Jamaica Civil Registrations Index

Jamaica began civil registration in 1878, mandating the recording of births, marriages, and deaths by the state. Maintained by the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), these records often include names, dates, parents, occupations, and locations—crucial for tracing Jamaican ancestry, especially when used alongside earlier church and slave registers.

Earlier parish records, especially Anglican ones from the 18th century onward, help bridge gaps before civil registration. Many civil records have been microfilmed or digitized, and indexes are available online. Given the island’s complex social and migration history, civil registration is essential for identifying ancestors of African, European, or mixed heritage and tracing familial ties across generations.