Death records are one of the most important documents in genealogy, providing crucial information when researching a specific ancestor or unlocking a new branch of your family tree. In some situations, finding a death record may resolve inconsistencies in your family tree and clarify the identities of other relatives.
In this article, we’re breaking down the importance of death records, including what information you’ll find and how to interpret this data during your genealogy research.
Key takeaways on death records research
- Death records contain more information than just the person’s date and location of death. These documents typically include the individual’s cause of death, occupation, birth details, and information about their next of kin.
- You can use death records to fill gaps in your family tree, fix inconsistencies, and confirm the identities of potential relatives.
- The information in death records will vary regionally, and earlier records may not contain as much data.
- It’s important to learn how to interpret death records early in your genealogy journey to avoid potential errors.
- MyHeritage offers access to millions of death records to help you unlock your family tree and verify information you’ve received from other family members.
Why death records matter in genealogy
Death records provide a record of the final moments of your ancestor’s life. Significantly, it’s often the most detailed record you’ll find for any ancestor, especially if you’re only going back a few generations. Death records can reveal information you won’t find elsewhere, including details regarding their next of kin, residence, and maiden name.
It’s important to know that death records as a category encompass more than just the death certificate that is certified by a local authority. These records can help you establish timelines, track migration patterns, and learn who might have inherited from the individual.
5 common types of death records
Death records are issued within a few days of an individual’s death, providing a variety of details about their life. At MyHeritage, you can search for death records using names, dates of birth, death dates, and life events. There are 5 of the most common types of death records you’ll use during your genealogy research:
- Civil death certificates are issued by official government bodies and provide detailed information, including place of death and next of kin.
- Church burial entries are one of the main resources you’ll use for ancestors who died before the early 19th century.
- Cemetery registers will document gravestone inscriptions, giving you information relating to family groupings, birth years, and potential epitaphs.
- Estate files can be difficult to access, but they will provide clues to the financial and social status of ancestors, including their property, debts, and heirs.
- Obituaries appear in newspapers and provide additional biographical details, such as occupation and family connections, as they usually list the names of close relatives.
What information can you expect to find on a death record?
The information you’ll find on a death record will vary depending on the province and purpose of the document. If you want a fuller picture, it’s a good idea to consult at least 2 types of death records, especially if you’re researching ancestors who died within the last century.
By consulting different death records, you can expect to find the individual’s date and place of death, age at death, cause of death, occupation, and marital status. Some death records will also include information about their parents and their birthplace or date of birth.
Modern death records will also include the information of the person who filed the paperwork, providing an important clue about their personal relationships. Some records, such as obituaries, can provide burial information, including the cemetery where the individual is buried and their religious affiliation.
Step-by-step guide: how to use death records in your genealogy research
Death records are essential sources in family history research. They provide reliable details you can use to verify identities, resolve conflicting information, and uncover new branches of your family tree. Below is a clear, step-by-step approach to using death records effectively and integrating what you find into your broader research.
Step 1: Locate a death record
You can access millions of death records through MyHeritage, including death, burial, cemetery, and obituary records. Use the information you already have for the individual to search for potential matches.
Step 2: Confirm if the record is correct
It’s easy to select the wrong death record if you don’t look at the fine print. Always double-check the information, including dates, family members, and occupation, using information that you already know is correct. Cross-referencing will help avoid errors in your family tree.
Step 3: Check for additional information
Death records may provide information that you don’t currently have on your family tree, including information about the individual’s parents, their birthplace, and next of kin.
Step 4: Cross-reference with other documents
You can use death records to correct inconsistencies with other official records, including census, immigration, and marriage records. Compare the death record with other documents you have saved to your family tree.
Step 5: Search for other death records
The information you’ll find in one death record, such as their place of death, can help you find other records, such as burial and obituary records, which can offer additional context for your family tree. Make sure to update your family tree and note your sources.
Join MyHeritage and create your family tree with access to historical records
Death records are one of the most important primary records when researching your family tree. By joining MyHeritage, you’ll get instant access to millions of death records to expand your genealogy research and discover new ancestors.
FAQs about researching death records
Are death records more accurate than birth records?
Not necessarily. It depends when and how the record was made. In general, records are more accurate when they were created by people who are more familiar with the details (such as direct family members) and soon after the event they documented.
What should I do if I’m not familiar with medical terms?
You can use medical dictionaries or medical websites to understand the cause of death listed for your ancestor.
Are death records and burial records the same thing?
No. A death record documents the details of a person’s death, usually including the date, place, and cause of death. A burial record documents the interment and may list the date of death, but it typically includes fewer personal details and does not always provide the cause or circumstances of death.
What should I do if my ancestor’s parents are not listed on their death certificate?
Check additional record types that may include parental information. Church baptism or marriage records, census entries, probate files, and obituaries can all provide valuable clues about an individual’s parents. If available, earlier vital records — such as birth or marriage certificates — may offer the most direct confirmation.
Can I use DNA testing to find death records?
Indirectly, yes. DNA testing can match you to relatives with shared DNA, and these relatives may have death records you may not have found yet.
