Nicaragua, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Nicaragua

Access the Records
Nicaragua, Catholic Church Records, 1740-1960 CID1494432 {{{CID2}}} {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Nicaragua
Flag of the Republic of Nicaragua
Location of Nicaragua
Record Description
Record Type:	Church
Collection years:	1740-1960
Language:	Spanish
Title in the Language:	Registros Parroquiales de la Iglesia Católica en Nicaragua
FamilySearch Resources
Record Finder
Research Tips and Strategies
Related Websites
Una Visión Histórico-Pastoral de la Iglesia Católica en Nicaragua
Arquidiócesis de Managua (in Spanish, Chrome will translate)
Archive
Archivo Historico de la Arquidiocesis de Managua

What is in This Collection?

This collection of baptisms, marriages, and burials was created by authorized parish priests in the years 1740 to 1960. Most of the inhabitants of Nicaragua were Roman Catholics, therefore these records may cover about 95 to 100 percent of the population from the 16th to the 20th century.

It is common to see the sacramental ordinances of baptism, marriage, and burial in separate registers; however, in smaller towns these records may all be recorded in one yearly book. The entries were normally made in chronological order. Some confirmations may be found within the baptisms. The earlier parish records were all handwritten in narrative form, and later records were handwritten in formatted entries. All records were handwritten in Spanish.

The parish registers may be the only records available for genealogical research before civil registration was implemented in 1879.

Reading These Records

These records are written in Spanish. For help reading them see:

• Spanish Genealogical Word List
• BYU Spanish Script Tutorial
• FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
  • Reading Spanish Handwritten Records, Lesson 1
  • Reading Spanish Handwritten Records, Lesson 2

If you speak Spanish, the following free online lesson may be helpful to learn how to use the information in these records:

• Registros Civiles y Parroquiales – Spanish

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Nicaragua, Diocese of Managua, Catholic Church Records, 1740-1960.

Image Visibility

Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images.

For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Baptism records

• Date and place of baptism
• Child's name and gender
• Child's date and place of birth
• Parents’ names
• Names of godparents
• Sometimes, names of grandparents

Marriage records

• Date and place of marriage
• Name of groom
• Groom's age and civil status
• Groom's place of baptism
• Names of groom's parents
• Name of bride
• Bride's age and civil status
• Bride's place of baptism
• Names of bride's parents
• Names of witnesses

Death records

• Name of deceased
• Age and civil status of deceased
• Parents’ names
• Sometimes, name of the spouse, if married
• Cause of death
• Place of burial

Collection Content

Sample Images

• 

  1960 Baptism Record

• 

  1949 Marriage Record

• 

  1911 Death record

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

• Name of the person
• Approximate date of the event

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.

1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:

1. Select Department
2. Select City or Town
3. Select Parish
4. Select Record Type and Years to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

• Add any new information to your records
• If available, check the image for additional information
• Analyze the entry to see if if provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

• If available, check the image for additional information
• Analyze the entry to see if if provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
• Search civil registration (records begin in 1879)
• Search for variant spellings of names
• You ancestor may be using a nickname or alias. Download a handout on Spanish name abbreviations
• A boundary change could have occurred and the record of your ancestor is now in a neighboring area. Search the records and indexes of neighboring cities, provinces, and regions

Research Helps

The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Nicaragua.

• Record Finder
• Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection.

Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.

Image Citation: When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki?

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