Canada, Ontario Roman Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes Catholic Church records from 1760 to 1923. This collection includes Catholic Church records from various Ontario parishes. The records include baptisms, marriages and deaths. Church records are an important way to track ancestors prior to civil registration. Civil registration began in Ontario in 1869 but was not fully implemented until 1930.

Records are included for the following dioceses: • 2 Records are included for the following archdioceses:
 * Kingston
 * Ottawa
 * Toronto

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

Baptismal
 * Name of child
 * Date and place of baptism
 * Date of child's birth
 * Legitimacy declared
 * Name of parents
 * Names of sponsors/witnesses
 * Name of priest performing baptism

Marriage
 * Name of groom, his age and residence
 * Groom's birthplace
 * Groom's marital status and occupation
 * Groom's religious denomination
 * Names of groom's parents, including maiden name of mother
 * Name of bride, her age and residence
 * Bride's birthplace
 * Bride's marital status and occupation
 * Names of bride's parents, including maiden name of mother
 * Married by license of banns
 * Names of witnesses and their residence
 * Name of officiating priest

Death
 * Name and age of deceased
 * Birthplace of deceased
 * Date and place of death
 * Cause of death
 * Name of officiating priest
 * Date of interment

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The name of a relative or date of the event

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.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This can help you find possible relatives
 * Search the records of nearby areas
 * Check for other names. An individual might appear under an unexpected name for a variety of reasons:
 * They might have been listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name
 * A woman may have returned to her maiden name after the death of her husband

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

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Brenda Dougall Merriman,  Genealogy in Ontario : searching the records 3rd ed. Toronto, Ontario : Ontario Genealogical Society, 1996 FHL 971.3 D27m 1996
 * Families (Ontario Genealogical Society) Waterloo, Ontario : Ontario Genealogical Society, 1971- FHL 971.3 B2f
 * edited by Robert J. Quintin, edited Guide to the Catholic parishes of Ontario Pawtucket, Rhode Island : Quintin Publications, c1994 FHL 971.3 K24qr
 * Catholic Church Diocese of London, Index of parishes

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Canada, Ontario Church and Civil Records, 1801-1948

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.