Birth, death and marriage certificates provide one of the main sources of information for family history. Staff in the local and family history section of the Central Library can help you get started. You can also book onto a family history workshop. Follow the link to the local and family history library to find out more.
Ancestry.com and Origins.net
Searching records has been made much easier with online access to Ancestry.com and Origins.net. There is free internet access in the Local and Family History Library to both resources.
Ancestry includes
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census returns for England, Wales and Scotland from 1841- 1901
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Births, marriages and deaths indexes for England and Wales
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First World War British Army service, pension and medal records.
Origins has some English, Welsh and Irish census returns, plus other resources such as Boyd's Marriage Index, London Apprenticeship Records, and Griffiths Valuation.
Please note you will need to bring proof of your name and address to access this resource. Ancestry is also available in all local Leeds libraries.
Where to get copies of birth, death and marriage certificates
A birth, death or a marriage is registered in the district where it took place. You need to apply to that district’s Register Office to get a copy of the certificate.
Leeds Register Office holds the registers of all births, deaths and marriages which took place in the Leeds district dating back to 1837. Follow the link to Yorkshire births, marriages and deaths to access on-line indexes to some of our older birth, death and marriage records. You can apply for a copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate by following the link to Copy Certificates.
Alternatively you may apply to the General Register Office which holds records for all births, deaths and marriages occurring within England and Wales since 1837 although fees for this service are higher than those at your local office.
If you want an earlier certificate you will need to apply to the local archives. You can follow the link to West Yorkshire archives service. The Yorkshire Parish Registers are held by the Local Studies Library.
You can find more information on tracing your family history from Family Records.
Searches of indexes
Where we are unable to find the record in a stated year, we will search over a wider period for you (for births and marriages two years before and two years after the year stated; for deaths one year before and one year after). If a wider search is required, or if your request generates numerous possible candidates e.g. John Smith born in Leeds 1852, you will need to pay us an extra fee to perform a search.
Alternatively you can make an appointment to come and do a general search of our indexes for up to six hours but you will not be able to see the registers. You will also have to pay for each certificate you want.
Can you help me trace an old friend/relative?
It is very difficult to find someone if you only have a name, unless they are listed in the local telephone directory.
The Information Centre, Leeds Central library has the limited edition of the Electoral Roll. Staff will do a quick search for you if you simply want them to check one name at a particular address - 0113 247 8282. However, entries are made by street name, not by personal name, so unless you know the address of your friend, it will be a laborious task to look through the entire rolls, and fees are charged.
You can see the full electoral register at the Electoral office
Other ways to find information about people living or dead throughout the country, are listed below.
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross can help people wishing to trace family members around the world, if family contact was lost due to the war or political situation.
Look4them
A gateway to the sites of several organisations involved with finding people including some that help find people overseas.
National Missing Persons Helpline
A charity that advises and supports missing people and those who are left behind.
Salvation Army's Family Tracing Service
The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service exists to try to restore (or to sustain) family relationships, by finding relatives who for various reasons have become out of touch. There are certain categories of enquiries the service does not normally become involved with.