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Marriage/Banns records 1553-1854

Updates to OPR marriages search screens, from 10 February 2010

Here is an example of the new OPR marriages search screen (click to enlarge).

Also note you only need to insert one year in the year range field if you want to look at a single year only.

Here is an example of the new OPR marriages results screen (click to enlarge).

Note deeper blue to make white lettering more prominent. If a search produces a lengthy list of results you can go to the bottom by pressing "End" on your keyboard. Results can be sorted on any column and on multiple columns by holding down the shift key while selecting columns.

Note buttons at bottom of screen to go up and down the years which appears for single year searches.

Here is an example of the revised image screen, showing a 'breadcrumb' trail (click to enlarge).

The 'breadcrumb' trail is right at the top of the display screen where it says Search criteria –> Results –> Main Image.

The breadcrumb trail is available to avoid repeated use of the 'Back' button.

Banns of marriage

The event being recorded is usually the proclamation of the banns of marriage. A proclamation of bann is when the notice of contract of marriage is read out in the Kirk before the marriage takes place.

Forthcoming marriages were supposed to be proclaimed on three successive Sundays; however they could all be done in one day. If the bride and groom lived in different parishes, the impending marriage was proclaimed in both parishes, although not necessarily on the same days, therefore the dates in each register may be different.

As with Birth and Baptism entries the amount of information given can vary enormously.

The well kept records like this marriage from 1808 contain:

— Date(s) of the proclamation of bann of the intended marriage and date of marriage

— Names of bride and groom and their parish of residence

— The occupation of the groom

— The name of the bride's father and his occupation and whether deceased

— The name of the minister and the church where the marriage took place

Example of well kept marriage record, 1808 (click to enlarge)

In worst cases only the names of the bride and groom recorded along with a date as you can see from this marriage entry from 1799:

Example of poorly recorded marriage, 1799 (click to enlarge)

As mentioned previously if a couple chose not to proclaim their marriage in the church there would not necessarily be a record of it in the parish register, although that is not always the case. These irregular marriages were quite common.

This example is of the irregular marriage of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley who ran away to Edinburgh to marry to his 16 year old bride, Harriet, in 1811:

Marriage/Banns records 1553-1854

Updates to OPR marriages search screens, from 10 February 2010

Banns of marriage

Example of well kept marriage record, 1808 (click to enlarge)

Example of poorly recorded marriage, 1799 (click to enlarge)

Example of 'irregular marriage', of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, 1811 (click to enlarge)