GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Dorset 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 Dorset Guided Research page.

Mandatory marriage registration started in 1837. However, universal compliance did not occur until 1874. Before 1837, marriages and banns can be found in church records (mainly the Church of England). The oldest marriage records date to 1538.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1538-1812: Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1538-1952: Dorset Marriages  at FindMyPast ($)
 * 1538-1999: England, Select Dorset Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1999  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1538-1936: England, Dorset, Parish Registers, 1538-1936  at MyHeritage ($)

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.

Tips for finding marriages
Success with finding marriage records in online databases depends on a few key points:
 * Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Try the following search tactics:
 * Try searching using the spouse's name.
 * Try different spelling variations of the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Try a given name search (leave out last names).
 * Try broadening the name search, such as using wildcards or searching for similar sounding names (instead of exact matches only).
 * Example: check "Name Variants" on FindMyPast or "Sounds like" or "Similar" on Ancestry


 * Expand the date range of the search.
 * Try searching with the county name only instead of by parish.
 * If your ancestor's name is common, try adding more information to narrow the search.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start Mandatory marriage registration started in 1837. However, universal compliance did not occur until 1874. Before 1837, marriages and banns can be found in church records (mainly the Church of England). Although the oldest marriage records date to 1538, many parish churches did not start recording marriages until the 1600s.

Records Published

Records Destroyed Some church records may have been lost, destroyed, or damaged (especially in the 1500s and early 1600s). More specific information is not known. Civil registration records are generally complete.