English and Welsh Marriage Records to Include Mothers’ Names

A wedding party crossing Tower Bridge in London (Photo by Christine Matthews, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Defying longstanding tradition of only listing the fathers’ details, marriage records in both England and Wales will now include the names of the mothers. According to an article in The New York Times, mothers’ names will be added to all marriage records.

Additionally, all marriages will be recorded in an electronic registry rather than physical register.