Baptism records
Discover what parish registers recorded before and after the standard form introduced in 1813.
Read the baptism guideA guide for family historians
Find the story behind every record.
Birth and baptism records can turn a name on a family tree into a person with a place, a date and a family. Learn what the records contain and where to find them.
Start with the date you know
Which record will take your research further?
Before 1837
Begin with parish baptism registers.
From 1837
Search civil birth indexes and certificates.
Need a wider search?
Compare online databases and CD collections.
The essentials
Build your research from the right record.
Use these guides to understand the clues in each record before you search.
Birth records
Learn how civil registration works from 1837 and which details appear in a birth index.
Read the birth guideCertificates
See what a full birth certificate can add to your tree and how to order one from the GRO.
Read the certificate guideA simple timeline
Let the date guide your next step.
The record you need often depends on when the event happened. This quick overview will point you in the right direction.
Explore online resources
1538
Parish registers begin
Baptism records become the main way to trace births before civil registration.
1813
Standardised baptism entries
Printed registers introduce a more consistent set of details.
1837
Civil registration begins
The GRO begins recording births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales.
Keep exploring
The clue you need may be one page away.
Read a real research story, browse parish register collections, or find trusted genealogy sites to continue your search.