How to look for records of... Births, marriages and deaths in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man

This is a guide to finding records of births, marriages and deaths in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not part of the United Kingdom and have their own currencies and legal systems, but are dependencies under the Crown. They come under the jurisdiction of the Registrar General of England and Wales for census but not civil registration purposes.

What do I need to know before I start?

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.

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).

Your search will be easier if you know:

  • the name of the person’s parents, spouse or next of kin, where applicable
  • the approximate date of the birth, marriage or death
  • the person’s religious denomination

Online records

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

Records available only at The National Archives in Kew

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

Records in other archives and organisations

Channel Islands: Civil and parish registers

Visit the Priaulx Library for civil records for Guernsey from 1840, Alderney from 1850, and for parish registers for the Bailiwick of Guernsey (c1570-present), and the Jersey Heritage Research Centre for indexes to civil and parish registers for Jersey.

Isle of Man: Civil and parish registers

Visit the Manx National Heritage Library & Archive Service; search their catalogue for parish registers (c.1607–1878); or contact the Douglas Civil Registry Office for civil registers from 1878.

Alternatively, search the FamilySearch catalogue for microfilm copies of records for the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, which can be ordered for viewing at FamilySearch Centres worldwide.

Other resources

Websites

Search birth, marriage and death indexes for the Isle of Man up to 1979 at ManxBMD.com.

Search the FamilySearch website for Channel Islands births and baptisms 1820–1907; Isle of Man births and baptisms 1821–1911, marriages 1849–1911, deaths and burials 1844–1911 and parish registers 1598–1950.

Books

Visit the National Archives’ bookshop for a range of publications on birth, marriage and death records. Alternatively, look in The National Archives’ library catalogue to see what is available to consult at Kew.

Audrey Collins and David Annal, ‘Birth, marriage and death records’ (Pen and Sword, 2012)

Marie-Louise Backhurst, ‘Tracing your Channel Islands ancestors’ (Pen and Sword, 2011)