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Births, deaths, and marriages

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Introduction

Search the Tasmanian Names Index for births, deaths or marriages records, or browse this guide to find out about all the resources available on births, deaths and marriages that occurred in Tasmania.

Our records cover the years from 1803 through to the early decades of the twentieth century.

For births, deaths and marriages records after these years, please consult Births, Deaths and Marriages – Department of Justice, Tasmania.

There are a range of records to help you find out more details about a person’s birth, death or marriage in Tasmania.

  • Before you start, it helps if you have an idea of the approximate date of birth or death and where they lived in Tasmania. If you are looking for details in Church or cemetery records, it helps also if you know their religion.
  • Official registration for births deaths and marriages began in December 1838. Even so, often people did not register births, deaths or marriages. Church records often hold the only information on baptisms, funerals and weddings for the early years of the colony
  • Some surviving records on marriages and burials 1803-1838 are incorporated. The Registrar General copied information from some pre-1838 records
  • We do not hold original certificates as they were given to the person making the registration and were not kept by the government
  • Tasmanian registrations give less information than many other Australian states. Generally they include the following:

Births

Prior to 1896

  • Given name (if known at time of registration) and surname
  • Date and place of birth
  • Names of parents
  • Maiden surname of mother
  • Father’s occupation

1896 – parents’ marriage date and place added

1902 – parents’ ages and birthplaces added

1909 – previous issue (children) added

Deaths

Prior to 1897

  • Name of deceased
  • Date and place of death
  • Age at death
  • Occupation
  • Cause of death

1897 – birthplace of the deceased was added. Sometimes included since the 1880s

1914 – age at marriage and number of issue (children) added

Marriages

Prior to 1896

  • Names of the people being married
  • Date and place of marriage
  • Age at marriage (sometimes only whether “under” or “over” age, i.e. 21)
  • Occupation and status (e.g. bachelor and spinster)
  • Names of witnesses to the marriage

1896 – names of parents, and places of birth added

Church records of weddings do not have further details

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