Births, Marriages & Deaths (BMD)

Births marriages and deaths
are the most researched of our records to find out details of family members of the past.

After talking to living relatives to find out what they know as a starting point, the births deaths marriages (BMD) registers are often the best places to look next.

Compiled from the national paper record archives, the births marriages deaths registers between them contain a wealth of information about your ancestors.

You can even purchase copies of birth, death and marriage certificates.

Registration of BMD began in England and Wales in 1837, followed by Scotland in 1855. However, Ireland first recorded marriages in 1845 then births and deaths 19 years later.

Prior to these dates, details were mostly kept in local church records.

Researching births, deaths and marriages can lead you towards building a comprehensive family tree.

When augmented with the results of studies into army lists and census records, you can create a detailed account, not only of who your relatives were but also how they lived.

Planning your BMD and genealogy research is very important. The golden rule is to work backwards from what you already know and be as organised as possible.

Your quest will reveal a great deal of information and you will need to know where any piece of information is at any given time.

From all of the information you acquire through your searches in the births, marriages and deaths records, you will create a family history which will be fascinating to you and your other living relatives, as well as providing a unique gift for future generations to continue and build upon.