Family history research
Darlington Register Office holds all birth, death, marriage and civil partnership records registered in Darlington since July 1837.
All these records are fully indexed and searchable via our website. You can order a certified certificate, using our secure payment system.
If you wish to trace your family history further back, you will need to look at local parish records. These are the records of baptisms, marriages and burials made by a church. You will usually find these registers at the local County Record office. Local libraries also offer valuable resources. Genealogy websites offer some parish records online, but these are often subscription/pay-per-view services.
The boundaries of Darlington registration district have changed many times over the years. If you cannot trace a record you believe to be in Darlington, you may find they are held at a neighbouring registration district.
Useful links
- General Register Office (national records from 1837 onwards) gov.uk/general-register-office
- Durham Record Office (archive service for County Durham and Darlington) https://durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/
- Darlington Library Centre for Local Studies https://www2.darlington.gov.uk/web/arena/local-and-family-history
- Durham Records Online (transcriptions of many parish & census records for County Durham and Northumberland) https://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/