The General Register Office
What is the GRO?
The General Register Office houses the complete registration details of Births, Marriages and Deaths in England and Wales from the year 1837.
Once you have found the record you are looking for in our index, you can order your certificate from the GRO, quoting the relevant registration district, volume and page numbers.
For the latest information on fees and ordering procedures click here.
What's on the Certificates?
The certificate should show you the following:
Births:
- The district, date and place of birth
- Child's forenames, surname and sex
- Father's name, place of birth and occupation
- Mother's name, place of birth and occupation
- Mother's usual address
- Informant's name, qualification, address and signature
- Date of registration, the Registrar's name and signature
- Child's revised name (if any, after registration)
Marriages:
- The district, church, parish and location
- Date of marriage, forename and surnames, ages
- Marital conditions, professions, addresses
- Both father's forenames, surnames and occupations
- Witnesses names, priest/vicar's name and signature
Deaths:
- The district, location, date and place of death
- Forename, surname, sex and maiden name
- Date and place of birth, occupation, usual address
- Informant's name, qualification, address and signature
- The cause of death
- Registration date and registrar's signature