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

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1760-1923:  Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1760-1923  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1802-1967: Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1802-1967 ''' at Ancestry ($)
 * 1858-1869: Ontario, Canada, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869 ''' at Ancestry ($)
 * 1869-1873: Ontario, Canada, Civil Marriage Registrations, 1869-1873 ''' at Ancestry ($)
 * 1885-1980:  Ontario, Canada, The Ottawa Journal (Birth, Marriage and Death Notices), 1885-1980"  at Ancestry ($)

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.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
When an eloping Ontario couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places called a "Gretna Green". People from Ontario may have married in a different location for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Tips for finding marriages
Successfully finding marriage records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search given name. Search by given name by leaving out the last name.
 * Search for bride. Search by the bride’s name rather than the groom’s name.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate year of marriage or the county the marriage took place in.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search state. Search using the state name only instead of by county.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
When an eloping Ontario couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places called a "Gretna Green". People from Ontario may have married in a different location for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * From 1858 to 1869, the province of Ontario required the counties to keep marriage registers.
 * Clergymen of all faiths were supposed to record information from their parish registers in county marriage books, although not all complied.
 * Civil Registration of marriage records began in 1869.

Records Destroyed The following counties had record loss. Click on the county for more information.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
When an eloping Ontario couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places called a "Gretna Green". People from Ontario may have married in a different location for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens