On 11/01/16 19:48, CWatters wrote: > In short what are the odds of someone born in Spain around 1887 to > British parents having a record at the GRO that I can now order? On 11/01/16 19:48, CWatters wrote: > In short what are the odds of someone born in Spain around 1887 to > British parents having a record at the GRO that I can now order? To answer that we would need to know how many were notified to the consul and how many weren't. Clearly impossible. GRO say of consular returns "These records relate to registrations made by the British Consul in the country concerned. It should be noted that registration in respect of British citizens or subjects has never been compulsory and therefore we may not hold a record of the event. These returns are made to the Registrar General annually, under the Registration of Overseas Births and Deaths Regulations 1982 (made by the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 41(1) (i) of the British Nationality Act 1981). The records were originally kept in accordance with Foreign Office instructions. The instructions were subsequently embodied in regulations made under the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Acts 1914-43, and the British Nationality Act 1948." Indexes are available on microfiche at the usual repositories and online at Findmypast.