Pondicherry Genealogical Records

Pondicherry Birth & Baptism Records

British India Births and Baptisms (1710-1960)

Digital images, searchable by a name and place index, of registers recording over 700,000 baptisms in British India. They comprise largely of baptisms performed in Anglican and Presbyterian churches, but include records of other faiths, such as Catholic and Armenian Apostolic.

European Births and Baptisms in India (1786-1947)

An index of baptisms from European churches in India. The records typically record the child's name, date of birth & baptism, and parents' names. Original records can be viewed at the British Library or LDS centres.

British Civil Service Evidence of Age Index (1752-1948)

An index to evidences provided to the British Civil Service Commission to establish the age of prospective and current civil servants. The index includes date & place of birth and provides a reference to surviving documents.

Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects (1627-1965)

Registers of births/baptisms, marriages and deaths/burials containing over 160,000 entries from over 30 countries. These largely relate to British subjects.

British Nationals Born Overseas (1818-2006)

An index to births of British citizens born overseas that were registered with the British Consul or High Commissioner. Provides a reference that can be used to order a birth certificate.

Pondicherry Marriage & Divorce Records

British India Marriages (1710-1983)

Digital images, searchable by a name and place index, of registers recording over 450,000 marriages in British India. They comprise largely of marriages performed in Anglican and Presbyterian churches, but include records of other faiths, such as Catholic and Armenian Apostolic.

European Marriages in India (1792-1948)

An index to marriages solemnised in European churches in India. The records typically record the date of marriage, names of those to be wed and their father's names. Original records can be viewed at the British Library or LDS centres.

Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects (1627-1965)

Registers of births/baptisms, marriages and deaths/burials containing over 160,000 entries from over 30 countries. These largely relate to British subjects.

British Nationals Married Overseas (1818-2005)

An index to marriages of British citizens overseas that were registered with the British Consul or High Commissioner Provides a reference that can be used to order a marriage certificate.

British Nationals Married Overseas (1818-2005)

An index to marriages of British citizens abroad registered with the British Consul or the UK High Commission.

Pondicherry Death & Burial Records

British India Deaths and Burials (1710-1959)

Digital images, searchable by a name and place index, of registers recording over 450,000 burials in British India. They comprise largely of burials recorded by Anglican and Presbyterian churches, but include records of other faiths, such as Catholic and Armenian Apostolic.

European Deaths and Burials in India (1719-1948)

An index of burials registered by European churches in India. They typically record the name of the deceased, date of death and date of burial. Original records can be viewed at the British Library or LDS centres.

Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects (1627-1965)

Registers of births/baptisms, marriages and deaths/burials containing over 160,000 entries from over 30 countries. These largely relate to British subjects.

Jewish Online Worldwide Burial Registry (1550-Present)

A searchable database of over 1 million Jewish burials with photographs of the matzevot.

Commonwealth WWII Civilian Deaths (1939-1945)

This database contains seven volumes listing civilians in the British Commonwealth and Empire who died during World War II.

Newspapers Covering Pondicherry

Allen's Indian Mail (1845-1873)

A periodical containing birth, marriage & death announcements, military appointments, announcements & casualties, passenger lists and many other details, including news of the British Empire in the East. Most editions up to 1873.

Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper (1842-1900)

A moderate liberal newspaper published in London, but covering news throughout the British Empire. Regularly published births, marriages and deaths.

Reynold's News (1850-1900)

A 'radical' liberal magazine published for the working class.

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay (1841-1954)

A periodical that covers various facet's of India's history.

Morning Chronicle (1801-1865)

A national newspaper with a Whig allegiance. The newspaper was the first to report on the proceedings of Parliament. It gave a large amount of column-space to politics, but covered literature and other topics.

Pondicherry Wills & Probate Records

British India Wills & Probate (1774-1948)

Digital images of wills, inventories, administrations and other probate documents of residents of the Indian Empire. The documents can be searched by a name and place index. They relate largely to British subjects, but also contain other Europeans, Indians, Jews etc.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (PPV) (1384-1858)

A index to testators whose will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. They principally cover those who lived in the lower two thirds of Britain, but contain wills for residents of Scotland, Ireland, British India and other countries. A copy of each will may be purchased for digital download.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (Subscription) (1384-1858)

An index and digital images of PCC wills, available on a subscription basis.

Dougal's Unclaimed Money Register (1650-1910)

A register of over 70,000 unclaimed estates.

Index to Heirs at law (1700-1872)

A list of names, primarily of those who left unclaimed estates, but also relating to debts and legal cases.

Pondicherry Immigration & Travel Records

Australian Convict Transportation Registers (1791-1868)

Registers recording those who by their criminal deeds were sentenced to be transported to Australia. Records include name, date & place of conviction, term of sentence, ship sailed on, departure date and the name of the colony they were to be sent to.

Transportations to New South Wales (1788-1842)

Digital images of registers recording British convicts being transported to New South Wales. Records may include age, crime, physical description, nativity, marital status, number of children, trade and more. Searchable by a name and place index.

New South Wales Convict Ship Records (1790-1849)

This database consists of ship muster lists of convicts being transported from the British Empire to New South Wales.

Devonians in the Colonies (1900-1901)

An index to records detailing the ancestry of some 300 people of Devonian descent living in British colonies and the Unite States.

Pondicherry Military Records

WWI Commonwealth Casualty Lists (1914-1920)

A list of over 1.3 million British and Commonwealth servicemen who were injured during World War One.

British India Army & Navy Pensions (1772-1945)

A collection of various records that can detail biographical, genealogical and military details of British soldiers in the Indian Empire. The records can be searched by a name index, which is linked to digital images of documents.

UK WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls (1914-1920)

An index to over 6.5 million medals and awards bestowed on British military personnel. The awards are the British War Medal, Allied Victory Medal, 1914 Star, Territorial War Force Medal and Allied Subjects Medal; the latter of which contains many French, Belgians and Dutch.

Indian Army List, 1 Jan 1912 (1912)

A transcript of a work that cataloged the names, military particulars and sometimes other details such as date of birth for over 40,000 officers in the British Indian Army.

Great Britain Army War List (1893)

A listing of officers from the War Office, HQ staff, volunteer infantry brigades, RMC, field marshals, colonels, unemployed officers and more.

Perry's Bankrupt Gazette (1828-1867)

A publication giving brief details of bankruptcies, including the names of parties and companies involed.

Dougal's Unclaimed Money Register (1650-1910)

A register of over 70,000 unclaimed estates.

Calendar of State Papers Colonial (1513-1739)

Calendars to records relating to British colonies.

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations (1704-1782)

Records of the meetings of a body that promoted British trade.

Index to Heirs at law (1700-1872)

A list of names, primarily of those who left unclaimed estates, but also relating to debts and legal cases.

Pondicherry Directories & Gazetteers

Thom's Official Directory of Great Britain & Ireland (1914)

A directory of the court, parliament, aristocracy, mayors, civil service, military, militia and banks in the British Empire.

Kelly's Clergy Directory (1909)

A directory of the Church of England, its institutions and ministers.

The East India Register (1844)

A searchable copy of a book that lists those in the employ of the East India company. It also contains much official information and birth, marriage and death notices.

The Court & City Register (1783)

Books containing information of use to the upper class of the time, including notes on the royal families of Europe, British peers, MPs, military officials, government officials, important institutions and their officers, leading professionals of the Empire, calendars and more.

CIA World Factbook (1994)

A statistic and descriptive gazetteer of nations.

Pondicherry Cemeteries

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Pondicherry Histories & Books

Ancestry Member Stories (6000 BC-Present)

Over 7 million remembrances and historic details submitted by Ancestry members. Useful for local historians.

Ancestry Member Photos & Documents (6000 BC-Present)

Over 60 million historic photographs and documents submitted to Ancestry. This rich collection contains many rare sources of interest to local historians and will be relevant to most genealogical research.

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay (1841-1954)

A periodical that covers various facet's of India's history.

Colonial Office List (1870)

A searchable book containing descriptions of British colonies, statistics, information on officials and more.

Colonial Office List (1863)

A searchable book containing descriptions of British colonies, statistics, information on officials and more.

Pondicherry Occupation & Business Records

East India Company & Civil Service Pensions (1762-1947)

Registers recording pension applications and payments for the British East India Company and the Civil Service in British India. Can contain details on the pensioner, their family, marriages, deaths, births and other details. Contains digital images of the registers.

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

East India Register and Directory (1855)

A list of the servants of the East India Company, including civilians, military and marine personnel, European residents and mariners with interests in India. This is a searchable database, linked to digital images of the book.

East India Company Pensions (1793-1833)

Contains the name, rank, when the pension was granted, rate and source of annual pension, the period the pension was granted and the grounds on which the pension was granted for East India Company employees. Contains digital images of the registers.

India Office List (1933)

A directory of the civil service of the Government of India and military, including the dates of appointment, promotions and qualifications, recipients of medals and awards. Includes the rules and regulations of the Civil Service.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Pondicherry

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Ancestry Member Family Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A compilation of lineage-linked family trees submitted by Ancestry users. The database contains over 2 billion individuals and is searchable by numerous metrics.

Genealogics (1400 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked families. It largely covers royalty and nobility, but also contains actors, footballers and American presidents.

Ancestry World Tree (6000 BC-1997)

A collection of legacy trees submitted by Ancestry users containing nearly 400 million individuals.

Pondicherry Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Genealogics (1400 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked families. It largely covers royalty and nobility, but also contains actors, footballers and American presidents.

British Imperial Calendar (1895)

A listing of the key persons of royal (and associated) institutions, from the royal family & peerage to parliament and the British Museum.

Pondicherry Church Records

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

Crockford's Clerical Directory (1929)

A directory listing Anglican parishes and other divisions of the Church or England hierarchy and their various religious officers. The directory covers the UK and Anglican churches throughout the world.

Biographical Directories Covering Pondicherry

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

Pondicherry Maps

Old Maps Online (1497-2010)

An interactive index to thousands of maps covering the world, continents, countries and regions. The majority of maps cover Britain and Ireland.

Pondicherry Reference Works

FIBIS Wiki (1600-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching your Ancestry in British India. Contains numerous categorised sources.

Most Common Surnames in Pondicherry

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in India
1Kumar5,6761:330.02%3
2Begam2,4341:770.10%29
3Mary1,7271:1088.29%2,629
4Raj1,6791:1120.17%81
5Devi1,6641:113< 0.01%1
6Banu1,4281:1310.73%373
7Ali1,2591:1490.02%13
8Malladi1,2351:1524.61%2,127
9Beevi1,0381:1800.86%565
10Lakshmi9311:2010.32%261
11Jain8231:2280.09%83
12Palepu8181:2294.07%2,708
13Begum8171:2290.04%47
14Karri8111:2310.68%566
15Babu7521:2490.18%185
16Priya7061:2651.08%964
17Rani6771:2770.03%41
18Rao6761:2770.13%160
19Mohamed6491:2891.75%1,600
20Selvi6211:30211.08%8,738
21Nisha5661:3310.07%95
21Raja5661:3310.19%264
23Pemmadi5521:3398.17%7,386
24Oleti5401:3473.54%3,463
25Kanakala5341:3518.69%8,046
26Hameed5161:3631.40%1,608
27Krishnan5061:3700.53%686
28Ahamed5051:3711.35%1,586
29Ammal5011:3744.58%4,755
30Selvam5001:3755.98%6,079
31Basha4931:3800.45%609
32Murugan4841:3873.62%3,923
33Sangadi4821:38810.37%10,254
34Marie4721:39772.95%47,765
35Ummal4571:41029.58%25,036
36Bee4561:4110.21%338
37Kumari4301:4350.01%8
38Joseph4201:4460.26%431
39Rajan4081:4590.50%794
40Rekadi4061:46116.31%17,250
41Chinta4041:4630.85%1,306
42Kannan3941:4751.63%2,328
42Rahman3941:4750.08%168
44Fathima3891:4811.85%2,602
44Narayanan3891:4811.37%2,022
46Nachiyal3721:503100.00%70,087
47Kona3681:5091.16%1,834
48Mani3661:5120.28%509
49Hussain3651:5130.04%92
50Mohan3491:5370.11%249
51Kumaran3421:5483.70%5,571
52Singh3241:578< 0.01%2
53Subramanian3211:5831.50%2,570
54Prasad3181:5890.01%20
55Akula3161:5930.74%1,417
56Pesingi3141:59635.52%38,074
57Sekar3131:5982.45%4,105
58Raju3091:6060.14%319
59Prakash3021:6200.03%74
60Beeve3001:62498.36%80,166
61Natchiyal2901:64699.66%82,688
62Kp2841:6598.63%13,641
63Chandran2801:6690.54%1,214
64Perumal2781:6743.33%6,085
65Anand2771:6760.18%459
65Khan2771:6760.01%17
67Maricar2721:68886.08%78,227
67Pothabathula2721:68833.09%40,129
69Maheswari2681:6992.94%5,651
70Kamidi2611:7176.51%11,594
71Meda2561:7310.55%1,327
72Sundaram2511:7462.01%4,187
73Reddy2481:7550.04%111
74Ibrahim2451:7640.62%1,519
74Sheik2451:7640.04%137
76Ramalingam2431:7713.72%7,649
77Arumugam2391:7832.76%5,902
77Natarajan2391:7831.64%3,610
79Nati2371:7904.96%10,002
79Sankar2371:7900.74%1,805
81Sharma2361:793< 0.01%14
82Bai2321:807< 0.01%10
83Nathan2311:8112.29%5,144
83Parveen2311:8110.17%495
85Saladi2271:8251.36%3,202
86Mohammed2251:8320.03%106
87Kaladi2211:8477.53%15,036
87Selvan2211:8474.06%8,984
89Patel2191:8550.01%19
90Aradadi2171:86329.28%43,291
90Srinivasan2171:8630.96%2,469
92Puvvala2161:8672.69%6,302
93Kani2131:8791.87%4,576
94Kola2111:8870.34%998
95Kadali2081:9000.81%2,215
96Das2071:905< 0.01%4
96Raman2071:9050.43%1,293
98Farveen2041:91842.86%59,236
99Ganesh2031:9220.44%1,318
100Selvaraj2011:9321.95%5,054
101Danduprolu1991:9419.99%20,549
102John1951:9600.19%649
103Gandhi1931:9700.12%439
104Kollu1881:9961.01%2,881
104Ram1881:996< 0.01%6
104Ravi1881:9960.21%718
107Mattaparthi1871:1,0013.80%9,756
108Penupothu1851:1,01241.29%61,807
109Nachiyar1841:1,01870.50%88,721
110Valli1831:1,0231.22%3,506
111Ansari1801:1,0400.01%35
112Dadala1791:1,0462.59%7,235
112Paul1791:1,0460.03%134
114Ramesh1751:1,0700.17%645
114Yalla1751:1,0700.65%2,135
116Ganesan1731:1,0821.66%4,989
116Pk1731:1,0826.95%17,256
116Xavier1731:1,0821.12%3,424
119Doma1721:1,0891.45%4,389
120Bala1711:1,0950.04%167
120Bharathi1711:1,0950.89%2,795
122Mari1691:1,1081.29%4,000
123Revu1681:1,1151.86%5,687
123Shanmugam1681:1,1151.70%5,251
123Thomas1681:1,1150.10%405
126Matta1671:1,1210.37%1,343
126Moorthy1671:1,1211.92%5,880
126Suresh1671:1,1210.24%910
129Medisetty1651:1,1354.95%13,508
130Boddu1641:1,1420.19%734
131Chekka1631:1,1491.09%3,534
131Prasath1631:1,1494.70%13,089
133Lanka1611:1,1630.42%1,538
133Sundari1611:1,1631.28%4,156
135Balan1601:1,1701.40%4,566
135Sundar1601:1,1700.15%612
137Pandian1591:1,1782.36%7,430
138Ismail1561:1,2000.42%1,592
138Peter1561:1,2000.91%3,135
140Krishna1551:1,2080.12%532
140Samy1551:1,2082.69%8,511
142Antony1521:1,2320.37%1,454
142Prabu1521:1,2325.56%15,966
144Kamadi1511:1,2402.34%7,724
144Saravanan1511:1,2403.33%10,479
144Shankar1511:1,2400.03%135
144Vel1511:1,2402.27%7,508
148Farook1481:1,2652.39%7,996
149Moka1471:1,2741.08%3,875
149Nalla1471:1,2740.38%1,524
151Koppadi1451:1,2912.51%8,492
152Dangeti1441:1,3001.06%3,853
153Mellam1431:1,30913.13%32,633
153Polisetty1431:1,3092.94%9,857
155Sri1411:1,3280.53%2,132
156Lanke1401:1,3380.91%3,450
156Vijayan1401:1,3380.52%2,121
158Maraikar1391:1,34756.50%92,229
159Baskar1371:1,3672.40%8,579
159Natchial1371:1,367100.00%134,774
161Baskaran1361:1,3774.17%13,736
162Farvin1351:1,38732.77%65,401
163Fernandez1331:1,4082.28%8,437
163Raksha1331:1,4087.14%21,680
165Muthu1311:1,4291.86%7,106
166Balaji1291:1,4520.97%3,953
167Ramakrishnan1281:1,4631.33%5,375
167Stella1281:1,46314.22%37,564
169Dass1271:1,4740.12%611
169Latha1271:1,4740.35%1,656
169Rajendran1271:1,4740.77%3,237
172Jayaraman1251:1,4982.13%8,399
172Koppanathi1251:1,49812.43%34,647
172Murthy1251:1,4980.33%1,578
175Gupta1241:1,510< 0.01%25
176Kalla1231:1,5220.42%1,968
176Vp1231:1,52210.83%31,633
178Bommidi1211:1,5480.88%3,843
178Jothi1211:1,5486.22%20,955
178Maraicar1211:1,54887.68%134,139
178Ramachandran1211:1,5480.75%3,300
178Vasamsetty1211:1,5483.59%13,390
183Begame1191:1,57479.87%127,785
183Mallipudi1191:1,5741.47%6,261
183Pothula1191:1,5740.57%2,608
186Vk1171:1,60010.03%31,007
187Lashmi1161:1,61431.27%70,211
187Marecar1161:1,61496.67%146,413
187Mortha1161:1,6141.38%6,047
187Nair1161:1,6140.03%182
191Daniel1151:1,6280.90%4,078
191Husain1151:1,6280.02%114
191Kodi1151:1,6280.60%2,793
191Matcha1151:1,6281.26%5,654
191Pillai1151:1,6280.06%399
191Rayudu1151:1,6280.92%4,177
191Sangani1151:1,6280.41%2,040
191Siva1151:1,6281.26%5,632
199Dommeti1131:1,6570.91%4,223
199Kala1131:1,6570.08%491
199Rose1131:1,6571.63%7,236
199Roy1131:1,6570.01%46
199Venkatesan1131:1,6571.99%8,633