Marriage Records: What They Are and 7 Resources to Help You Find Them

Whether your ancestors had a simple courthouse marriage or a beautiful wedding filled with family and friends, the records of that life-changing day can be a valuable resource for family historians.

In this article, we will explore the various types of marriage records that may have been created during an ancestor’s lifetime, the crucial information these records provide, and where to search for them.

What are Marriage Records and Why Do They Matter?

Originally created to provide an official record of marriages for legal, religious, and social purposes, the practice of keeping marriage records dates to ancient times. Marriages were often arranged for political or economic reasons, and the state or religious authorities needed to keep track of who was married to whom. In the United States, the first marriage records were kept by local churches and were primarily used to verify the legitimacy of children and to establish inheritance rights.

Today, marriage records are an important resource to help family historians identify their ancestors and confirm family relationships. The wealth of information you may find in a marriage record includes:

• Full names of the bride and groom
• Their birth dates and/or ages at the time of marriage
• Their birth location and/or current residence
• Their occupations
• Their religious affiliation
• Evidence of a previous marriage
• The date and location of the marriage
• Name of the person who performed the ceremony
• Names of the parents of the bride and groom
• Parents’ birth dates and places
• Names of witnesses to the marriage (possible additions to their FAN Club)

A marriage record can be a crucial piece of evidence revealing a married woman’s maiden name. In fact, depending on the location and time period, a woman’s maiden name may not be found on any other document created during her lifetime. For this reason, you will want to thoroughly research all types of marriage records that may have existed at the time of your female ancestor’s marriage.

It is also important to try to obtain a copy of the original marriage record instead of relying on information provided in an index. Original records may have additional details that were not included in the index, or the indexed record may contain transcription errors. If the original document is no longer extant, be sure to make a note of that in your records.

Types of Marriage Records

Below are definitions and examples of the various types of marriage records you may encounter during your family history research.

Marriage Banns

The word “banns” comes from “Bannen,” which is Saxon for “to proclaim by the sound of a trumpet.”¹Evans, Barbara Jean, A To Zax: A Comprehensive Dictionary for Genealogists & Historians (Midlothian, Virginia: Hearthside Press, 1995), 27. So, the banns of marriage, or marriage banns, are the public announcement or proclamation of an intended marriage.

Banns were a requirement of the Church of England and the early Catholic Church and were usually announced at a church service a few weeks prior to the marriage date. The purpose was to give an opportunity for “legitimate objections” to the marriage, making the priest free to perform the ceremony.²Drake, Paul, What Did They Mean By That? A Dictionary of Historical and Genealogical Terms Old and New (Westminster, Maryland: HERITAGE BOOKS, INC., 2000), 15.

Banns were a common requirement during the American colonial era:

Plymouth Colony’s first marriage regulation (1636) required the banns to be read to the congregation three times, or if no congregation was in the area, publicly posted for a fifteen-day period. Quakers were allowed to announce banns in their meetinghouses. Noncompliance with the banns procedure carried a serious fine in the 17th century, which could be imposed upon the groom or minister. The proclaiming of the banns of marriage was also a requirement in the Dutch colony of New Netherland.³“Banns of Marriage,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banns_of_marriage.

In 1983, the Roman Catholic Church removed the requirement for banns and left it to individual national bishops’ conferences to decide whether to continue this practice. However, in many Catholic countries, the banns are still published.⁴“Banns of Marriage,” Wikipedia.

Intentions

Marriage intentions were similar to banns but were filed with the town or county clerk instead of the church. While usually not read aloud, intentions were posted in public places in order to give others the opportunity to object to the proposed marriage.⁵Szucs, Loretto Dennis, and Luebking, Sandra Hargreaves, editors, The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy, 3rd Ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2006), 606.

Intentions typically included the names and residence locations of the bride and groom, as well as the date the intention was filed.

Marriage Bonds

A bond is “a sum of money, pledge of credit, insurance guaranty, or another thing of value deposited, usually with a court, as assurance that someone will faithfully perform certain duties or meet obligations…”⁶Drake, What Did They Mean By That? 28. A marriage bond is essentially the same: a financial pledge of security that one intends to marry.

The purpose of a marriage bond was to ensure that there was no legal or moral reason to prevent the marriage from taking place. Typically, the money did not actually change hands, though it could be called for “if the marriage did not fulfill the requirements.”⁷Evans, A To Zax, 169.

Bonds were not required by all states or colonies but were common in the U.S. South. In some states, they were required before a marriage license could be issued.⁸Szucs and Luebking, The Source, 606.

Marriage bonds reveal the names of the bride and groom, the name(s) of the bondsman, witnesses, and the date of the bond. The bondsman could be related to the bride or groom (possibly a parent, brother, or uncle), so you will want to investigate the relationship between the bride and/or groom and the bondsmen.

Marriage Licenses and Applications

A marriage license is issued by the local civil jurisdiction (e.g., the county) in which a couple intends to marry. It is basically a document giving permission for a couple to marry.

In some areas, a license was required before the marriage could be performed: “By statute in some jurisdictions, it [a marriage license] is made an essential prerequisite to the lawful solemnization of the marriage.”⁹Black, Henry Campbell, A Law Dictionary: Containing Definitions of the Terms and Phrases of American and English Jurisprudence, Ancient and Modern: and Including the Principal Terms of International, Constitutional, Ecclesiastical and Commercial Law, and Medical Jurisprudence, with a Collection of Legal Maxims, Numerous Select Titles from the Roman, Modern Civil, Scotch, French, Spanish, and Mexican Law, and Other Foreign Systems, and a Table of Abbreviations, 2nd ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1910), 762.

Marriage applications are the modern equivalent of a marriage license, and they often contain more detailed information than a license. Like a marriage license, an application is a document completed by the bride and groom requesting permission to marry from the local civil jurisdiction.

The approved license (or application) was presented to the person performing the marriage. A notation of the marriage “solemnization” was often recorded on the back of the license by the person performing the marriage ceremony. The document was then returned to the town or county where it was issued.

Marriage licenses and applications can be a wealth of genealogical value because they contain the names of the bride and groom, and often their ages and residence locations, as well. Later records may also provide the couple’s birth dates and locations, occupations, race, and names and birth locations of their parents.

Marriage Certificates

A marriage certificate is a printed – and often beautifully illustrated – document signifying that a marriage ceremony has been completed. The document is typically filled in by the person performing the marriage and presented to the newly-married couple.

These lovely souvenirs of marriage may be in the possession of family members and are often handed down with other family documents. The clerk of the court where the marriage was performed may also have a copy. You might even find them in military pension files since the soldier’s widow would have had to provide proof of marriage in order to receive benefits.

While not as rich in genealogical information as marriage applications, a marriage certificate should provide, at minimum, the names of the bride and groom, the date and location of the marriage, the name of the officiant, and the names of the witnesses.

Marriage Returns and Registers

The book listing the marriage licenses issued by a civil jurisdiction (e.g., the county) is called a marriage register. In England, this book is called a marriage-notice book.¹⁰Black, A Law Dictionary, 762. There is often a number in the register corresponding to the license that was issued.

Marriage registers typically include the names of the bride and groom, their ages, residence locations, and the issue date and location of the marriage license. There is often a number in the register corresponding to a number on the license that was issued. Register entries may also include the race of the bride and groom, their parents’ names and birth locations, and evidence of a previous marriage.

Marriage returns may also be found in a column of the marriage register book. The marriage return is a notation by the minister — or another person who performed the ceremony — stating where, and on which date, the couple was married. The return may have been completed by the minister or transcribed by the clerk from information completed on the marriage license.

Consent Papers

If the bride or groom was underage at the time of marriage, the consent of a parent or guardian would have been required for the couple to marry. This consent may have been given verbally, written on the marriage license or bond, or it may have been written on a separate piece of paper and attached to the marriage register, license, or bond.

Consent papers are likely to reveal the name of the bride’s or groom’s parent (typically the father). If consent was given by a guardian, you will need to research that person further to determine the relationship.

Confidential Marriages

Most marriage records are considered public records, which means they can be accessed by members of the public for free or for a fee.¹¹Many states embargo their vital records for a specified number of years after an event took place. Before placing your order, be sure to read the requirements and restrictions carefully. However, there is one type of marriage record that is not public: a Confidential Marriage.

The State of California offers a “Confidential License and Certificate of Marriage” to persons 18 years of age and older who were living together as spouses at the time of application. No witnesses are required to be at the ceremony, and no witnesses sign the marriage license.¹²“Confidential Marriage License,” California Department of Public Health, https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Types-of-Marriage-Licenses-.aspx.

This marriage license is a confidential record and is registered at the clerk’s office in the county where it was purchased; copies of confidential marriage records are not available from the state vital records office. Without a court order, a copy of a confidential marriage record can only be requested by the married couple and will not be issued to surviving family members or for genealogical research.

Where to Search for Marriage Records

Below are seven of the top places to begin your search for marriage records, especially those created in the United States.

Please note that not all of these websites – and records – are free to access. Sites requiring a subscription or other fee are marked with a dollar sign ($).

FamilySearch Wiki: United States Marriage Records

One of the first places I check before looking for any new-to-me record set is the FamilySearch Wiki. On this particular Wiki, you will find explanations of various marriage records and associated documents, as well as links to individual state resources. The state pages are broken down by counties, and so on. If the records are available on FamilySearch, you will find a link to the collection.

For records outside the U.S., visit the FamilySearch Wiki Main page.

Ancestry: Marriage and Divorce Records ($)

As you might expect, Ancestry has a good-sized collection of marriage records for the United States, as well as Australia, Canada, Europe, and Mexico. What you might not expect is that some of these records are indexes and not images of the original records. Be sure to also check the marriage collection at FamilySearch in case an image of the original record is available there.

While an index is better than nothing, it is always best to try to obtain the original record. Use the index to help you find a copy of the original record. This may require that you contact the state or county where the record was created; see below for information on how to do this.

Note: If you don’t have a subscription to Ancestry, check your local public library, Family History Center, or FamilySearch Affiliate Library to see if they have a subscription to Ancestry Library Edition, which you should be able to use on-site free of charge.

Findmypast: U.S. Marriages ($)

If you thought Findmypast was only for United Kingdom research, you’d be wrong. Findmypast has a very good collection of United States marriage records dating from the 17th century to the 20th century, with more records being added as they become available.

Both images of records and transcripts are included in this collection, though, some records only provide a transcript. Various marriage record types are included, such as applications, licenses, certificates, intentions to marry, registers, bonds, and affidavits.

The Ancestor Hunt: Marriages

One of the many resources available at The Ancestor Hunt is a comprehensive list of links to marriage records. The list is broken down by state and then by type and county.

Some of the links go to records at FamilySearch, but many also go to websites like the USGenWeb and individual counties. If you haven’t been able to find a record online, it is worth a few minutes to browse the links at The Ancestor Hunt.

Cyndi’s List: Marriages & Divorce

If you aren’t using Cyndi’s List in your research yet, then you’re missing out on an amazing resource. The website went online in 1996 and is a collection of thousands of links for more than 180 categories of all things family history, including an extensive list of links to marriage records and resources.

In addition to locality-specific resources, you will also find links to general resources, how-tos, and information about eloping to “Gretna Greens.”

Online Birth & Marriage Records Indexes

While not as extensive as The Ancestor Hunt or Cyndi’s List, this website does offer quite a few links to marriage records. The list is organized by state and includes links to general resources and resources for U.S. citizens born or married in foreign countries. It is worth a look, especially if you haven’t found what you are looking for at the other websites.

CDC – Where to Write for Vital Records ($)

Due to modern privacy laws, the majority of late 20th- and 21st-century marriage records are not available online. However, you may be able to order them from the state or county in which the couple married, if known.

You will need to complete a form that can usually be found on the state or county website. Don’t forget to include the required search fee, which varies by state and county, and typically ranges from $10 to $35+. Unless otherwise stated, your fee will be retained, even if the requested record is not found.

Many states embargo their vital records for a specified number of years after an event took place. Before placing your order, be sure to read the requirements and restrictions carefully so your money isn’t wasted.

Additionally, some states require that you prove your relationship to the couple and will only provide records – especially recent records – to specific family members (e.g., the parent, grandparent, or child of those named on the record). And trust me, they are not kidding. I was recently denied access to a 20th-century record because I am a great-grandchild, rather than a grandchild, of the couple named in the record. I doubt if any grandchildren are still living!

Wrap Up

Marriage records are an essential resource for genealogical research by providing valuable information about family relationships. Whether you are an experienced genealogist or just beginning to explore your family history, marriage records offer a treasure trove of information just waiting to be discovered.

What sort of discoveries have YOU found in marriage records? Please share in the comments!

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Footnotes

• 1
  Evans, Barbara Jean, A To Zax: A Comprehensive Dictionary for Genealogists & Historians (Midlothian, Virginia: Hearthside Press, 1995), 27.
• 2
  Drake, Paul, What Did They Mean By That? A Dictionary of Historical and Genealogical Terms Old and New (Westminster, Maryland: HERITAGE BOOKS, INC., 2000), 15.
• 3
  “Banns of Marriage,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banns_of_marriage.
• 4
  “Banns of Marriage,” Wikipedia.
• 5
  Szucs, Loretto Dennis, and Luebking, Sandra Hargreaves, editors, The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy, 3rd Ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2006), 606.
• 6
  Drake, What Did They Mean By That? 28.
• 7
  Evans, A To Zax, 169.
• 8
  Szucs and Luebking, The Source, 606.
• 9
  Black, Henry Campbell, A Law Dictionary: Containing Definitions of the Terms and Phrases of American and English Jurisprudence, Ancient and Modern: and Including the Principal Terms of International, Constitutional, Ecclesiastical and Commercial Law, and Medical Jurisprudence, with a Collection of Legal Maxims, Numerous Select Titles from the Roman, Modern Civil, Scotch, French, Spanish, and Mexican Law, and Other Foreign Systems, and a Table of Abbreviations, 2nd ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1910), 762.
• 10
  Black, A Law Dictionary, 762.
• 11
  Many states embargo their vital records for a specified number of years after an event took place. Before placing your order, be sure to read the requirements and restrictions carefully.
• 12
  “Confidential Marriage License,” California Department of Public Health, https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Types-of-Marriage-Licenses-.aspx.

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