The United Synagogue

Marriage Authorisation Certificate Records


Search Notes

1. For a bridegroom please search by First and Last Name, however the entry of the first name is optional.
2. For a bride please search using a First Name and Maiden Name or Married Last Name. The entry of the First Name is Mandatory if using her Married Last Name rather than Maiden Name.
3. In some cases due to illegible handwriting, spellings of names cannot be 100% accurate. Consequently, to assist in searches a soundex search system is utilised to give alternative options to a required search.

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A collaborative project between The United Synagogue and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. We are delighted to offer you the opportunity to order online copies of Marriage Authorisation Certificates for marriages which took place under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Rabbi before 1908.

Marriage Authorisations - granted by The United Synagogue (from c.1845) to give permission to a local Rabbi to conduct a marriage ceremony. The Authorisation is granted after the authorities are satisfied that both parties are halachically Jewish or that they have an acceptable Certificate of Conversion. The Marriage Authorisation gives amongst other information:-

- The proposed place and date of marriage
- The Hebrew and English names of the bride and groom
- Their addresses
- Their country of origin
- The Hebrew names of the bride's father and groom's father
- The Hebrew names of the groom's unmarried brothers and which ones intend to attend the marriage ceremony

The first batch of records (3,900) within this database are those from 17th February 1880 - 30th December 1886. They will be added to as each year's indexing is completed.

Records cost £15 for United Synagogue and JGSGB members and £20 for non-members

Many thanks to the JGSGB for the indexing these records. For further information about tracing Jewish ancestors please visit the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain or email the JGSGB Genealogical Enquiries Team quoting reference USCRMAC