Greek vital or civil records were kept by the early 1840s, after the Revolution of 1821 which overthrew 400 years of Ottoman rule, and the formation of the modern Greek state and the organization of a central government. Local municipalities started documenting the male population for tax, voting and military purposes. Civil registration of vital events was not mandatory until 1925, when the passage of Law No. 3750 required that all births, marriages, and deaths be registered with the civil authorities. Prior to 1925, these records were kept by churches.
Civil records
In Greece, civil records of birth, marriage, and death after 1925 are kept at the local municipality level. Records before 1925 are held at the local office of the General State Archives of Greece; some may also be found at the municipal office. Records may be found in the municipality where the event occurred or where the individual resided.
Church records
The Greek Orthodox Church is the main religious institution in Greece. Before civil registration began in 1925, churches were the primary source of baptism, marriage, and death records. Since 1925, vital record books continue to be kept in village churches and are maintained by individual priests. Greek marriage records are kept both at the village church and at the Metropolis (bishopric) office. Some Metropolis offices may also have copies of village church birth and death records.
It is important to note that few records are digitized or available online; therefore, in-person visits or written correspondence to archives, municipal offices and churches are required to access them.
The following information can be found in each type of vital record.
Greek birth and baptismal records
Civil birth records
- Name and sex of infant
- Place, date, name, residence & occupation of the declarer
- Infant’s place and date of birth
- Parents’ names, religion, ethnicity, residence, occupations
Church baptismal records
- Sex and name of infant
- Place and date of birth and baptism
- Parents’ names, residence, occupations
- Godparent’s name and residence
- Name of officiating priest
Greek marriage records
Before July 18, 1982, only religious marriages were allowed and performed in Greece.
Civil
- Names and residences of groom and bride
- Father’s names of groom and bride
- Occupation, religion, nationality of groom and bride
- Birth date and place of groom and bride
- Number of marriages of groom and bride
- Information of officiating priest
- Place, church name and date of marriage
Church
- Names, ages, residences and names of groom’s and bride’s fathers
- Place and date of marriage
- Date of marriage license
- Name and residence of sponsor
- Name of officiating priest
Greek death records
Civil
- Date, place, hour of death
- Name of deceased
- Residence
- Birthplace and year
- Occupation
- Religion
- Citizenship
- Parents’ names
- Name of spouse
Church
- Name, age, residence, occupation and marital status of deceased
- Father’s name or spouse’s name
- Date of death and funeral
- Name of priest
Alternate sources of vital records in Greece
Births: Male Registers (Mitroon Arrenon)
These record serves as an official record of male citizens and residents of Greece. They were created from the beginning of the modern Greek state (post-Revolution) to track the male population in each village for military service and tax purposes. The records are maintained by local municipal authorities and are kept chronologically, by year. Information provided is the name of the individual, his year and place of birth, his occupation, his father’s name, and in the 20th century, his mother’s given name. Records prior to 1860 are known to be incomplete.
The Male Register has several functions in modern Greece, including:
- Voting: The register is used to ensure that only eligible citizens are able to vote in elections and referendums. When a citizen reaches the age of 18, they are automatically registered in the Male Population Register.
- Tax collection: The register is used to collect taxes from eligible citizens and residents. Each individual's tax identification number (TIN) is linked to their entry in the Male Population Register.
- Military conscription: The register is used to identify eligible male citizens for military service. All male citizens between the ages of 19 and 45 are required to serve in the Greek Armed Forces, and the Male Population Register is used to identify those who are eligible.
- Social services: The register is also used to provide social services to eligible citizens and residents, such as healthcare, education, and welfare benefits.
Overall, the Male Population Register plays an important role in the administration of Greece and ensures that citizens and residents are able to exercise their rights and receive the services to which they are entitled.
Births: Election Registers (Eklogikoi Katalogoi)
The purpose of Election Registers is to maintain a record of eligible voters who are qualified to participate in national and local elections. These registers are maintained by local municipalities. They are used to confirm the identity of voters and ensure that they are registered in the correct district.
From 1829-1864, men over the age of 25 were eligible to vote. In 1864, the age was lowered to 21. Information includes: voter’s name, age, occupation, residence and father’s name. There are currently three collections available to researchers: Vlachogiannis (1864-1925, mostly 1870’s); Parliament (1844-1893); and Ladas (1843-1873). Note: a man may be registered to vote in a different place from where he lives. For example, he may be registered to vote in his village of birth, yet live full-time in Athens.
Births: Census Records
Census records in Greece are maintained by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). The first modern census in Greece was conducted in 1828, and since then, censuses have been conducted every ten years, with the exception of a few periods of political instability. Public access is restricted to records that contain numerical or statistical data only. Access to census records with names of residents is restricted for privacy reasons.
Occasionally, archive offices may have records of a census taken for a specific reason. The Farmers Census of 1856 is one example. This collection contains census records of farmers from Greece in 1856. Records typically include the name of the individual, their year of birth, residence, and may include the name of the father.
Births and Deaths: Municipal (or Town) Registers (Dimotologion Koinotitos)
Town registers are official records maintained by the municipality which contain information about its residents. Every citizen over the age of 18 is required by law to register with the town hall or municipality where he or she resides. The registers are used for a variety of purposes, such as determining eligibility for voting, issuing identity cards, and providing social services such as healthcare, education, and social security.
Records were compiled in the mid-1900’s for each village. Families are listed in alphabetical order, by surname, starting with Family #1. Some family records, however, are incomplete. The town registers contain personal information such as name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, and address. They may also include information about marital status, occupation, and family members. Data was added as changes to the family occurred, but the accuracy of the information depended on what the family told the clerk, and whether the clerk kept up with his record keeping. The information in the registers is confidential and protected by law.
Explore more about Greek vital records
- Sparta Marriages 1835-1935 record collection at MyHeritage
- Corfu Vital Records, 1841-1932 record collection at MyHeritage
- Greece Electoral Rolls and Male Registers, 1856-1950 record collection at MyHeritage
- Greece Farmers Census 1856 record collection at MyHeritage
- Election Registers from the Ladas and Parliament Collections 1844-1890 at GreekAncestry
- Links to Greek records collections online at Hellenic Genealogy Geek
- Election Registers, 1860-1920: Vlachogiannis Collection at General State Archives of Greece
- Election Registers, 1860-1890: Parliament Collection at General State Archives of Greece
- Election Registers, 1840-1850: Ladas Collection at General State Archives of Greece
- Male Registers and Town Registers by Carol Kostakos Petranek at Spartan Roots blog
- Village Church Records by Carol Kostakos Petranek at Spartan Roots blog
- The General State Archives of Greece, digital collections by Carol Kostakos Petranek at Spartan Roots blog
- Online Greek Records at FamilySearch YouTube channel