Birth Record

A birth record (or birth certificate) is an official document that registers the details of a birth. Depending on the era and jurisdiction, it typically includes the date and place of birth, the child’s name, and the names of one or both parents. Modern birth certificates may also include parents’ ages, occupations, birthplaces, and the attending physician’s name.

Civil (government) registration of births began at different times in different countries: England and Wales in 1837, Scotland in 1855, Ireland in 1864, much of Europe in the 19th century. Earlier records may exist in church baptismal registers or other religious records.

Birth records are among the most fundamental sources in genealogical research, anchoring individuals to a specific time and place and linking them to their parents.