Marriage records provide proof that a couple married. Family historians seek marriage records to find documentation of a couple's names, a woman's maiden name, and the date and place they were married.
Marriage records include the documents created and filed by a government entity (such as a recorders' office) but may also include religious records, such as church or synagogue records.
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Types of marriage records
Marriage records for an ancestral couple typically include more than one document, such as a marriage license and certificate. The marriage license is acquired before the marriage ceremony, ensuring the couple can be married, and the certificate is proof that the ceremony occurred.
Engaged couples need to prove they are eligible to marry (they are not closely related, of appropriate age, and not currently wed), which results in a record such as a bann, bond, or license, for example. Once they prove that, they can marry, leading to records, such as a return or a certificate.
Types of marriage records vary depending on time and location. Some examples include:
- Marriage Banns: Public announcement in a church of a couple's intent to marry
- Marriage Bonds: Filed by a man regarding his intent to marry a woman
- Marriage Licenses: Granted by a government authority that the couple can marry
- Marriage Certificate: Proof that a couple was married. A couple may have a certificate issued by a government authority and a decorative certificate provided by a church.
- Marriage Consent: Signed by a parent or guardian providing permission for an underage bride or groom to marry.
- Marriage Return: Returned confirmation by clergy that a couple was married
- Premarital Investigation: Conducted by a Catholic priest to determine if the couple can lawfully be married. May include family history information to show the couple is not closely related.
Other records related to marriage include church records, newspaper announcements of engagements, marriages, or anniversaries, and home sources such as photographs, invitations, and wedding and anniversary gifts.
Information on marriage records
Depending on the type of marriage records, information found on these records can include:
- Name and age of the bride
- Name and age of groom
- Parent's names of both the bride and groom
- Occupation of bride and groom
- Residential address for bride and groom
- Number of previous marriages
- Location of the wedding (city/county/state and name of place married such as a church)
- The official who conducted the marriage ceremony
- Witness names
Careful analysis of marriage records is crucial. For example, finding a marriage license does not mean the couple is married. They may have changed their mind after acquiring the license. So when working with a record like a marriage license, bann, or bond, continue your search to verify the couple is married.
The informants providing the information on a marriage record may have been the couple themselves, but errors can still occur. For example, they may not have known information about a parent, especially if they did not grow up with or know that parent. In addition, a transcription error may have been introduced unknowingly.
Genealogical clues to marriage
Records that might provide some marriage information or a clue about a possible marriage can include:
Where to find marriage records
Marriage record information can be found in indexes, transcriptions, decorative certificates, and original records. Before vital or civil registration, a marriage might be documented in a family bible depending on the religious tradition. Knowing more about the time period and location can help to narrow down what records should exist. If you know your ancestor's religion, that can provide help in understanding what religious records exist.
Consult genealogy websites like MyHeritage for marriage record collections for the location your ancestor may have married. These collections may include indexes, transcriptions, or original records.
If the records are not online, you must contact the government entity and possibly the church entity that would have documented the marriage. These records may need to be ordered. Consult online sources regarding vital records for the location you are researching.
Digitized historical newspaper websites can help locate marriage-related articles that list everything from the names of couples who were issued a marriage license to milestone anniversary celebrations. These articles may help you to narrow down a possible marriage date and place.
Home sources may also help provide more information about the marriage event and possible records. Contact family members about possible photographs, invitations, and other items. Marriage information may be found on items related to the wedding itself, as well as later milestone anniversary gifts and ephemera.
Explore more about marriage records
- Birth, Marriage, and Death at MyHeritage
- Marriage Records: Everything You Need to Know at MyHeritage Blog
- Ask The Expert – Marriage Records on MyHeritage at MyHeritage Knowledge Base
- Vital Records: How to Find Birth, Marriage & Death Records at MyHeritage Knowledge Base