Your Family Tree

September 2005

BMDindex

[w] www.bmdindex.co.uk

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SEARCH FACILITY: The advanced search form 1984-2003 on BMDindex.co.uk allows you to search by surname if you wish or to add more details to narrow down search results

WHAT’S ON OFFER: This is a service which offers a complete range of images of the index pages to births, marriages and deaths from 1837-1983, indexed by the surname ranges each page contains. From 1984-2003 they have a fully searchable database with some really useful added features in the guise of SmartSearch. This enables you to:

  • Perform a reverse search to find the full name of a spouse.
  • Search for other children with the same parents.
  • Search for possible birth entries for males and unmarried females from their death index entries.

The unlimited free search results of the post 1983 material provides almost all the information present in the entry without using any credits. Only one unit is deducted when you view the full entry complete with the reference.

You can also include the spouse or mother's name in a query. Another useful feature is Surname Distribution Mapping based on the BMD data available for various periods from 1880-2003, it can be interesting and useful, but it eats into your viewing credits very rapidly. You can revisit any previously viewed entries or images within your subscription period at no extra cost.

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RESULTS: The BMDindex.co.uk 1984-2003 search results are free, and show most of the details available on the record

WHAT IT COSTS: One credit is deducted per page viewed and one credit for each full reference after 1983. Maps cost 10 or 20 credits each. There is a wide choice of subscription options to the BMDindex, from a simple £5 for 50 credits, (10p each) lasting up to three months to £14.95 for 200 (7.5p each) lasting one year or there is an unlimited professional researcher package.

If your usage is going to require a longer access period, you can get better value by subscribing to all of S&N's online census indexes and land records plus the BMD indexes (see www.thegenealogist.co.uk). These are available in their new annual subscription package and the additional indexes effectively come for free. These cost from as little as £4.66 per month including up to 800 credits (7p each) for the year, with viewing credits only used on the BMD indexes and unrestricted access to the census indexes and other information. An added bonus is that you can spread the subscription cost over the year if you prefer.