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FREE CANADIAN BIRTH AND BAPTISM DATABASES
This page is a partial listing of free online resources for finding birth records for Canada. Some of the webpages are government or library sites, while others are sponsored by religious or genealogy groups. Some sites, such as the Mormon (LDS) Family History resources and a few government sites, allow their visitors to view and download certificates for free. But, in most cases, you will need to order copies of birth certificates from the appropriate county, state, or national government office.
Many of these sites also allow you to search for marriages and deaths as well, but this page will only discuss births and baptisms.
If you do not find what you need at the free sites listed below, check out our discussions about other general birth records resources on our main Birth Records Page. You may want to also search the Rootsweb Mailing Lists Archiver to see if anyone has transcribed newspaper birth announcements for the area you are interested in.
For a more complete, up to date list of birth and baptismal databases for Canada at FamilySearch, see the menu at Family Search. If the Family Search menus do not work for you, or you encounter problems using the new site, please read about the Family Search sites on our Birth Records home page for more information about the Family Search sites and how to deal with problems using them.
You may also wish to surf through the more comprehensive list of both free and paid birth and baptismal record sites on Cyndi's List.
We have removed the direct links to FamilySearch Pilot and Search Labs search pages for Canada which were previously listed below, because those search pages have been removed by FamilySearch. If you are unhappy with the new search, the best we can recommend is to write to them, or post a complaint. For more details, see our section about the Family Search sites on our Birth Records home page.
If you find, or know of, any free birth index or birth records webpages not listed below, or find any errors or broken links, please email that information to me so we can make this page a more useful resource for everyone. And if you want to learn about what other kinds of truly free genealogy resources there are which you can access from home, see our resources page.
CANADA
We have located databases containing free birth or baptismal information for most provinces, but are sure there must be more. If you know of any not listed below, please email us about them so they can be added to this section.
We have listed Family Search's databases for specific provinces in the sections for each province below, but Family Search also has a general Canadian database containing over two million Canadian records, including selected Canadian Births and Baptisms from about 1661 up into the 1900's. The information was obtained from records on LDS films which may not yet be online. Until the records go online, films can be viewed at Family History Centers or, to learn how to order inexpensive photocopies before the records get put online, see our ordering tips page.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1520604 (requires javascript)
FamilySearch and other sites are adding more databases rather often, so you may wish to check the LDS and other major websites to see if more Canadian birth or baptismal databases have been added than we have listed below. For the most complete, up to date list of Canadian birth and baptismal databases at FamilySearch, click here. And be sure to also see CyndisList for links to Canadian Family History Society projects for the various provinces.
ALBERTA BRITISH COLUMBIA MANITOBA NEW BRUNSWICK NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR NOVA SCOTIA ONTARIO PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND QUEBEC SASKATCHEWAN
ALBERTA
The Provincial Archives of Alberta have Birth Record Indexes available online for 1877-1896 as pdf files.
http://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/how-to/find-birth-marriage-death-records/births-accordian.aspx
Alberta Family History Society had newspaper birth announcement transcriptions for 1883-1902 and 1992-1997 which have now disappeared from their site. It may make sense to have removed the recent announcements due to privacy regulations, but if anyone knows where the transcriptions for 1883-1902 may have gone, please email that information to me so that information be added to this page for others to use.
http://www.afhs.ab.ca/data/announcements/index.html (former URL for the transcriptions
Ted Howard's "TheRecents" website, formerly at https://sites.rootsweb.com/~abwcobit/, had Edmonton newspaper birth announcement transcriptions for various years between 1904-1938. You could browse the entries, or try this Google birth search to locate the many birth transcription pages not visible from the home page. Each transcribed entry included a link to the original announcement at Our Future, Our Past. "TheRecents" website has moved to http://www.albertagenealogy-research.ca/. The new site was under construction when we were able to explore it last, and may or may not have the free content mentioned above, but does seem to have links to selected pages in the Google news archive.
http://www.albertagenealogy-research.ca/. (may use browser "frames")
Kingman, Alberta Lutheran Church Record extracts include some baptisms from 1915-1919
http://members.tripod.com/kingman_2/page4.html
BRITISH COLUMBIA
British Columbia Vital Records Archives (online)
Search Birth Registrations (1854 to 1903) and Baptisms (1836-1888)
http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/
The LDS FamilySearch site has British Columbia Birth Registrations for 1854 to 1903.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1307731 (requires javascript)
Birth Notices extracted from the Vancouver Times 1864-1866, the British Columbian 1861-1869, the Victoria Daily Standard 1871, and the New Westminster Mainland Guardian 1870-1875.
http://sites.rootsweb.com/~canbc/newspapers/vic_news.htm
British Columbia, Victoria Times Birth, Marriage and Death notices, 1901-1939. Browsable images of newspaper clippings including birth announcements, mixed in with notices of marriages and deaths. Not indexed for automated searches, but organized chronologically. Includes notices from the Victoria Times, Victoria Weekly Times, and Victoria Daily Times.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2001136 (requires Javascript)
MANITOBA
We would like to list more free birth records information databases for this province. Please do email me if you find or know of any additional ones.
Province of Manitoba | Database Searches
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca//Query.php
Manitoba, Church Records, 1800-1959. Browse images including births and baptisms from selected communities in and around Manitoba. Years of coverage vary widely between various congregations. For example, we found some combined birth/baptism books through 1950, while those from other congregations and parishes stopped around 1900. Includes Lutheran, Catholic and Unitarian records.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1992433 (requires Javascript)
NEW BRUNSWICK
Provincial Archives of New Brunswick
Search government records of baptisms, births and more from 1800 to 1959. Search results can include transcriptions of full names of both parents as well as date of birth for as early as 1810 up through 1914.
https://archives.gnb.ca/search/VISSE/?culture=en-CA
Browse or search transcriptions of newspaper announcements ranging from January 31, 1784 thru December 1896.
https://archives.gnb.ca/search/NewspaperVitalStats/default.aspx?culture=en-CA
Family Search has indexed selected New Brunswick Births and Baptisms from about 1819-1899. The information was extracted from records on LDS films which may not yet be online. Until the records go online, films can be viewed at Family History Centers or, to learn how to order inexpensive photocopies before the records get put online, see our ordering tips page.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1805645 (requires javascript)
New Brunswick, Late Registration of Births, 1810-1899. Browse images of typewritten index cards with details from late registrations of births from government vital statistics branch and archives in New Brunswick. Books arranged alphabetically, include full date and place of birth and names of parents along with mother's maiden name.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1967766 (requires Javascript)
The LDS site has indexed selected Provincial Returns of Births and Late Registrations in New Brunswick for about 1810-1906. This database looks like the same data may be available directly at the Provincial Archive site itself as listed above. It consists of an index and and images for births 1869-1905, but only for surnames beginning with letters A-Be for 1906; and late birth registrations ranging from 1810-1905. You will need to sign in to view images and search results.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1726660 (requires javascript)
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
We would like to list more free birth records information databases for this province. Please do email me if you find or know of any additional ones.
Newfoundland and Labrador Parish Records - ongoing transcription project
http://ngb.chebucto.org/Parish/index.shtml
FamilySearch has browsable images of births and delayed birth registrations in Newfoundland for about 1840-1949. Recent records may not be available due to privacy laws. You will need to sign in to view images and search results.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1790939 (requires javascript)
FamilySearch has Newfoundland, Vital Statistics from the transcripts of church records from many churches, including baptisms, for 1753-1893. Browse images, these have not been indexed yet. You will need to sign in to view images and search results.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1793777 (requires javascript)
FamilySearch has Newfoundland Church Records, 1793-1945. Browse images including births and baptisms. Years of coverage will vary widely by parish, but only go through 1901 as of April 2013. The official description of this collections indicates that there also are records for the Church of England in Canada, but we only found records for Catholic parishes. You may want to visit the wiki page that has a coverage table for this collection.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1939435 (requires Javascript)
NOVA SCOTIA
Search Nova Scotia official birth and delayed birth registrations for individuals born between 1830 and 1908 - search results screen yields name and year of birth - actual birth records are online and can be viewed for free by Mac and Windows users with special viewer
https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com/
List of Baptisms in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, performed by Reverend James MacGregor during 1786-1790.
http://sites.rootsweb.com/~pictou/bapt1.htm?cj=1&o_xid=0000713921&o_lid=0000713921
Births and Baptisms for 1839-1919 from Notre Dame de L'Assomption Parish in Arichat and St John the Baptist Church in River Bourgeois
http://www.canadiangenealogy.net/novascotia/nova_scotia_church_records.htm
Family Search has extracts of selected Birth and Christening records from Nova Scotia for about 1702-1896. The information was extracted from records on LDS films which may not yet be online. Until the records go online, films can be viewed at Family History Centers or, to learn how to order inexpensive photocopies before the records get put online, see our ordering tips page.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1810407 (requires javascript)
Nova Scotia, Vital Records, 1763-1957. Searchable index based on information from the Nova Scotia Archives. Includes name of child, year of birth and location. Most births in collection occurred between 1854 and 1877, with some as early as 1810 and as late as 1907. Larger range of dates in official name of collection refer to marriages and deaths. Details not available without signing in, and the only added information we could find was the volume and page for the record. We did not find any parents' names.
TIP: click on "Births" and boxes will appear where you can fill in location and range of years to search.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1952893 (requires Javascript)
Nova Scotia, Church Records, 1720-2001. Browsable images including baptisms from selected Catholic and Church of England parishes in Annapolis, Cape Breton, Chester, Colchester, Cumberland, Digby, Halifax, Hants, Kings, Lunenburg, Queens counties in Nova Scotia. Births and baptisms may be in combined books with marriages and deaths. Years of coverage vary widely by parish. We found baptisms up to 1945 for the Church of England in Sydney, but in some parishes only to late 1800s.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1925428 (requires Javascript)Nova Scotia Antigonish Catholic Diocese 1823-1905
Family Search has indexed Catholic Parish Records in Nova Scotia from Antigonish Diocese for about 1823-1905. This database includes records from Antigonish, Cape Breton, Guysborough, Inverness, Pictou and Richmond counties. Records for Victoria were not online as of January 20, 2011, but may be added later. The information was extracted from records on LDS films which may not yet be online. Until the records go online, films can be viewed at Family History Centers or, to learn how to order inexpensive photocopies before the records get put online, see our ordering tips page.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1392507 (requires Javascript)
ONTARIO
Bill Martin's Early Ontario Record's Page contains transcriptions of early church records submitted by various researchers, and includes many baptisms from the late 1700s through the early 1900's. The site is huge, and you may wish to use this special Google birth search link to find records of interest.
http://my.tbaytel.net/bmartin/earlyont.htm
Ontario Wesleyan Methodist Baptism transcriptions ranging from 1825-1910 (mostly 1840-1873 so far) for Beckwith, Goulbourn, Kemptville, Marlborough, Montague, North/South Gower, North Gower, Osgoode, Oxford-on-Rideau, Ramsay, Richmond, and South Gower. AFHS has been redesigning their site. If the following link does not work, try accessing it's Oct 2007 copy from Archive.org.
http://afhs.ab.ca/data/ontario/baptisms.shtml
Ontario Birth Registrations for 1869-1911, contributed by volunteer transcribers
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~births/genealogy/index.htm
Wolfe Island, Ontario - civil birth registrations, births from newspapers, and baptisms from church records 1869 to 1910.
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~theislands/genealogy/birthreg/wolfe/wolfebmain.html
Olive Tree has baptismal records from some Ontario churches as far back as the 1700's. Scroll past all the ads, and near the bottom of the page, you can choose a database to view, or try a site search to search all databases in one step.
https://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/can/ont/church.shtml
The Olive Tree Genealogy has links to many more free birth and baptismal transcriptions for Ontario, both onsite and offsite. Just scroll past the ads to reach the list of free database links at:
https://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/can/ont/ont_vsbirths.shtml
Family Search has extracts of selected Births and Baptisms from Ontario for 1779-1899. The information was extracted from records on LDS films which may not yet be online. Until the records go online, films can be viewed at Family History Centers or, to learn how to order inexpensive photocopies before the records get put online, see our ordering tips page.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1805649 (requires javascript)
FamilySearch has indexed over 164,000 Ontario Births, 1869-1912. The information was extracted from records on LDS films which may not yet be online. Until the records go online, films can be viewed at Family History Centers or, to learn how to order inexpensive photocopies before the records get put online, see our ordering tips page.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1784212 (Javascript required)
FamilySearch has Roman Catholic Church Records, 1760-1923 for Ontario. Years of coveage for baptisms varies by parish, baptisms will geneally only be available through 1910 but you may find exceptions.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1927566 (requires Javascript)
The Rootsweb's User Contributed Canadian Records Databases included selected births for the Finch surname for 1886-1904 and the Hilts/Hiltz surname for 1869-1903 in Ontario. This rootsweb database was taken offline but we are looking for archival copies of this particular set of records. The original URL for the search is below, but is not functional.
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/canada
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Prince Edward Island Division of Vital Statistics has an online index to baptisms from 1777 through 1886, with baptisms for the years 1886-1923 currently being entered. The entries include full name as well as dates of birth and baptism and the names of both parents.
http://www.gov.pe.ca/cca/baptismal/search_index.php
Transcription of St. Jacques Church Records, Egmont Bay, Prince County, from the 1800s. Note that the years have been entered without indication of which century, so read the introduction to understand the codes used. Then scroll down to the surname and click on "BAP" to view the transcription page.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~mvreid/pei/15index.html
For Prince Edward Island, the FamilySearch site has browsable images of a Card Index of baptismal records from about 1721-1885. You will need to sign in to view images and search results.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1827217 (requires Javascript)
FamilySearch also has "Prince Edward Island, Church Records, 1777-1985." Browse images including birth and baptismal records from selected churches. Nine denominations are listed, but we only found birth or baptisms books from King, Queens and Prince counties for the Anglican Church of Canada, Church of Christ, Church of Scotland, Presbyterian, and United Church of Canada as of April 2013. Years of coverage vary widely by parish.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1937794 (requires Javascript)
QUEBEC
We would like to list more free birth records information databases for this province. Please do email me if you find or know of any additional ones.
Quebec National Archives has indexed Non-Catholic baptisms in the Montreal area, 1766-1835. Be sure to read their introduction at the link below. There is a search form in French. Or you can use the translation bar at the top, or try Google's English translation of the Search form.
http://www.banq.qc.ca/collections/genealogie/inst_recherche_ligne/instr_etats_civils/bapteme_montreal/index.html?language_id=1
Family Search has browsable Catholic Parish Register images from Quebec for about 1621-1900. These are primarily Catholic but some Baptist parishes are also in the database (browse only, not indexed). You will need to sign in to view images and search results.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1321742 (requires Javascript)
Quebec, Non-Catholic Parish Registers, 1763-1967. Includes browsable images of baptisms, not indexed for automated searches. Drill down by location and then select a church. Includes baptisms from many different denominations, including but not limited to Advent, Baptist, Church of England in Canada, Congregational, Eastern Congregational, Free Will Baptist, Methodist Church of Canada, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Universalist Church and Society, and Wesleyan Methodist.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1929561 (requires Javascript)
Family Search also has another database containing extracts of selected Births and Baptisms from Quebec for about 1662-1898. The information was extracted from records on LDS films which may not yet be online. Until the records go online, films can be viewed at Family History Centers or, to learn how to order inexpensive photocopies before the records get put online, see our ordering tips page.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1810411 (requires Javascript)
SASKATCHEWAN
We would like to list more free birth records information databases for this province. Please do email me if you find or know of any additional ones.
Search Saskatchewan official birth record indexes for as early as 1880 through 1907. Free results include both the exact birthdate and the full names of both parents. Formerly at https://www.isc.ca/VitalStatistics/Genealogy/, the search is now at the following:
http://www.genealogy.ehealthsask.ca/
FamilySearch site has "Saskatchewan, Catholic Church Records, 1846-1957." Browsable images of church books including batisms. Years of coverage and depth of information available varies by parish.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2001071 (requires Javascript)
Revised March 14, 2021
This page is http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~thecohens/genealogy/birthindexes-ca.html
Original URL: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~thecohens/birthindexes-ca.html
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