Useful Information in Marriage Certificates for Family History Research

• The registration district
• Where the marriage was solemnized (church or register office)
• The year
• The district and the county
• The date of the marriage
• The name and surname of the husband and wife.
• Their ages (this may say “of age” which was generally over 21).
• Their condition, i.e. marital status – bachelor, spinster, widow, divorcee etc
• Their rank or profession
• Their residence at the time of marriage (this may be just the area rather than a specific address).
• Their fathers' names. It should also state whether the father is deceased.
• The rank or profession of the father.
• Where the marriage took place and by certificate or by banns.
• The signatures or marks of the couple (only visible on photocopies of, or the original document)
• The names and signatures or marks of the witnesses (only visible on photocopies of, or the original document)
• The name of the officer conducting the marriage
• The name of the registrar.

Ordering Copies of Certificates