Records held in the UK

UK census returns

The census has been taken every 10 years since 1801 and the first detailed census was taken in 1841. The latest available census return is 1901.

Census information records the names of all people living in a household on the night of the census, their ages, marital status, relationships and employment histories.

Census returns can be viewed at any of our record offices, where they can easily be searched by name through the Ancestry website. There is no charge to the public for this facility.

View more about planning a visit to a record office.

Birth, marriage and death records in England and Wales

The registration of births, marriages and deaths began in 1837 and is recorded in the General Register Office records. The public cannot view original registers of births, marriages and deaths but can apply for a copy of a certificate of a particular event for a particular name.

The General Registry Office holds a complete index of all the certificates issued in England and Wales. These indexes are available for consultation at the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service.

• Find my past - This site provides access to images of the General Registry Office index. There is a cost involved, but these can be viewed for free at the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent offices.
• Freebmd - provides a searchable transcription of the General Registry Office indexes.
• Direct gov -  order a birth marriage or death certificates from the General Register Office at Southport.

Jewish records

The Archive Service does not hold any Jewish registers of life events.

Staffordshire Record Office and Stoke on Trent City Archives hold a microfilm copy of the general minutes of the Hebrew Congregation in Hanley, 1889-1916, and of the Stoke on Trent Congregation, 1948-1973. These do contain names of some members of the congregations.

UK immigration and emigration records

Records of immigration are held at The National Archives.

If people emigrated on from the UK the find my past site allows you to search for passengers on long distance voyages from UK ports.

Roman Catholic records

We hold microfilm copies of some Staffordshire Roman Catholic registers of baptism, marriage and burial/death.

Other Roman Catholic records may be with the Birmingham Archdiocesan Archives, Cathedral House, St. Chads, Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6EU (Tel. 01212 362251) or they may still be kept at the respective church.