Birth Records in the UK

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. You can also order a copy of a birth certificate if you need to, which can show you more information about the birth.

Birth Records: 1837 - 2004

Birth records can be found at BMDindex.co.uk, which you can access via TheGenealogist. 'BMD' stands for Births, Marriages & Deaths records kept by the General Register Office (GRO) of England & Wales, part of the National Office of Statistics (NOS). These records have been kept by law since 1837, detailing every birth, marriage and death recorded in England & Wales since that date.

Above: An example of a birth record from 1969.

Above: An example of a birth record from 1984.

Information you can find on a birth record is as follows:

Full Name of child
Mother's Maiden Name
Date of registration
Registration district
Volume number and Page number

If you want more information, then you can order a full birth certificate, which can give you the following:

Full Name of child
Sex of child
Date & Place of birth
Mother's maiden name
Informant's name/address/relationship to child
Full name and occupation of the father (if married to mother, if attended with the mother, if signed registration entry - from 1969)
Place of birth of both parents

For records before 1837, you will have to look at Baptism Records.