Find your ancestors in Somerset Banns Index

If your English ancestors were married by banns, you may discover their records within this collection of banns records from Somerset.

Banns were announced in the three months prior to the intended marriage date on three separate Sundays in the couple’s parish. The banns were an announcement of the intended marriage and gave the congregation the opportunity to object to the marriage. Each banns record will provide you with a transcript of the following facts:

• Name
• Sex
• Residence
• Marital status
• Banns year
• Banns date
• Marriage year
• Denomination
• Place
• Spouse’s name
• Spouse’s residence
• County and country
• Document type
• Archive and reference

The Somerset banns index was created from original parish registers and bishop’s transcripts held at the Somerset Archives. The records span from 1577 to 1933 with more than 360 parishes. For a full list of the parishes represented in this collection, consult the Somerset banns index parish list

Somerset is the seventh largest county in England and bordered by five counties: Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, and Devon. One of its most famous cities, Bath, is known for its beautiful Georgian architecture. In 1903, the oldest human skeleton discovered in Britain was found in Gough’s Gave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset. The county is proud of a long and rich heritage with its numerous National Trust and English Heritage sites.