Genealogy Chat

Can anybody tell me what information would be recorded on Marriage and Death Records in the U.K. Thanks

On a death cert it would give date of death, place, (very helpful when they died at home as it gives the address), age of person (but that cannot be relied on as the informant may not be sure). Tthe relationship of informant which helps tracing other people and their addresswhere they living.

Marriage:
Name (and previous married names of wife)
Address, occupation, age
Names and occupations of fathers.

And don't forget names of witnesses - these can offer valuable clues.

Jan

Marriage cert gives date and place of event, age (although sometimes it just says full) their occupation, place of residence at time of marriage. Name of father's (if known) and their occupations. It often mentions if one of the fathers is deceased but not always.

Witness are very important as it can help find other relatives, always go back and look at these certificates after a few months, as a name of witness at the time may not mean much but after more research and perhaps finding some more marriages they may be relevant.

Thanks all, much appreciated

Hello Trudi,

As you specifically said the UK, your answer depends on which part of the UK you are referring to and when.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Scotland certificates. (I'm not familiar with Irish ones)

Scottish death certificates and marriage certificates are more detailed than English and Welsh certificates.

Their death certificates for example, not only list the informant and what they died of (sometimes including the illness they had for the last 18 months I think), it also gives both their parents names (including their mother's maiden name) and occupations even though they may have already died themselves, this is in addition to all the normal stuff.

Their marriage certificates also list both parents including their mother's maiden name rather than just the father which is usually the case in English/Welsh certs.

Also for Scotland, if you find a certificate in 1855 (the year Scottish civil registration started), it can be referred to as the bonus year as they list other relatives too such as siblings.

You may have only needed the answer for England and Wales but if you do find a Scottish relative, don't forget they give more info, :)