Mexico Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

 Mexico

Please note that records previously found in this collection have been moved to their respective states. To find records that may have been in this collection you will need to search the collection of Catholic Church records for that state.

What is in This Collection?
The Catholic Church, which was established in Mexico in 1527, was the primary record keeper for Mexico until civil registration started. Different dioceses usually followed the same standard of writing, so the information found in records are mostly consistent.

The vast majority of Mexicans were Catholic and registered in the records of the local parish or diocese, known as registros parroquiales (parish registers). These records include entries for baptisms, confirmations, marriage information documents, marriages, deaths, and burials. Often, two or sometimes even three generations are indicated in the registers. The records were kept at the parish and a copy was sent to the diocesan archive for preservation.

Church records are crucial in Mexico since civil authorities did not begin registering vital statistics until after 1859. For civil vital records of births, deaths, and marriages after 1859, see Mexico Civil Registration Records for more information.

Some church records have been lost or have deteriorated due to natural effects such as humidity, insects and more dramatic events such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. Civil and political strife have also caused the destruction of parish books. Some records were destroyed or damaged because of poor storage. However, many records that are considered lost or destroyed have simply been misplaced or misidentified.

It is important to note that individual dioceses started documenting life events only after they were established. Each diocese began at different times, here is a list of the years some prominent dioceses were started:

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What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Baptism
 * Name of the child
 * Place and date of baptism
 * Age
 * Gender
 * Family's residence
 * Name of parents
 * Legitimacy
 * Godparents
 * Grandparents

Confirmation
 * Person's name
 * Godparents
 * Parents' names
 * Name of the parish
 * Confirmation date

Marriage
 * Groom's name
 * Groom's age, marital status, residence
 * Bride's name
 * Bride's age, marital status, residence
 * Parents' names
 * Parents' birthplace

Burial
 * Name of the deceased
 * Date and place of burial or death
 * Age, place of residence, marital status
 * Cause of death
 * Name of survivors

Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collections
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