Parish Registers were instigated by Thomas Cromwell from 1538 in the reign of Henry VIII, recording every wedding, baptism and burial. There are gaps in the records for a variety of reasons, such as the civil war, but these records are a prime source for building family trees. From 1597 a copy of the records had to be made and sent to the Bishop. Sometimes the Bishops' Transcript may contain more information than the original, so it can often be worthwhile tracking down both. For more information on Parish Registers there is a brief history on the Wikipedia Parish Register page.
After 1837 Civil Registration was introduced and the Local BMD and GRO BMD records become the primary source.
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Births, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates - BMD Index |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Complete GRO indexes online & Non-Parochial BMDs service. Includes overseas BMD's for armed forces. |
| Extra Info: | Includes Pre-1837 Non-Conformist BMDs |
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Find My Past - BMD's, Parish Records and More |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Find My Past - BMD's, Parish Records and More |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | A Romany Gypsy & Traveller Heritage Project |
| Link: | https://www.romaheritage.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Romani Parish and Census records |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | ADDYMAN One Name Study |
| Link: | https://ons.addyman.homeip.net/ |
| Description: | ADDYMAN One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Parish Records |
| Title: | Baptisms - England and Wales Christening Records |
| Link: | England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1980 |
| Description: | England and Wales Christening Records, 1530-1980 |
| Extra Info: | Not complete. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Census, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | BATSTONE One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.thebatstones.org.uk/OneNameStudy/index.... |
| Description: | BATSTONE One Name Study |
| Classification: | Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | BOLSTRIDGE One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.bolstridge.co.uk/genealogy/index.php |
| Description: | BOLSTRIDGE One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Use sources to search for types of information such as burials. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | CLUETT / CLEWETT Records and One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.cluett.org.uk/ |
| Description: | CLUETT / CLEWETT Records and One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Part way down the home page is the Search link. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | DALTON Data Bank and One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.daltondatabank.org/ |
| Description: | DALTON Data Bank and One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | DEBENHAM Family History |
| Link: | https://debenham.org.uk/Personal/ |
| Description: | DEBENHAM Family History |
| Extra Info: | DEBENHAM and DEBNAM family history. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | DUGMORE's of the Past |
| Link: | http://www.ancestorsofbirmingham.com/dugmore/dugmo... |
| Description: | DUGMORE's of the Past |
| Extra Info: | DUGMORE's family name, mainly concentrated in the Midlands area. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | DYSON Family of Worcestershire |
| Link: | http://www.dyson-family-of-worcestershire.co.uk/ |
| Description: | DYSON Family of Worcestershire |
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Census, Parish Records, Pedigrees, Visitations |
| Title: | England Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | England Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | England Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes 1861-1901 Censuses; 1837-2005 GRO BMD; visitations and other records. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | English Clandestine Marriages |
| Link: | https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/england-clandestine-marriages |
| Description: | English Clandestine Marriages from 1667 to 1775. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Ewyas Lacy History and Parish Records |
| Link: | http://www.ewyaslacy.org.uk/ |
| Description: | Ewyas Lacy History and Parish Records |
| Extra Info: | Look under Digital Archive for Parish Registers of Clodock, Cusop, Llancillo, Michaelchurch Escley, Rowlestone, St Margarets and Walterstone. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Family History Books via Family Search |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Family History Books via Family Search |
| Extra Info: | More than 40,000 digitized genealogy and family history publications from the archives of some of the most important family history libraries in the world. Read online for free. Includes some parish register transcripts. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Family Search - Maps |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search - Maps |
| Extra Info: | Maps showing where parish boundaries are, when registers were first started. Not complete coverage. Click on map in the map screen to view road names. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Bishops Transcripts, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Family Search Records Collection - England |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search Records Collection - England |
| Extra Info: | An increasing number of records, including census and parish records. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Family Search Records Collection - Worldwide |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search Records Collection - Worldwide |
| Extra Info: | Includes the England and Wales 1841 & 1861 Census, and foreign records, such as the American census that contains Britons who were aboard. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Forest of Dean Family History Trust |
| Link: | https://forest-of-dean.net/joomla/ |
| Description: | Forest of Dean Family History Trust |
| Extra Info: | Includes much information. The parish register transcriptions, also in resources, documents and articles there is a journal of journal of Alfred Harris which includes deaths and burials. May need to register with the site to access some information. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | FOSKETT One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.foskett-genealogy.co.uk/ |
| Description: | FOSKETT One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Click on records for many FOSKETTs. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, National, Parish Records |
| Title: | FreeReg Project |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Transcriptions for Parish Registers |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Herefordshire County Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | Herefordshire County Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | Herefordshire County Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes parish register extracts. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | HOLLINGWORTH One Name Study |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20110611071735/http://h... |
| Description: | HOLLINGWORTH One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of the site -most information still seems to be available. HOLLINGWORTH and variations. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Internet Archive |
| Link: | http://archive.org/ |
| Description: | Internet Archive |
| Extra Info: | Has many scanned books, including some parish registers. Click on texts and then search the archive. Note baptism and baptisms give different results. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | JONES History Website of the UK |
| Link: | https://joneshistory.com/ |
| Description: | The Jones History Website of the UK |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | LANCHBURY / LAINCHBURY |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20150511054040/http://f... |
| Description: | LANCHBURY / LAINCHBURY |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is not active at present. Most information still seems to be available. Mainly in Oxfordshire. Also census for other towns in Buckinghamshire - all surnames. |
| Classification: | Births, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | LEECH / LEACH Family Genealogy |
| Link: | http://www.leechfamily.myzen.co.uk/ |
| Description: | LEECH / LEACH and Related Family Genealogy |
| Extra Info: | Also includes Harris, Jordan / Jurdan, Sparrow, Wilson-Webb / Webb, Death, Doyle, and Savage. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Marriage Index - The Joiner Marriage Index |
| Link: | http://joinermarriageindex.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Marriage Database for Northern England |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Marriages - England and Wales |
| Link: | England & Wales Marriages, 1538-1988 |
| Description: | England and Wales Marriages, 1538-1988 |
| Extra Info: | Not complete. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Mel Lockie's website |
| Link: | https://www.melocki.org.uk |
| Description: | Miscellaneous genealogical information, includng Parish Registers from Shropshire |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records |
| Title: | Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial BMDs |
| Link: | https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/affiliate/?affid=... |
| Description: | Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial BMDs from the National Archive, hosted by The Genealogist |
| Extra Info: | They include the birth records at Dr Williams' Library in London, hospital records of maternity, overseas registrations for British citizens and those on board ships. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Nonconformist Register - Northowram of Coley Register |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/nonconformistreg00byuhe... |
| Description: | Nonconformist Register - Northowram or Coley Register 1644-1752 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Parish Registers 1584-1620. Index of surnames and place names at end of book. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | OLLINGTON Family One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.mikehfamily.me.uk/ollington/ |
| Description: | OLLINGTON Family One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Also includes Hollington and Allington. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register - William Bradock's Guide 1910 |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregister00braduof... |
| Description: | Parish Register - William Bradock's Guide 1910 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. It explains that start of parish registers and other associated items, such as Phillimore marriages, Hardwicke's marriage act, banns, explanation of register entries, foundlings, as well as some interesting register extracts. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register from Various Counties and Regions |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~pinks/genealogy/ind... |
| Description: | Parish Register from Various Counties and Regions |
| Extra Info: | Includes transcriptions for Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Wiltshire and Angus. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register Transcriptons |
| Link: | http://www.parishregisters.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Parish Register Transcriptions for Selected Villages |
| Extra Info: | Some transcriptions for Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Wiltshire and Scotland. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers - Herefordshire Marriages |
| Link: | Parish Registers - Herefordshire Marriages by Find My Past |
| Description: | Parish Registers - Herefordshire Marriages by Find My Past |
| Extra Info: | Search records from 1538 to 1936 |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Canon Frome, Herefordshire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofcanon45cano |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Canon Frome, Herefordshire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers baptisms, marriages and burials 1680-1812. Includes a names index. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Ledbury, Herefordshire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofledbu18ledb |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Ledbury, Herefordshire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers baptisms, marriages and burials 1556-1576. Includes a names index. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Munsley, Herefordshire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofmunsl46muns |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Munsley, Herefordshire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers baptisms, marriages and burials 1662-1812. Includes a names index. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, Pedigrees, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Parish Registers of N. Gloucestershire and S. Worcestershire and Other Records |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~wrag44/genealogy/ |
| Description: | Parish Registers of N. Gloucestershire and S. Worcestershire and Other Records |
| Extra Info: | Includes Deerhurst, Forthampton, Eldersfield and Tewkesbury area. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Sarnesfield, Herefordshire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofsarne13sarn |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Sarnesfield, Herefordshire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers baptisms, marriages and burials 1660-1897. Includes a names index. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Parishmouse Family History Guides |
| Link: | https://www.parishmouse.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Parish Registers, Parish Records and Historical Directories. |
| Extra Info: | Each parish page provides a list of adjacent parishes, historical descriptions of the parish, links to free parish registers and records. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | POULTON Web - Also MELLOR, WHITE, TWEED and Associated Families |
| Link: | http://www.thanksfrank.co.uk/ |
| Description: | POULTON Web - Also MELLOR, WHITE, TWEED and Associated Families |
| Extra Info: | Many names and places included on this site. The name index also indicates records for that name. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records |
| Title: | POWIS Surname and variants One-name Study |
| Link: | http://www.4trudy.co.uk/ |
| Description: | POWIS Surname and variants One-name Study |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | PRATLEY One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.pratley.info/ |
| Description: | PRATLEY One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | PREECE One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.preecefamilyhistory.co.uk/ |
| Description: | PREECE One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Mainly around Hereford, Worcester, Gloucester and Somerset areas |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | PURSGLOVE One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.pursglove.org.uk/ |
| Description: | PURSGLOVE One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Includes variants such as Purseglove, Purslove, Purselove, Purssglove. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | RAMSDALE Family Register |
| Link: | http://www.ramsdale.org/ |
| Description: | RAMSDALE Family Register |
| Extra Info: | Includes variants Ramsdall, Ramsdal, Ramsdell, Ramsdill and Ramsdaille. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Romany References and Records |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20091026134802/http://g... |
| Description: | Romany References and Records |
| Extra Info: | This is an archived copy of a site that is no longer active, although most information still seems to be available. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | SEDGWICK Genealogy |
| Link: | https://web.archive.org/web/20220409185047/http://... |
| Description: | SEDGWICK Genealogy |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of the site. Most information is available to browse. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | SERCOMBE, SIRCOMBE, SURCOMBE, or SIRCOM One Name study |
| Link: | http://www.mit.edu/~dfm/genealogy/sercombe.html |
| Description: | A Compilation of SERCOMBE Families |
| Extra Info: | Scroll down to sources of information. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | STERRY One Name Study |
| Link: | https://www.sterryworldwide.com/ |
| Description: | STERRY One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | Includes extracts from civil registration, parish records and marriage licences. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | STONER Genealogical Databases |
| Link: | http://www.stoner.org.uk/ |
| Description: | STONER Genealogical Databases |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | STRANGE, STRAINGE and Variants One Name Study |
| Link: | https://yourtotalevent.com/people/Strange/idxpepl.... |
| Description: | STRANGE and STRAINGE Family History |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | STRUDWICK One Name Study |
| Link: | http://www.strudwicke.com/ |
| Description: | STRUDWICK One Name Study |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | SWANTON Family Records |
| Link: | http://www.ginnisw.com/ |
| Description: | SWANTON Family Records |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Bishops Transcripts, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | UK Transcriptions Website |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~uktranscriptions/ge... |
| Description: | UK Transcriptions Website Various Counties |
| Extra Info: | Transcriptions for Northamptonshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Click on Other Counties for Lancashire, Leicestershire, Norfolk and Shetland. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, One Name Study, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | WESTAWAY One Name Study |
| Link: | https://web.archive.org/web/20210903002103/http://... |
| Description: | WESTAWAY One Name Study |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer active. Most information is still available to view. |
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