Spain, León, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records of births, marriages, and deaths from several districts in the province of León, Spain. The originals are kept at the Archivo Histórico Provincial de León in Spain.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Spanish. For help reading them see: FamilySearch Learning Center videos: If you speak Spanish, the following free online lesson may be helpful to learn how to use the information in these records: For additional details about the history of these records and help using them, see the wiki article Spain, Municipal Records - FamilySearch Historical Records.
 * Spanish Genealogical Word List
 * BYU Spanish Script Tutorial
 * Reading Spanish Handwritten Records, Lesson 1
 * Reading Spanish Handwritten Records, Lesson 2
 * Registros Civiles y Parroquiales – Spanish

Sample Images
The information in each record varies by year.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Birth
 * Child's name and gender
 * Place and date of birth
 * Parents’ names
 * Parents' country of birth (if not more specific)

Marriage
 * Names and ages of groom and bride
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Birthplaces of groom and bride
 * Marital status of groom and bride
 * Names and ages of groom’s parents
 * Names and ages of bride’s parents
 * Who performed the marriage
 * Names of witnesses

Death
 * Deceased's name, and age (keep in mind that death records for women may be filed under their married name)
 * Date and place of death
 * Date and place of birth
 * Marital status/spouse's name
 * Names of parents
 * Birthplaces of parents
 * Name of informant
 * Date and place of burial

How Do I Search the Collection?
Some record sets have indexes; these indexes were created at the end of the year. Copy errors could have been made in the index, so you want to find the actual record to verify the information is correct. Using the index is a helpful way to find the actual record.

See the sections below for tips and uses for searching and finding the record of your ancestor in this collection and using the information in the record.

If you are unable to find a record for your ancestor in this collection, see the corresponding section below.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

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, age, and family relationships.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names
 * Use the residence and names of the parents to locate church records Spain Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family
 * The name of a marriage officiator is a clue to their religion or area of residence in the province. However, ministers may have reported marriages performed in other provinces
 * Compile the marriage entries for every person who has the same surname as the bride or groom; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
 * Use the marital status (whether a divorce or death dissolved a marriage) to identify previous marriages
 * Witnesses often were relatives of the parents

I Found Who I was Looking for, Now What?

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * For death records, the information in records is usually reliable, but depends upon the knowledge of the informant
 * Name changes, shortened names, or nicknames may have been used by your ancestors; pay attention to other relationships (parents, spouse, siblings, children, etc.) that can confirm whether you have the right person/record

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, Now What?
If you are unable to find your ancestor(s) in these civil registers, then try searching in the areas surrounding León. These countries/provinces neighbor León:
 * Portugal on the west
 * Galicia, Cantabria, Asturias in the north
 * Autonomous Community of Aragon, Autonomous Community of Pais Vasco (the Basque Country), La Rioja in the east
 * Madrid in the south
 * Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha; Autonomous Community of Extremadura to the southwest
 * Church records are also a good substitute when birth, marriage, and death records can’t be found or are unavailable
 * Spain Baptisms
 * Spain Catholic Church Records
 * Your ancestor may have immigrated to another country; search the records of nearby areas or immigration/emigration records

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Spain.
 * Spain Record Finder
 * Spain Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Espanha, Leon, Registro Civil (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)