London Parish Records from 1538

Now available for the first time online

Go back earlier into Parish Records

Now you can research family records going right back to the reign of Henry VIII. Our amazing new London Parish Records collection gives you a unique opportunity to see records going back further than 1837 — which is when formal birth, marriage and death certificates were introduced.

Baptisms, Marriages and
Burials since 1538

Anglican churches have kept records of all baptisms, marriages and deaths in their parishes since 1538. Although some of the earliest records haven’t survived, those from the 17th century onwards are in remarkably good order. You’ll find the baptism records really helpful in your research, because they date back to before it became law to record a birth.

So even without a birth certificate, if you discover when a child was baptized you can find out the parents' names and where they lived. With these names you can start tracing their parents and the generations before them. By following the paper trail back over the centuries, you might be amazed to discover whole new London branches of your family tree.

Incredible records

With over 11 million entries, the unique London parish records are a great addition to the London Historical Records collection, created in partnership with the London Metropolitan Archives. Only available online at Ancestry.com, you can now research registers for baptisms and burials from 1812 onwards, and marriages after 1754, by forename, surname, locality and type of event. You can browse digital images of earlier registers, going all the way back to the 1500s.

Boards of Guardian records

The 19th century was often a tough time for the poorest in society. However, they had had access to some form of relief since Elizabethan times with the aid of the Poor Law. These individuals were eligible to receive help such as monetary relief and other daily necessities like food, clothing and work — usually administered via the dreaded workhouses.

The records include admission and discharge books of workhouses, school registers, registers of apprentices, registers of inmates and more.

Search Poor Law Records, 1834 -1940

Watch out for these famous Londoners

  • Oliver Cromwell

    Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), nicknamed "Ironsides," is easily one of the most controversial figures in British history as the man responsible for the English Civil Wars, the removal of monarchy and the regicide of King Charles I, all between 1642 and 1649.

    Originating from "low-level" gentry, the records of St. Giles Cripplegate show that he married Elizabeth Bourchier on 13 August 1620. Elizabeth’s father was a London leather merchant with strong ties to the Puritan movement and whose network of contacts would prove crucial to Oliver's later military and political career. See record of Oliver Cromwell

  • Samuel Pepys

    Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) is famous for the diary he kept between 1660 and 1669, which has become one of the most important sources available for those studying the period of the English Restoration. Pepys, who kept his diary in code — possibly to hide his infidelities — provides a rich account of major events such as The Great Plague of 1665 and the subsequent Great Fire of London in the following year.

    He is said to have been born in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street, London on February 23, 1633; however, the record of his baptism in the parish register of baptisms at St. Bride Fleet Street shows the 'earlier' Julian calendar year of 1632. See record of Samuel Pepys

  • Horatia Nelson

    Horatia Nelson (1801-1881) was the illegitimate daughter of the great Admiral Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton. Born in 1801, the LMA records show that she was baptized Horatia Nelson Thompson at St. Marylebone on May 18, 1803. All of the baptisms on the same page also list the names of both mother and father, but Horatia's shows only her name and the date of baptism. It is assumed that in order to avert the scandal of an illegitimate daughter, Nelson had her baptized as the daughter of Vice Admiral Charles Thompson, later adopting her as his own. See record of Horatia Nelson

Other records included in London Metropolitan Archives collection

In total, the collection spans more than 400 years, representing a varied and colourful picture of London and its inhabitants. It covers registers from over 700 churches within the former counties of London and Middlesex.

  • Bishops' Transcripts

    Bishops' Transcripts are duplicate copies of entries made in the baptism, marriage and burial registers. They were copied from the original registers by churchwardens once a year and sent to the Bishop's Registry.

    London Metropolitan Archives holds Bishops' Transcripts for the counties of Surrey, Middlesex, (excluding the city of London) and those parishes in Kent that later became part of the county of London.

    Bishops' Transcripts for marriages cease, on the whole, after civil registration was introduced in July 1837. Bishops' Transcripts for baptisms and burials cease at various dates between the 1830s and 1900.

  • Other religious archives

    Non-conformist congregations (i.e. Methodist) baptisms, marriages and burials.

  • Other collections

    • Board of Guardians (up to 1911)
    • School Admissions and Discharge Registers (up to 1911)
    • Electoral registers and poll books (up to 1965)
    • Land Tax documents
    • Surrey marriage bonds and allegations (up to 1830)
    • Wills

  • Other material

    • Transportation records from the Middlesex Sessions of the Peace
    • Diocesan marriage bonds and allegations (up to 1850)
    • Diocesan divorce exhibita
    • City of London Freedoms
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London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) – A true insight into London.

London Metropolitan Archives For everyone who's interested in what makes London tick, there’s a vast wealth of information just waiting to be explored at London Metropolitan Archives — the largest local authority record office in the UK.

It’s home to the archives of the City of London Corporation (COL) and the former Greater London Council (GLC), London County Council (LCC) and Middlesex County Council (MCC).

You can research the records of religious, public, business, local authority and other organizations dating from 1067 to the present day.

London Metropolitan Archives holds 51 miles of archives — with new collections being added all the time.

It contains a huge amount of information about the capital and its people and gives fascinating insight into every aspect of London life. London Metropolitan Archives is the memory of London.

Click here to find out more about LMA

City of London London Metropolitan Archives is provided by the City of London Corporation as part of its contribution to the heritage and cultural life of London and the nation.

Images of the LMA and City of London logos and LMA sample documents produced by permission of the City of London Corporation Libraries, Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery Department. The City of London gives no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided. These images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to the City of London, Guildhall, PO Box 270, London EC2P 2EJ. Infringement of the above condition may result in legal action.

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