset
 * Goathill transferred to Dorset in 1895
 * Holwell transferred to Dorset in 1844
 * Marston Magna not transferred to Dorset
 * Poyntington transferred to Dorset in 1895
 * Sandford Orcas transferred to Dorset in 1895
 * Trent transferred to Dorset in 1895
 * Sturminster
 * Wareham
 * Weymouth
 * Wimborne

In 1837 some Dorset parishes were included in registration districts organised in neighbouring counties
 * Axminster - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to Devon
 * Axminster part of Dorset until 1844
 * Chardstock part of Dorset until 1896
 * Charmouth not transferred to Devon
 * Dalwood part of Dorset until 1844
 * Hawkchurch part of Dorset until 1896
 * Lyme Regis not transferred to Devon
 * Stockland part of Dorset until 1844
 * Thorncombe transferred to Dorset in 1844
 * Chard - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to Somerset
 * Wambrook transferred to Somerset in 1895
 * Mere - included Dorset parishes
 * Bourton
 * Silton
 * Wincanton - included Dorset parishes
 * Buckhorn Weston
 * Kington Magna