Baptism and Birth Records in the UK

What are Baptism/Birth Records?

A baptism record is a any type of record or certificate that states the date and place an individual was baptised into a church. These records are available from 1538 onwards, and are recorded in Parish Registers. For information about these records, go to the UK Baptism Records page or click the link above.

A birth record is a certificate that states the date and place an individual was born. These records are available from 1837 onwards as published by the GRO. For information about these records, go to the UK Birth Records page or click the link above. You can also order a copy of a birth certificate if you need to, which can show you full information about the birth.

Why are they useful to me?

Information on baptism/birth 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 birth/baptism date and place
• Parents' names
• The name of a preceding generation

We have provided a case study on this website so you can see just how easy it is to find a record, and some links to related information that may be helpful to you.