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Civil Registration began in 1890. Parish and District clerks were mandated to record births in 1890, deaths in 1925, and marriages in 1930. Prior to these years, all registers containing transcripts of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, and burials were retained by the Anglican Church, which date back to 1637.
If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through the projects described below. If it has not been digitized or if you need a certified copy, contact the appropriate district office or the Registration Department to view the record.
| Adoption Records |
The Records Branch of the Barbados Registration Department External produces adoption records. We suggest contacting this branch. |
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| Birth Records |
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| Death Records |
Note: From 1844-1851, birth and death registers were mandated by law in 1843 and kept for a few years, but the law was widely ignored and eventually repealed after a few years. Civil Registration began in 1878. District and Parish clerks were mandated to record births and deaths, maintaining those records to date. |
| Marriage Records |
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| Divorce Records |
The Family Division of the High Court grants divorces. We suggest contacting the High Court of the Supreme Court of Barbados External. |
The subscription resources marked with a padlock 
are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.
Using Ancestry Library Edition for Barbados
Begin your search through Ancestry's vast collections, by viewing the list designated as Barbados records External.
This collection contains indexes for some baptism records in Barbados. This collection contains indexes for some marriage records in Barbados. This collection contains indexes for some burial records in Barbados.Using FamilySearch for Barbados
FamilySearch provides useful country wikis that make excellent starting points for research. The Barbados Wiki External includes links to each of its counties.
FamilySearch has digitized many of its microfilms containing archival records including birth, death, and marriage. Not all records have been indexed yet, so search engine results may NOT show you the full range of FamilySearch data. You must browse the FamilySearch catalog External listings for each parish to view the full set of records available. The vast amount of accessible original records is well worth your time to explore.
The FamilySearch homepage to Barbados External contains links to historical records, genealogies, and catalog material.
Contact the Barbados, Registration Department to learn more about accessing vital records and explore additional options for obtaining copies.
Barbados, Registration Department
Supreme Court Complex
Whitepark Road
St. Michael
Barbados, W.I.
(246) 535-9700
[email protected]
Below are selected print publications for countrywide vital records. The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.
To locate additional published materials, go to the Print Resources section of this guide for search tips on locating published archival records, abstracts, and indexes that may aide you in locating original records.
American Vital Records from the Gentleman's Magazine, 1731-1868 by 
Barbados Records, Baptisms 1637-1800 by 
Barbados Records. Marriages, 1643-1800 by 
Barbados Records: Wills and Administrations by 
