Dorset Church Records

Parish Registers
Images of Dorset's parish registers are available online at Ancestry and FamilySearch.


 * 1538-1936 - at FamilySearch — index and images.
 * To learn more about this record set see the Wiki article.


 * Dorset Online Parish Clerks: Transriptions from original data available at the Dorset History Centre.


 * 1538-1975 - includes 1,092,441 Dorset baptisms.
 * 1538-1973 - includes 288,220 Dorset entries.
 * 1538-1991 - includes 201,105 Dorset burials.
 * Formerly known as the International Genealogical Index. These databases are free on FamilySearch. Coverage.

Baptisms

342,117 Dorset entries are included in England &amp; Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 at Ancestry (£). Formerly known as British Isles Vital Records Index - 2nd Ed. Coverage.

Marriages

All of Dorset's parishes are indexed in the Dorset Marriage Index 1538-1837 (£).

199 Dorset parishes are indexed in Joiner's Marriage Index (£). Coverage.

79 Dorset parishes are indexed in Boyd's Marriage Index (£). Coverage.

61,663 Dorset entries are included in England &amp; Wales Marriages, 1538-1940 at Ancestry (£). Formerly known as British Isles Vital Records Index - 2nd Ed. Coverage.

Dozens of Dorset parish marriage registers, particularly for the years 1790 to 1812, are indexed in Pallot's Marriage Index. Available through Ancestry (£).

Burials

Burials from 286 Dorset places (285,460 entries) are included in the National Burial Index (£). Coverage.

Marriage Licences
Dorset residents often acquired marriage licences at Salisbury.

Bishop of Salisbury and Dean of Salisbury marriage licence bonds (1609-1837) have been indexed:.