For the purposes of registering Births and Deaths, Lancashire was divided into a number of Registrar's Sub-Districts  which could cover anything from part of a large town, up to a group of several dozen rural parishes. The boundaries of these areas have changed frequently over the years since 1837, and as a result many birth and death records have been transferred between different register offices.

This page will be updated each time new records are added to the database, and recent additions will also be indicated on the Updates page.

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Last updated: 5 March 2010

Lancashire Sub-Districts

Sub-District Years Operative Registers at Code Years indexed
ASHTON UNDER LYNE*   Tameside   See www.cheshirebmd.org.uk
BLACKBURN       See Blackburn to Witton Below
Blackburn 1837-1885 1965-Present Blackburn B 1837-1885
Blackburn East 1937-1965 Blackburn BE 1937-1951
Blackburn Northern 1885-1936 Blackburn BN 1885-1936
Blackburn South East 1909-1936 Blackburn BSE 1909-1936
Blackburn South West 1909-1936 Blackburn BSW 1909-1936
Blackburn Southern 1885-1909 Blackburn BS 1885-1909
Blackburn West 1937-1965 Blackburn BW 1937-1951
Blackburn Western 1905-1909 Blackburn BWE 1905-1909
Darwen 1837-1974 Blackburn D 1837-1951
Witton 1837-1905 Blackburn W 1837-1905
BLACKPOOL       See Blackpool to Poulton-le-Fylde Below
Blackpool A 1890-1919 Blackpool BLKA 1890-1919
Blackpool East 1960- Blackpool BE None
Blackpool North 1920- Blackpool BN 1920-1936
Blackpool South 1920-36 Blackpool BS 1920-1936
Poulton-le-Fylde 1837-1889 Blackpool PLF 1837-1889
BOLTON       See Bolton to Westhoughton below
Bolton 1968-Present Bolton BOL None
Bolton North 1947-1968 Bolton BN None
Bolton South 1941-1967 Bolton BS None
Eastern Bolton 1837-1886 Bolton EB 1837-1846
Edgworth 1837-1902 Bolton EDG 1837-1854
Farnworth 1837-1956 Bolton FTH None
Farnworth & Kearsley 1956-1969 Bolton F&K None
Great Bolton 1886-1902 Bolton GB None
Great Bolton & Lever 1902-1941 Bolton GBL None
Halliwell 1837-1947 Bolton HALL None
Horwich 1837-1967 Bolton HOR None
Kearsley 1944-1956 Bolton KER None
Lever 1837-1902 Bolton LEV None
Little Bolton 1837-1947 Bolton LB 1837-1848
Little Hulton 1837-1902 Bolton LH 1837-1855
Sharples 1837-1902 Bolton SH 1837-1847
South West Bolton 1902-1941 Bolton SWB None
Tonge with Haulgh 1837-1920 Bolton TWH 1837-1854
Townleys 1956-1967 Bolton T None
Townleys A 1968-Present Bolton TA None
Townleys B 1968-Present Bolton TB None
Turton 1837- Bolton TUR None
Western Bolton 1837-1886 Bolton WB 1837-1842
Westhoughton 1837-1884 Bolton WH 1837-1843
BURNLEY 1837-     See Barnoldswick to Pendle Below
Barnoldswick 1837-1902 Preston BA 1837-1902
Burnley 1837-1897 Preston BU 1837-1897
Burnley East 1897-1901 Preston BUE 1897-1906
Burnley West 1897-1901 Preston BUW 1897-1901
Colne 1837-1901 Preston COL 1837-1901
Nelson 1895-1899 Preston NEL 1895-1899
Padiham 1837-1901 Preston PA 1837-1901
Pendle 1837-1928 Preston PE 1837-1928
BURY       See Birtle to Whitefield below
Birtle 1837-1895 Bury BIR 1837-1899
Bury North 1837-1921 Bury BN 1837-1874
Bury South 1837-1921 Bury BS 1837-1864
Elton 1837-1934 Bury ELT 1837-1874
Holcombe 1837-1895 Bury HOL 1837-1886
Pilkington 1837-1896 Bury PILK 1837-1858
Prestwich 1837-1934 Bury PREST 1837-1884
Radcliffe 1837-1899 Bury RAD 1837-1871
Ramsbottom 1895-1971 Bury RAMS None
Tottington 1837-1910 Bury TOTT 1837-1876
Walmersley 1837-1900 Bury WAL 1837-1898
Whitefield 1896-1934 Bury WHITE None
CHORLEY       See Adlington to Croston Below
Adlington/Rivington 1837-1959 Preston ADL 1837-1959
Brindle/Withnell 1837-1969 Preston BR 1837-1968
Chorley 1837-Present Preston CHO 1837-1974
Croston 1837-1974 Preston CRO 1837-1973
FLEETWOOD & FYLDE       See Fleetwood to Lytham St. Annes Below
Fleetwood 1890-1988 Preston FLW 1890-1948
Fleetwood & Fylde 1988-2005 Preston F&F None
Kirkham 1837-1988 Preston KH 1837-1923
Lytham 1837-1937 Preston LY 1837-1907
Lytham St. Annes 1937-1988 Preston L&ST None
HYNDBURN     HY See Accrington to Rossendale A below
Accrington 1837-1974 Preston ACC 1837-1969
Bacup 1895-1937 Preston BAC None
Great Harwood 1837-1936 Preston G.HAR 1837-1936
Great Harwood A 1936-1974 Preston G.HAR/A 1936-1960
Haslingden 1837-1895 Preston HAS 1837-1851
Hyndburn 1974-2005 Preston HY None
Newchurch 1837-1895 Preston NEW None
Oswaldtwistle 1837-1936 Preston OS 1837-1936
Oswaldtwistle A 1937-1974 Preston OS/A 1937-1954
Rawtenstall A 1937-1974 Preston RAW/A None
Rawtentstall A 1895-1937 Preston R/A None
Rossendale 1837-1895 Preston ROSS None
Rossendale A 1974-2005 Preston RS None
LANCASTER       See Arkholme to Wray Below
Arkholme 1837-1922 Preston ARK 1837-1922
Caton 1837-1974 Preston CAT 1837-1912
Ellel 1837-1937 Preston ELL 1837-1937
Garstang 1837-1997 Preston GAR None
Heaton 1837-1918 Preston HEA 1837-1918
Hornby 1837-1973 Preston HOR None
Lancaster 1837- Preston LAN 1837-1912
Morecambe 1918-1974 Preston MOR 1918-1919
Preesall 1937-1998 Preston PREE None
St. Michael 1837-1937 Preston ST.M None
Stalmine 1837-1937 Preston STA None
Tunstall 1837-1936 Preston TUN None
Warton 1837-1919 Preston WAR 1837-1901
Wray 1837-1937 Preston WRY 1837-1918
LIVERPOOL       See Abercromby to West Derby Western Below
Abercromby 1906- Liverpool ABE 1910-1952
Dale Street 1837-1905 Liverpool DALE 1837-1840
Edge Hill 1924-1951 Liverpool EDGE 1924-1951
Everton 1837-1881 Liverpool EVE 1847-1952
Everton North 1885-1915 Liverpool EVEN None
Everton South 1885-1915 Liverpool EVES None
Exchange 1904- Liverpool EXCH None
Fazakerley 1899- Liverpool FAZ 1903-1952
Howard Street 1837-1893 Liverpool HOW 1837-1840
Islington 1837-1904 Liverpool WD 1837-1841
Kirkdale 1876- Liverpool KIRK 1879-1967
Little Woolton 1922- Liverpool LW 1922-1924
Liverpool 1969-Present Liverpool LL None
Liverpool North 1934-1969 Liverpool LN None
Liverpool South 1934-1969 Liverpool LS None
Mount Pleasant 1837-1906 Liverpool MP None
Much Woolton 1837- Liverpool MW 1837-1922
Netherfield 1934- Liverpool NETH None
Scotland 1904-1924 Liverpool SCOT 1904-1923
Sefton Park 1934-1969 Liverpool SEFT None
St Peters 1934- Liverpool STP None
St. George 1841-1898 Liverpool STG 1841-1846
St. Martin 1837-1904 Liverpool STM 1894-1904
St. Thomas 1837-1906 Liverpool STT 1837-1838
Toxteth Park 1837-1907; 1934- Liverpool TP 1840-1907
Toxteth Park Central 1907-1928 Liverpool TPC 1907-1928
Toxteth Park East 1907-1928 Liverpool TPE 1907-1928
Toxteth Park North 1928-1934 Liverpool TPN 1928-1934
Toxteth Park NW 1907-1923 Liverpool TPNW 1907-1923
Toxteth Park South 1928-1934 Liverpool TPS 1928-1934
Toxteth Park SW 1907-1924 Liverpool TPSW 1907-1923
Toxteth Park West 1924-1928 Liverpool TPW 1924-1928
Walton 1837- Liverpool WAL None
Wavertree 1837-1915 Liverpool WAV None
West Derby 1837-1876 Liverpool WD None
West Derby Eastern 1899- Liverpool WDE 1899-1934
West Derby Municipal 1880- Liverpool WDM 1888-1899
West Derby Rural 1880-1889 Liverpool WDR 1888-1899
West Derby Western 1899- Liverpool WDW 1899-1923
Woolton 1897- Liverpool WOOL 1897-1934
MANCHESTER       See Ancoats to West Manchester Below. Note further reorganisation in 1936 to be added
Ancoats 1837-1917 Manchester ANC None
Ardwick 1837-1936 Manchester ARD 1837-1907
Blackley 1837-1936 Manchester BLA None
Bradford 1908-1936 Manchester BRA None
Central 1895-1917 Manchester CEN None
Cheetham 1837-1936 Manchester CHE None
Chorlton-on-Medlock 1837-1936 Manchester CHO 1837-1867
Deansgate 1837-1881 Manchester DEA None
Didsbury 1837-1936 Manchester DID None
East Manchester 1917-1924 Manchester EAS None
Failsworth 1837-1925 Manchester FAI None
Gorton 1911-1936 Manchester GOR None
Hulme 1837-1936 Manchester HUL 1837-1900
London Road 1837-1880 Manchester LON None
Manchester 1924-1936 Manchester MAN None
Manchester 1969-Present Manchester M None
Manchester Central 1936-1969 Manchester MC None
Manchester East Central 1939-1969 Manchester MEC None
Manchester Eastern 1936-1969 Manchester ME None
Manchester North Central 1939-1969 Manchester MNC None
Manchester North Eastern 1936-1939 Manchester MNE None
Manchester North Western 1936-1939 Manchester MNW None
Manchester Northern 1936-1969 Manchester MN None
Manchester South Eastern 1936-1939 Manchester MSE None
Manchester South Western 1936-1939 Manchester MSW None
Manchester Southern 1936-1969 Manchester MS None
Manchester West Central 1939-1969 Manchester MWC None
Manchester Western 1936-1969 Manchester MW None
Market Street 1837-1881 Manchester MSt 1837-1881
Newton 1837-1908 Manchester NEW None
Newton Heath 1908-1936 Manchester NWH None
Openshaw 1911-1927 Manchester OPE None
Rusholme 1911-1936 Manchester RUS None
Saint George 1837-1917 Manchester STG None
West Manchester 1917-1924 Manchester WES None
NORTH SEFTON       See Formby Below
Formby 1837- Sefton FOR None
OLDHAM       See Chadderton to Uppermill below
Boundary Park A   Oldham BPA None
Boundary Park B   Oldham BPB None
Chadderton 1837- Oldham CHAD 1837-1935
Crompton 1837-1928 Oldham CR 1837-1928
Crompton & Royton 1928- Oldham C&R 1928-1935
Delph 1837-1904 Oldham DEL 1837-1904
Middleton 1933- Oldham MIDD 1933-1935
Oldham A   Oldham OLDA None
Oldham Above Town 1837-1905 Oldham OAT 1837-1905
Oldham B   Oldham OLDB None
Oldham Below Town 1837-1905 Oldham OBT 1837-1905
Oldham C   Oldham OLDC None
Oldham Central 1905- Oldham OCEN 1905-1935
Oldham D   Oldham OLDD None
Oldham East 1905- Oldham OEAS 1905-1935
Oldham First   Oldham OLD1ST None
Oldham Second   Oldham OLD2ND None
Oldham South 1905- Oldham OSOU 1905-1935
Oldham Third   Oldham OLD3RD None
Royton 1837-1928 Oldham ROY 1837-1928
Saddleworth 1904- Oldham SADD 1904-1935
Springhead 1904- Oldham SP 1904-1935
Uppermill 1837-1904 Oldham UPP 1837-1904
ORMSKIRK       See WEST LANCASHIRE below
PRESCOT       See Huyton to Prescot below
Huyton 1837-1905 Prescot HUY 1837-1905
Prescot 1837- Prescot PRE 1837-1886
PRESTON & SOUTH RIBBLE       See Alston to West Preston below
Alston 1837-1937 Preston ALST 1837-1937
Billington 1837-1964 Preston B 1837-1964
Billington & Mellor 1964-1974 Preston B&M 1864-1973
Broughton 1837-1937 Preston BRO 1837-1937
East Preston 1903-1920 Preston EP 1903-1920
Fulwood 1937-1969 Preston FUL 1937-1969
Fulwood & Penwortham 1969-1974 Preston F&P 1969-1974
Leyland 1837-1974 Preston LEY 1837-1974
Longridge 1937-1974 Preston LRIDGE 1937-1974
Longton 1837-1937 Preston LONG 1837-1937
Mellor 1837-1964 Preston M 1837-1964
North Preston 1903-1920 Preston NP 1903-1920
Penwortham 1937-1969 Preston PENHAM 1937-1969
Preston 1837-1877; 1967-1974 Preston PRES 1837-1877; 1967-1974
Preston & South Ribble 1974-2005 Preston PSR None
Preston East 1920-1935 Preston PEAST 1920-1935
Preston North East 1935-1966 Preston PNE 1935-1966
Preston South West 1935-1966 Preston PSW 1935-1966
Preston West 1920-1935 Preston PWEST 1920-1935
St John 1878-1903 Preston ST.J 1878-1903
St Peters 1878-1903 Preston ST.P 1878-1903
Trinity 1878-1903 Preston TR 1878-1903
Walton-le-Dale 1837-1974 Preston WLD 1837-1974
West Preston 1903-1920 Preston WP 1903-1920
RIBBLE VALLEY       See Bowland to Whalley Below
Bowland 1947-1952 Preston BO 1947-1952
Chipping 1837-1950 Preston CH 1837-1958
Clitheroe 1937- Preston CLA 1937-1974
Clitheroe 1837-1937 Preston CL 1837-1937
Gisburn 1837-1946 Preston GI 1837-1946
Slaidburn 1837-1946 Preston SL 1837-1946
Whalley 1837-1937 Preston WH 1837-1937
ROCHDALE       See Blatchinworth & Calderbrook to Wuerdle & Wardle Below
Blatchinworth and Calderbrook 1837-1901 Rochdale BC 1837-1901
Butterworth 1892-1901 Rochdale B 1892-1901
Butterworth Freehold 1837-1892 Rochdale BF 1837-1892
Butterworth Lordship 1837-1892 Rochdale BL 1837-1892
Castleton 1936-1953 Rochdale C 1936-1940
Castleton Further 1837-1901 Rochdale CF 1837-1890
Castleton Nearer 1837-1901 Rochdale CN 1837-1890
Castleton No 1 1902-1936 Rochdale CHO1 1902-1936
Castleton No 2 1902-1936 Rochdale CNO2 1902-1936
Heywood 1837-1974 Rochdale H 1837-1940
Littleborough 1902-1974 Rochdale L 1902-1942
Middleton 1837-1933 & 1974 to date Rochdale M 1837-1933
Milnrow 1902-1974 Rochdale MIL 1902-1940
Rochdale 1954-1974 Rochdale ROCH None
Spotland and Norden 1902-1953 Rochdale S&N 1902-1940
Spotland Further 1837-1901 Rochdale SF 1837-1901
Spotland Nearer 1837-1901 Rochdale SN 1837-1901
Wardleworth 1837-1953 Rochdale W 1837-1940
Whitworth and Brandwood 1837-1895 Rochdale WB 1837-1895
Whitworth and Wardle 1895-1937 Rochdale WHW 1895-1937
Wuerdle and Wardle 1837-1895 Rochdale WUW 1837-1895
SALFORD       See Broughton to Pendleton Below
Barton upon Irwell 1837-1980 Salford BAR 1837-1897
Broughton 1837-1926 Salford BRO 1837-1876
Greengate 1837-1926 Salford GRE 1837-1880
Pendleton 1837-1926 Salford PEN 1837-1874
Regent Road 1837-1926 Salford RR 1837-1881
Worsley 1837- Salford WOR 1837-1883
SOUTH SEFTON       See Aughton to Litherland Below
Aughton       See WEST LANCASHIRE
Great Crosby 1837- South Sefton C 1837-1890
Litherland 1837- South Sefton LITH 1837-1890
SOUTHPORT       See North Meols Below
North Meols 1837- Preston NME None
ST. HELENS       See St Newton-le-Willows to Widnes Below
Newton-le-Willows 1837-1974 St Helens NLW 1837-1974
Rainford 1837-1974 St Helens RAI 1837-1974
St Helens 1837-1935 St Helens SH 1837-1935
St Helens First 1957-1968 St Helens FIR 1957-1968
St Helens North 1935-1957 St Helens SHN 1935-1957
St Helens Second 1957-1968 St Helens SEC 1957-1968
St Helens South 1935-1957 St Helens SHS 1935-1957
Widnes 1964-1974 St Helens SHWID None
TRAFFORD*   Trafford   See Flixton and Stretford Below
Flixton* 1837-1841 Trafford FLX 1837-1841
Stretford* 1837-1937 Trafford STR 1837-1930
WARRINGTON*   Warrington   See www.cheshirebmd.org.uk
WEST LANCASHIRE (ORMSKIRK)       See Bickerstaffe to Tarleton Below
Aughton 1837-1954 Preston A 1837-1954
Bickerstaffe 1837-1929 Preston BICK 1837-1929
Halsall 1837-1925 Preston HAL 1837-1925
Lathom 1837-1934 Preston LAT 1837-1934
Ormskirk 1837-Present Preston OK 1837-1950
Scarisbrick 1837-1907 Preston SCA 1837-1907
Skelmersdale 1918- Preston SKE 1918-1950
Tarleton 1837-1954 Preston TAR 1837-1954
WIDNES*        
Widnes 1837- Halton WID 1837-1900
WIGAN AND LEIGH       See Ashton to Wigan Below
Ashton 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh ASH 1837-1950
Aspull 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh ASP 1837-1950
Atherton 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh ATH 1837-1951
Billinge 1904-1918 Wigan & Leigh BILL 1904-1918
Culcheth 1837-1924 Wigan & Leigh CUL 1837-1924
Hindley 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh HND 1837-1950
Leigh 1895-1937 Wigan & Leigh L 1895-1937
Leigh & Golborne 1937-1974 Wigan & Leigh LG 1937-1950
Lowton 1837-1937 Wigan & Leigh LOW 1837-1937
Orrell 1919-1974 Wigan & Leigh ORR 1919-1950
Pemberton 1837-1921 Wigan & Leigh PEM 1837-1921
Standish 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh STND 1837-1950
Upholland 1837-1904 Wigan & Leigh UPHL 1837-1904
Westleigh 1846-1895 Wigan & Leigh WL 1846-1895
Wigan 1837-1922 Wigan & Leigh WIG 1837-1922
Wigan Central 1921-1974 Wigan & Leigh WIG(C) 1921-1950
Wigan East 1921-1974 Wigan & Leigh WIG(E) 1921-1950
Wigan West 1921-1974 Wigan & Leigh WIG(W) 1921-1950
* These offices were in Lancashire up to 1974 but are now in Cheshire

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