Ontario implemented civil birth registration in 1869, but earlier records were kept by churches, including Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, and Methodist congregations. As Canada’s most populous province, Ontario has a rich genealogical history shaped by Indigenous communities, early French and British settlers, and large waves of immigrants from Europe, particularly Ireland, Scotland, and Germany. The province played a major role in the Loyalist migration after the American Revolution and later became a key destination for European immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Archives of Ontario and the Office of the Registrar General maintain birth records, with access restrictions for 100 years. Ontario’s extensive historical records provide valuable resources for tracing family ancestry.
Birth, Marriage & Death