How to Use the Indexes to Birth and Stillbirth Registrations
(RG 80-4)
The Indexes
to Births and Stillbirths (RG 80-4) are computerized
print-outs that were created by the Office of the Registrar
General in the 1960s to replace a manual indexing system.
They index birth and stillbirth registrations as well as
delayed registrations. To use these indexes you need to
know the name of the person whose birth you are
tracing, and the year in which they were born.
The Birth Indexes for 1869 to 1895 are arranged:
- First, by surname initial
- Then, by year of the birth
- Lastly, alphabetically by the full
name.
The Birth Indexes for 1896-1909 are arranged:
- First, by year of the birth
- Then, alphabetically by the full name.
The following is an image of a part of an index
page:
Once You Have the Index Microfilm
The Indexes will list, reading from left to right:
Name: of the person at the time of the
birth. Remember to check every variation, including phonetic
spellings and typographical errors.
Place of the registration: the nearest
Town or Township Clerk's office.
Date of the birth: e.g. 06 12 01 = June
12th 1901.
Registration number Eliminate any zeros
at the front of the number to determine the proper registration
number.
Year of the registration
If you find the birth in the Indexes:
Record the registration year and
registration number found on the right hand side
of the page. Then proceed to the appropriate link.
What is the Registration Number?
Below 200,000?
Between 200,000 and
399,999?
Between 500,000 and 599,999?
Between 900,000 and 999,999?
If you do NOT find the birth in the Indexes
to Births and Stillbirths (RG 80-4) there is
a very slight chance that the registration was indexed in:
Note: Many births were not registered, especially in the
early years of registration.
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