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Jurisdictions
A jurisdiction is an area governed by a system of laws. Each jurisdiction has a geographic boundary with some type of authority (i.e., manor, parish, town, county). This authority has the power to apply and enforce the laws. In Wales birth, marriage, death, census, and other genealogical records are organized and stored in different governmental levels such as parish, town, and county.

History of County Boundary Changes
Wales went through three distinct boundary changes: pre-1974, 1974-1996 and post 1996. The specifics of each county and the years it existed can be viewed in the maps and table below. The Wales counties discussed the most in the FamilySearch Research Wiki are the historic pre-1974 counties. The records dated before 1974 are located within the information found in the historic counties. This practice better assists our patrons who are researching their ancestors before the modern time period.

List of County Changes
''Most researchers will be researching within the context of these pre-1974 historic counties. Wales, like many other countries, has seen much reorganization over time and it may be necessary to search in several counties to locate all pertinent records. The table below lists corresponding counties throughout the three time periods. It can be read from left to right. For example, Anglesey became part of Gwynedd in 1974 and then became Anglesey again in 1996.''

See the relevant county pages for further information.

Important Terms to Know

 * Hamlet: is a small village or collection of houses in a parish. It has no separate jurisdiction or administrative functions.
 * Township: is an ancient jurisdiction in Wales and parishes were formed from them as the Normans, over several hundred years, conquered Wales. Townships are divisions of a parish. They were units of local administration, levied a separate poor rate, and appointed a constable.
 * Parish: an area of varying size under the responsibility of a clergyman of the Church of England/Church in Wales
 * Hundred: an administrative subdivision of a county, usually a group of two or more parishes
 * Sub-district: comprised of more than one civil parish
 * Registration District: Subdivisions used specifically with civil registration, which began in 1837. Registration districts in rural areas have many villages and parishes included in one district. Large cities have many districts.
 * Poor Law Union: Under the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 all parishes in Wales and England were grouped together into Poor Law Unions. Each Poor Law Union had to provide a place where people who were unable to support themselves could live and work, known as the workhouse. Poor Law Unions were based on neither county boundaries nor national boundaries, with many Unions along the Wales-England border covering parts of both countries.
 * Archdeaconry: is a subdivision of a diocese with proscribed boundaries. It is presided over by an archdeacon. An Archdeaconry is composed of parishes.
 * Diocese: Represents an area of land with designated boundaries, whose population is presided over by a Bishop. Diocese vary in size, and are usually divided into one or more archdeaconries.
 * County: Administratively, the county is the next jurisdiction below the national government. There were thirteen historic counties in Wales before 1974. The authority and responsibilities of the county are varied and diverse.