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: 26 September 2008

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  
Blackburn North 1885-1936 Blackburn BN 1885-1936
Blackburn South Eastern 1909-1936 Blackburn BSE 1909-1910
Blackburn South West 1909-1936 Blackburn BSW  
Blackburn Southern 1885-1909 Blackburn BS 1885-1909
Blackburn West 1937-1965 Blackburn BW  
Blackburn Western 1905-1909 Blackburn BWE  
Darwen 1837-1974 Blackburn D 1837-1901
Witton 1837-1905 Blackburn W 1837-1905
BLACKPOOL       See Blackpool to Poulton-le-Fylde below
Blackpool A 1890-1919 Blackpool BLKA 1890-1919 (1893-1895 incomplete)
Blackpool East 1960- Blackpool BE  
Blackpool North 1920- Blackpool BN  
Blackpool South 1920 Blackpool BS  
Poulton-le-Fylde 1837-1889 Blackpool PLF 1837-1850; 1860-1870; 1871-1873; 1875-1881; 1886-1887; 1888-1889
BOLTON       See Bolton to Westhoughton below
Bolton 1968-Present Bolton    
Bolton North 1941-1968 Bolton BN 1947-1956
Bolton South 1941-1968 Bolton BS 1941-1956
Eastern Bolton 1837-1886 Bolton EB 1837-1886
Edgworth 1837-1902 Bolton EDG 1837-1902
Farnworth 1837-Present Bolton FT 1837-1933
Great Bolton 1886-1902 Bolton GB 1886-1902
Great Bolton & Lever 1902-1941 Bolton GBL 1902-1941
Halliwell 1837-1947 Bolton HALL 1837-1947
Horwich 1837- Bolton HOR 1837-1942
Kearsley 1944- Bolton KER 1940-1951
Lever 1837-1902 Bolton LEV 1837-1902
Little Bolton 1837-1947 Bolton LB 1837-1947
Little Hulton 1837-1902 Bolton LH 1837-1902
Sharples 1837-1902 Bolton SH 1837-1902
South West Bolton 1902-1941 Bolton SWB 1902-1941
Tonge with Haulgh 1837-1920 Bolton TWH 1837-1920
Townleys 1956-Present Bolton    
Turton 1837- Bolton TUR 1837-1935
Western Bolton 1837-1886 Bolton WB 1837-1886
Westhoughton 1837-1884 Bolton WH 1837-1884
BURNLEY 1837-     See Barnoldswick to Pendle Below
Barnoldswick 1837- Preston BA 1837-1914
Burnley 1837-1897 Preston BU 1837-1897
Burnley East 1897-1901 Preston BUE 1897-1901
Burnley West 1897-1901 Preston BUW 1897-1901
Colne 1837-1908 Preston COL 1837-1908
Nelson 1895-1899 Preston NEL 1895-1901
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 1837-1870
Bury North 1837-1921 Bury BN 1837-1863
Bury South 1837-1921 Bury BS 1837-1862
Elton 1837-1934 Bury ELT 1837-1863
Holcombe 1837-1895 Bury HOL 1837-1867
Pilkington 1837-1896 Bury PILK 1837-1857
Prestwich 1837-1934 Bury PREST 1837-1855
Radcliffe 1837-1899 Bury RAD 1837-1857
Ramsbottom 1895-1971 Bury RAMS  
Tottington 1837-1910 Bury TOTT 1837-1863
Walmersley 1837-1900 Bury WAL 1837-1857
Whitefield 1896-1934 Bury WHITE  
CHORLEY       See Adlington/Rivington to Croston below
Adlington/Rivington 1837-1959 Preston ADL 1837-1954
Brindle/Withnell 1837-1969 Preston BR 1837-1954
Chorley 1837-Present Preston CHO 1837-1954
Croston 1837-1974 Preston CRO 1837-1954
FLEETWOOD & FYLDE       See Fleetwood to Lytham St. Annes below
Fleetwood 1890-1988 Preston FLW 1890-1907
Fleetwood & Fylde 1988-2005 Preston F&F  
Kirkham 1837-1988 Preston KH 1837-1870; 1875-1879; 1884-1886; 1891-1893
Lytham 1837-1937 Preston LY  
Lytham St. Annes 1937-1988 Preston L&ST  
HYNDBURN     HY See Accrington to Rossendale A below
Accrington 1837 - 1974 Preston ACC  
Bacup 1895 - 1937 Preston BAC  
Great Harwood 1837 - 1936 Preston G.HAR 1837-1924
Great Harwood A 1937 - 1974 Preston G.HAR/A  
Haslingden 1837 - 1895 Preston HAS  
Hyndburn 1974 - 2005 Preston HY  
Newchurch 1837 - 1895 Preston NEW  
Oswaldtwistle 1837 - 1936 Preston OS 1837-1953
Oswaldtwistle A 1937 - 1974 Preston OS/A  
Rawtenstall A 1937 - 1974 Preston RAW/A  
Rawtentstall A 1895 - 1937 Preston R/A  
Rossendale 1837 - 1895 Preston ROSS  
Rossendale A 1974 - 2005 Preston RS  
LANCASTER       See Arkholme to Wray Below
Arkholme 1837-1922 Preston ARK  
Caton 1837-1974 Preston CAT  
Ellel 1837-1937 Preston ELL  
Garstang 1837-1997 Preston GAR  
Heaton 1837-1918 Preston HEA  
Hornby 1837-1973 Preston HOR  
Lancaster 1837- Preston LAN  
Morecambe 1918-1974 Preston MOR  
Preesall 1937-1998 Preston PREE  
St. Michael 1837-1937 Preston ST.M  
Stalmine 1837-1937 Preston STA  
Tunstall 1837-1936 Preston TUN  
Warton 1837-1919 Preston WAR  
Wray 1837-1937 Preston WRY  
LIVERPOOL       See Abercromby to West Derby Western Below
Abercromby 1906- Liverpool    
Dale Street 1837-1905 Liverpool    
Edge Hill 1924- Liverpool    
Everton 1837-1881 Liverpool    
Everton North 1885-1915 Liverpool    
Everton South 1885-1915 Liverpool    
Exchange 1904- Liverpool    
Fazakerley 1899- Liverpool    
Howard Street 1837-1893 Liverpool    
Islington 1837-1904 Liverpool WD  
Kirkdale 1876- Liverpool KIRK  
Liverpool   Liverpool    
Liverpool North   Liverpool    
Liverpool North 1934- Liverpool    
Liverpool South   Liverpool    
Liverpool South 1934- Liverpool    
Mount Pleasant 1837-1906 Liverpool    
Netherfield 1934- Liverpool    
Scotland 1904-1924 Liverpool    
Sefton Park 1934- Liverpool    
St. George 1841-1898 Liverpool    
St. Martin 1837-1904 Liverpool    
St. Peters 1934- Liverpool    
St. Thomas 1837-1906 Liverpool    
Toxteth Park 1837-1907; 1934- Liverpool TP  
Toxteth Park Central 1922-1928 Liverpool    
Toxteth Park East 1922-1928 Liverpool    
Toxteth Park North 1928-1934 Liverpool    
Toxteth Park NW 1907- Liverpool    
Toxteth Park South 1928-1934 Liverpool    
Toxteth Park SW 1907-1924 Liverpool    
Toxteth Park West 1924- Liverpool    
Walton 1837- Liverpool    
Wavertree 1837-1915 Liverpool    
West Derby 1837-1876 Liverpool WD  
West Derby Eastern 1915- Liverpool    
West Derby Municipal 1880-1889 Liverpool    
West Derby Rural 1880-1889 Liverpool    
West Derby Western 1915- Liverpool    
MANCHESTER       See Chorlton-on-Medlock to Prestwich below
Chorlton-on-Medlock 1837-1924 Manchester COM  
Manchester 1837-Present Manchester MCR  
Manchester North 1924- Manchester MN  
Manchester South 1924- Manchester MS  
Prestwich 1874-1924 Manchester PRE  
OLDHAM     OM See Chadderton, Crompton, Delph, Oldham Above Town, Oldham Below Town, Royton, Saddleworth & Uppermill
Chadderton 1837- Oldham CHAD  
Crompton 1837- Oldham CR  
Delph 1837- Oldham DEL  
Oldham Above Town 1837- Oldham OAT  
Oldham Below Town 1837- Oldham OBT  
Royton 1837- Oldham ROY  
Saddleworth 1837- Oldham SWORTH  
Uppermill 1837- Oldham UPP  
ORMSKIRK       See WEST LANCASHIRE below
PRESTON & SOUTH RIBBLE       See Alston to West Preston below
Alston 1837-1937 Preston ALST 1837-1937
Billington 1837-1964 Preston B  
Billington & Mellor 1964-1974 Preston B&M  
Broughton 1837-1937 Preston BRO  
East Preston 1903-1920 Preston EP  
Fulwood 1937-1969 Preston FUL  
Fulwood & Penwortham 1969-1974 Preston F&P  
Leyland 1837-1974 Preston LEY  
Longridge 1937-1974 Preston LRIDGE  
Longton 1837-1937 Preston LONG  
Mellor 1837-1964 Preston M  
North Preston 1903-1920 Preston NP  
Penwortham 1837-1969 Preston PENHAM  
Preston 1837-1877; 1967-1974 Preston PRES 1837-1877
Preston & South Ribble 1974-2005 Preston PSR  
Preston East 1920-1935 Preston PEAST  
Preston North East 1935-1966 Preston PNE  
Preston South West 1974-1966 Preston PSW  
Preston West 1920-1935 Preston PWEST  
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  
West Preston 1903-1920 Preston WP  
RIBBLE VALLEY       See Bowland to Whalley below
Bowland 1947-1952 Preston BO 1947-1952
Chipping 1837-1950 Preston CH 1837-1950
Clitheroe 1937-Present Preston CLA 1937-1951
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 1837-1939
ROCHDALE       See Blatchinworth & Calderbrook to Wuerdle & Wardle below
Blatchinworth and Calderbrook 1837 - 1901 Rochdale BC 1837-1901
Butterworth 1892 - 1901 Rochdale   1892-1901
Butterworth Freehold 1837 - 1892 Rochdale BF 1837-1891
Butterworth Lordship 1837 - 1892 Rochdale BL 1837-1892
Castleton 1936 - 1953 Rochdale C  
Castleton Further 1837 - 1901 Rochdale CF 1837-1901
Castleton Nearer 1837 - 1901 Rochdale CN 1837-1901
Castleton No 1 1902 - 1936 Rochdale CHO1 1901-1916
Castleton No 2 1902 - 1936 Rochdale CNO2  
Heywood 1837 - 1974 Rochdale H 1837-1902
Littleborough 1902 - 1974 Rochdale L  
Middleton 1837 - 1933 & 1974 to date Rochdale M 1837-1902
Milnrow 1902 - 1974 Rochdale MIL  
Rochdale 1954 - 1974 Rochdale ROCH  
Spotland and Norden 1902 - 1953 Rochdale S&N  
Spotland Further 1837 - 1901 Rochdale SF 1837-1901
Spotland Nearer 1837 - 1901 Rochdale SN 1837-1901
Wardleworth 1837 - 1953 Rochdale W 1837-1891
Whitworth and Brandwood 1837 - 1895 Rochdale WB 1837-1895
Whitworth and Wardle 1895 - 1937 Rochdale WHW 1895-1897
Wuerdle and Wardle 1837 - 1895 Rochdale WUW 1837-1864
SALFORD     SAL See Broughton, Greengate, Regent Rd. & Pendleton
Barton upon Irwell 1837-1980 Salford BAR  
Broughton 1837-1926 Salford BRO  
Greengate 1837-1926 Salford GRE  
Pendleton 1837-1926 Salford PEN  
Regent Road 1837-1926 Salford RR  
Worsley 1837- Salford WOR  
SEFTON       See Aughton to Formby Below
Aughton 1837- Sefton AUG  
Formby 1837- Sefton FOR  
SOUTHPORT       See North Meols Below
North Meols 1837- Preston NME  
ST HELENS   St Helens   See Newton-le-Willows to Widnes below
Newton-le-Willows 1837-1934 St Helens NLW  
Newton-le-Willows A 1934-1974 St Helens NLWA  
Rainford 1837-1964 St Helens RAI  
St Helens 1837-1935 St Helens SH  
St Helens First 1957-1968 St Helens FIR  
St Helens North 1933-1954 St Helens SHN  
St Helens North A 1954-1957 St Helens SHNA  
St Helens Second 1957-1968 St Helens SEC  
St Helens South 1933-1957 St Helens SHS  
Widnes 1964-1974 St Helens SHWID  
TRAFFORD   Trafford   See Flixton to Stretford below
Flixton* 1837-1841 Trafford FLX 1837-1841
Stretford* 1837-1937 Trafford STR 1837-1910
WARRINGTON*   Warrington   See www.cheshirebmd.org.uk
WEST LANCASHIRE   Preston   See Bickerstaffe to Tarleton Below
Bickerstaffe 1837-1929 Preston BICK 1837-1929
Halsall 1837-1925 Preston HAL 1837-1925
Lathom 1837-1934 Preston LATH 1837-1934
Ormskirk 1837-Present Preston OK 1837-1950
Scarisbrick 1837-1907 Preston SCA 1837-1907
Skelmersdale 1918- Preston SKE 1918-1952
Tarleton 1837-1954 Preston TAR 1837-1954
WIDNES*   Warrington   See www.cheshirebmd.org.uk
WIGAN & LEIGH       See Leigh to Wigan below
Ashton 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh ASH  
Aspull 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh ASP  
Atherton 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh ATH  
Billinge 1904-1918 Wigan & Leigh BILL  
Culcheth 1837-1924 Wigan & Leigh CUL  
Hindley 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh HND  
Leigh 1895-1937 Wigan & Leigh L  
Leigh & Golborne 1937-1974 Wigan & Leigh LG  
Lowton 1837-1937 Wigan & Leigh LOW  
Orrell 1919-1974 Wigan & Leigh ORR  
Pemberton 1837-1921 Wigan & Leigh PEM  
Standish 1837-1974 Wigan & Leigh STND  
Upholland 1837-1904 Wigan & Leigh UPHL  
Westleigh 1846-1895 Wigan & Leigh WL  
Wigan 1837-1921 Wigan & Leigh WIG  
Wigan Central 1921-1974 Wigan & Leigh WIG(C)  
Wigan East 1921-1974 Wigan & Leigh WIG(E)  
Wigan West 1921-1974 Wigan & Leigh WIG(W)  
* These offices were in Lancashire up to 1974 but are now in Cheshire

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