Peru, Callao, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Peru Callao

What is in the Collection?
This collection will include records from 1874-1996.

This collection consists of digital images of original civil registration records of births, marriages, and deaths from the Provincia Constitucional, or Callao, in Peru.

The registration of births, marriages, and deaths in Peru documents the civil status of the residents.

Earlier records are all handwritten in a narrative format. The later records are also handwritten but on a printed format. These records are written in Spanish. Some of their text may also vary slightly.

Before the government instituted civil registration in Peru, the Catholic Church was the only institution tracking the births, marriages, and deaths of the population. In 1852, during the Republican Era, the government instituted civil registration. This was first done by political authorities, such as prefecture, subprefecture, and state. In 1856, this responsibility was given to municipalities. Currently, civil registration is in the hands of RENIEC, which delegates the registration process to municipal registrars.

For a list of records by localities and dates currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Collection Content
Information found in death records may include the following:


 * Time, date, and place of registration
 * Name, age and gender of deceased
 * Race, civil status, and occupation of deceased
 * Nationality and origin of deceased
 * Parents' names
 * Declarents' name, age, civil status, occupation, origin and residence
 * Names of witnesses, their age(s), origin and residence

How Do I Search the Collection?
Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

To search the collection image by image ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "Province" ⇒Select the appropriate "District or Municipality" ⇒Select the appropriate "Record Type and Years" which takes you to the images.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Spanish. For help reading the records, see the following wiki articles:


 * Spanish Genealogical Word List
 * Chile Language and Languages

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Map of Peru, showing Callao next to Lima
 * AD 1797 map showing Callao de Lima (top map)

Local Histories

 * Brief Encyclopedia Britannica article on Callao's history
 * Blog post on Callao's history
 * Travel website with some history of Callao

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image. Collection Citation:

Image Citation: