El Salvador Church Records

This article is a translation of a spanish article submitted by Lynn Turner.

Church Records

1. Baptisms 1631 to date The baptism records contain:


 * Name or parish
 * Inscription date
 * Names, surnames, and gender
 * Date of birth and baptism, and legitimacy
 * Names and surnames of the parents and godparents
 * Sometimes the parent's recidency.

2. Confirmations

The confirmation records contain:


 * Names, surnames, age, place and date of confirmation
 * Parent's names and surnames

3. Matrimonies 1631 to date 

The marriage records contain:


 * Names and surnames of the bride and groom
 * Parent's names and surnames
 * Parish name.

NOTE: Recent records also include the civil status and place of birth for the parents as well as the witnesses' names and surnames.

4. Deaths

The death records contain:


 * Names and surnames of the deceased and the parents or spouse
 * Date of death
 * Cause of death and age
 * Place of death and burial.

5. Ecclesiastical Registries 1746 through 1755 and 1802 through 1803

The ecclesiastical registries contain:


 * Residency
 * Date
 * Family members names; and of the children some indication of legitimacy
 * Parent's marriage status

6. Marriage Information 1635 through 1920

The marriage records contain:


 * Names, dates, place of birth and residencies of bride and groom
 * Name of bride and groom's parents
 * (Algunas veces fe de nacimiento y de matrimonio).

Where are the church records kept

Originals:

Kept at local parishes; some are at the National Archives and at the Archbishop's Palace in the city of San Salvador.

Records microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah:

Various church records have been microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah. To find which records the society has search in their catalog:


 * Go to the internet site: http://www.familysearch.org
 * Select the option: Family History Library Catalog
 * Select the button: Place Search
 * In the first box type the name of the town where the church is located. For example: Moncagua
 * In the second box type: El Salvador
 * Select the place from the list of results
 * Select the theme: Church Records
 * Select the button: View Film Notes