What To Expect From Baptism Records

Baptism records can be very useful when conducting family history research, but what kind of information can you expect them to contain?

• Full names. This includes given names, middle names and surnames. It isn't uncommon to find that the name by which your ancestor was known was actually his or her middle name, so don't automatically assume a baptism entry is not relevant if other information ties in.


• Date of baptism. The date on which the child was baptised will be included, and some baptism registers will have the date of birth next to this (sometimes in the margin). Baptisms often took place months or even years after the birth so it is a good idea to look at the entries for several years after the birth if you cannot find the right entry in the birth year.


• Parents names. This will usually be included, but you will often find that only the first names of the parents are given. Because of this, baptism records are not the best way to find the maiden surname of the child's mother.


• Abode. The place of baptism (church) will usually be found on the front of the baptism register but the abode of the family may be included. This tends to just be the town or village in which the family were living at the time of the baptism rather than the actual adddress of the house.