Marriage Records in the UK

Marriage Records

A marriage record is any type of record or certificate that states the date and place where two individuals were married. The records are available from 1837 onwards as published by the GRO, and in parish records for years before 1837.

Records are available online, although the information varies depending on where and when the marriage was recorded - for example, you will find more information in a marriage record from 1894, than in a marriage certificate from 1756.

Once you have found the marriage record you need, then you can order a copy of the certificate if it is available.

Using Marriage Records in your Genealogical Research

Information on marriage records can be useful as you can use the names as a starting point to begin tracing the ancestors on the record back another generation. You may want to know:

• An ancestor's marriage date and place
• A place of residence
• A year of birth for the bride/groom
• The name of a preceding generation
• Who a child belongs to, if the bride married more than once
• Religious affiliations

We have provided a case study on this website which looks at Ellen Terry and shows you how to find a marriage record, and some links to related information that may be helpful to you.