Marriage Records

Marriage records can provide details about your genealogy. Marriage information can establish religious and congregation affiliation, and other details to be found in these records can include age and place of birth, occupation, residences, and parents' names.

Marriage records are primary resources for the marriage details, since they were created at the time of the marriage. Ancestry.ca collections include indexes that can help you request the record, and in some cases, actual images of the marriage records.

Tips for Searching Marriage Records

  • Narrow your search for marriage records by looking at the age and birthplace of the first child. This information can also be found in Census Records.

  • Seek out the marriage records for all family members. Information found on the records of siblings may include helpful details that aren't found on your ancestor's record.

  • When you find a record in a marriage index, always follow up and request the original record.

  • Keep in mind that when civil registration first began, not everyone complied immediately. When you can’t locate a civil marriage record, look for censuses (Federal and State) and City Directories that can place your ancestor in a particular place around the time of the marriage. Then investigate churches in the area where the couple might have been married.