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Photograph of a baby (Catalogue reference: COPY 1/566)

This is a brief guide to help you with your research. Records of births, marriages and deaths in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are kept in various places but not at The National Archives. This guide will help you to find out if the records you are looking for exist and, if so, where to find them, or more information about them.

  • What do I need to know before I start?

    • Try to find out:

      • the person's name (and name of their parents, spouse or next of kin, where applicable)
      • the approximate date of the birth, marriage or death
      • the person's religious denomination

  • What records can I see online?

    • There are no birth, marriage or death records for the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man available to see online.

  • What records can I find at The National Archives at Kew?

    • The National Archives does not hold any birth certificates or parish baptism records for the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

  • The National Archives is not responsible for the content of external websites.

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Did you know?

The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not part of the United Kingdom, but are dependencies under the Crown. They have their own currencies and legal systems, but come under the jurisdiction of the Registrar General of England and Wales for census purposes.

Civil registration began at different times on each of the Channel Islands; Guernsey in 1840, Jersey in 1842, Alderney in 1850 and Sark in 1915. Registration began on the Isle of Man in 1849, but was not compulsory until 1878 (1884 for marriages).

The Bailiwickadministrative unit presided over by a bailie or bailiff - the equivalent of a sheriff of Guernsey also includes the islands of Alderney, Sark, Herm, Brecqhou, Jethou and Lihou.

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