Research

Investigating your family tree


Information recorded on death certificates

The following information indicates what you should expect to see in each column of the death certificate and provides an explanation as to why some of the information is recorded in the format that it is. Download the death certificate help sheet (pdf, 179k), a specimen death certificate to be used in conjunction with the text below.

On 1st April 1969 the law relating to death registrations was amended resulting in a change to the format of a birth certificate. The information below relates to deaths registered before 1st April 1969.

Column 1: When and where died

  • the date and address of the place of death is recorded here. If the death occurred in a prison or mental institution this will not be indicated and the address of the establishment will be stated

Column 2: Name and surname

  • the name given to the registrar by the informant. This is the name the deceased was using at the time of death, not always the name they were given at birth

Column 3: Sex

  • male or female

Column 4: Age

  • the informant gives the deceased’s age at the time of death to the best of their knowledge and it is possible that this may not be accurate
  • the age can assist when calculating a year of birth for the deceased

Column 5: Occupation

  • last known occupation
  • if the deceased is a married woman or widow, the words ‘wife (or widow) of’, followed by the name, surname and occupation of her husband or late husband
  • if the deceased is a divorced woman, the words ‘formerly the wife of’, followed by the name, surname and occupation of her ex-husband
  • if the deceased is a spinster, the words ‘spinster, daughter of’, will be followed by the name, surname and occupation of her father
  • if the deceased is a child under the age of 15, the words ‘son (or daughter) of’ is usually followed by the father’s name and occupation
  • if the death occurred elsewhere than the usual place of residence, the word ‘of’ is followed by the usual address details of the deceased

Column 6: Cause of death

  • this could include detailed information if an inquest has occurred

Column 7: Signature, description and residence of informant

  • this may have been marked with an ‘X’ to represent the informant‘s signature. After 1875, the relationship of the informant to the deceased was given, which gives further clues for family history research

Column 8: When registered

  • the date when the death was registered

Column 9: Signature of registrar

  • if a death was registered over a year late, the signature of the superintendent will also feature with ‘on the authority of the Registrar General’