Genealogy Chat

I am intending to purchase a Death Certificate in the UK but wondered how much information they give? Such as parents names? Wifes name? Would the names of children be listed? many thanks Katrina Australia

Hi The ones I have generally give District/Sub-district/County of registration,date of death and may even give address of where death took place, name,female or male,age,Occupation (This may say wife of followed by husband name or vice versa),Cause of death,Signature and address of informant (this is usually who is present at death- usually a son,daughter,spouse),When registered. Suzanne

Hi Katrina, This web site explains exactly what is on a birth, marriage & death certificate....I hope this is of any help to you. http://home(.)clara(.)net/dixons/Certificates/indexbd(.)htm Note:- Remember to remove the brackets. Regards, Dawn.

Often you do not learn very much new but it can confirm details that you were not sure. Death Certificates from the mid 19th Century can be useful because the person might have only been seen in one census or you might not have foiund them in the census so this can be the first verified information on them. The age might make finding their birth easier. The informant details can sometimes give you the married name of a daughter. This again can help find them or in certificates from after 1901 it might be the first clue to the address of one of the children. MB

Hi Katrina Scottish death certs differ slightly 1855...Name, Occupation, where born, how long in this district, parents names and occupations, spouses, names and ages of children, date and place of death, cause of death, burial place and informant. 1856-1860...Name, Occupation and marital status, date and place of death, sex, age, parent's names and occupations, cause of death, burial place, informant. 1861-1965...Name, Date and Place of Death, sex, age, name and occupation of father, name and maiden name of mother, cause of death and informant. Hope that's helpful Christine

You don't get much on a death cert and it may or may not be of genealogical value. I did get a breakthrough when I sent off for a death cert for a gt gt grandfather with an unusual name (so I knew it was him). His place of death was a village I'd never heard of, but I managed to find my very commonly-named gt grandfather there on the census, and knowing his place of birth I could then trace him on the 1871 census. Often the informant of the death is a close relative which can be of use, but I've also had death certs where the informant doesn't appear to have been more than a neighbour or attendant. nell

I should say that after 1969 death certs have date and place of birth. But my grandfather's 1972 death cert has the place spelled incorrectly and his year of birth is wrong. I guess my uncle didn't check when he registered it. nell

Thanks everyone for your help in this matter Regards katrina