Database Search

Online Database Search

You can use the database search box to search the following databases:

  • Newspaper Birth Notices Index from 1960 onwards
  • Newspaper Death Notices Index from 1972 onwards
  • South Australia Cemeteries Index
  • Birth Registration Certificates Index 1842 - 1928
  • Death Registration Certificates Index 1842 - 1972
  • Marriage Registration Certificates Index 1842 - 1937

You may wish to experiment with Exact name settings, or let the database conduct a wider Soundex search.

So if you find a record of a person that you are researching, Genealogy SA will have more information available about that person. So please Contact Us or submit a Research Request to find out how we can assist you further with your search.

Database Errors

Since Genealogy SA has been publishing more indexes online, especially the Births, Deaths and Marriages indexes, there has been a marked increase in the number of patrons contacting us to let us know of errors they believe they have found. 

This is not unexpected when you consider the many potential sources of errors, including:

  • Incorrect information supplied by the informant;
  • Errors made by the person taking the information to be registered from the informant;
  • Errors in transcribing from District certificates to Registrar's certificates, especially where poor handwriting is involved
  • Errors in extracting information from certificates for use in indexes.

 

Whilst it is relatively easy to change online indexes, that would introduce discrepancies between online indexes and indexes held in more permanent forms. Consequently the South Australian Registrar is unwilling for such corrections to be made. Indexes are secondary sources as compared to the certificates which are the primary sources, and the same caution applies to family historians doing their research;

" Don't believe everything you see on a certificate - or an index"