However, mandatory registration did not begin until 1874. Certificates are available either through local record offices or the General Record Office. The certificates are a valuable source of information for family historians, and are very important in tracing 'backwards' any family tree.
Parish records are an essential tool in family research.
Prior to 1837, parishes were the mainstay of any town or village. Most parish records have survived and can be searched to obtain baptismal, marriage and burial information. For some records that have not survived, Bishop's Transcripts might be available. Copies of parish records and Bishop's Transcripts are held in county record offices, local historical societies, and various genealogy associations and societies. The 1881 Census has been indexed for all of England and Wales, and has quickly become an invaluable tool for researching family history.