Family history
We hold a wide range of records that are useful for researching your family’s history in Ontario. Some of these were created by the provincial government to mark vital events, including births, marriages and deaths. Others, such as wills and estate files, were created through court proceedings. Some records were created by private organizations, including religious congregations and genealogy societies.
Family history topics
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FeaturedBirth, marriage and death registrations
Find and order certified copies of Ontario birth registrations up to 1919, marriages to 1943 or deaths to 1953.
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FeaturedOther records of vital events
Find non-provincial government records of Ontario births, marriages and deaths from 1749 to 1981.
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FeaturedWills and estate files
Research Ontario wills and estate files from 1785 to 1976 for most counties, and up to 1986 for some counties.
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Adoption and guardianship records
Find Ontario adoption records before 1921 and guardianship records from 1827 to the 1970s.
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Census records
Find census records for people living in what is now called Ontario from 1796 to 1931.
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Change of name records
We have official records of individuals who changed their name in Ontario, mostly between 1939 and 1986.
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Immigration and naturalized citizenship records
We have provincial and federal records of immigration to and naturalized citizenships that occurred within what is now called Ontario from 1828 to 1979.