Isle of Man

Isle of Man census research

Census records for the Isle of Man are included with those for England and Wales. Censuses began to be taken in 1801, and have been conducted every 10 years since then – with the exception of 1941. The 1841 Census was the first to record each person in every household, but it stopped short of describing the relationships between people, and the ages of adults were rounded down to the nearest five years. Successive censuses from 1851 added ‘exact’ ages, family relationships and other information, such as the number of rooms occupied and disabilities.

All the available English census returns from 1841 to 1901, including the Channel Islands, are available to search on Ancestry, with images of the original records. Simply enter your ancestors’ names along with any other details you know, and search our collections.

Isle of Man vital records

• Parish Registers – Right up until 1878, the only records for births (baptisms and christenings) and deaths (burials) on the Isle of Man were kept by parish churches. The same applies for marriages before 1848. In many cases, these parish registers have been retained by local churches or record offices. However, some have been microfilmed and are available from the Family History Centres run by the Church of Latter Day Saints. All the recorded marriages, plus many baptisms, have been indexed and appear in the Isle of Man section of the International Genealogical Index, also managed by the LDS Church.
• Civil Registration – Unlike the UK mainland, the central registration of marriages began in 1848 and births and deaths were first recorded in 1878. This means it’s easier to track down your ancestors’ vital events after those years. Unfortunately, there’s no way to search these records online. The records are at Register Offices in Douglas, Peel, Castletown and Ramsey - for addresses and information on ordering copies, see General Registries contact details

Isle of Man research routes

If you’re starting research in the Isle of Man, check out these important organisations. Also bear in mind that many local record offices and libraries have important family history collections, so they’re worth consulting.

• Isle of Man General Registries There are three Registries: Deeds and Probate; Land; and Civil. Of these, the Deeds and Civil Registries hold records of most interest to genealogists.
• Isle of Man Library and National Archives: Holds maps, photographs, manuscripts, films, and other resources related to Manx people and culture. You can access materials in the public reading room.
• Manx Museum: The Museum presents the story of Mann through films, galleries and interactive displays. It’s in the same building as the Library and Archives, so you can easily pay both a visit. Manx Ancestry Centre is also scheduled to open in 2010.
• Isle of Man Family History Society: The Society was formed in January 1979 to encourage Manx research. It’s a great way to get in touch with fellow family historians.
• GENUKI Isle of Man: This online reference library has sections dedicated to different areas of Manx research, and all the most important record types.
• Society of Genealogists – Isle of Man page: A useful guide to Manx resources in the Society’s library and beyond.
• A Manx Notebook: The Family history page provides links to family names, memorial inscriptions, and transcribed church records and wills.