Brevard County, Florida Genealogy
Guide to Brevard County, Florida ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Judge Theodore W. Brevard, an early settler, and state comptroller. The County is located in the East Central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Brevard County Courthouse
400 S Street
Titusville, FL 32780
Phone: 321-633-1924
Brevard County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records from 1868, land records from 1871, divorce and court records from 1879, probate records from 1917 and military discharge records from 1919
County Health Department Superintendent has death rec from 1985 and birth records; some records prior to 1885 destroyed[3]
Brevard County, Florida Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1930 | 1868 | 1985 | 1879 | 1871 | 1917 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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Some records prior to 1885 have been destroyed. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 246 | — |
| 1870 | 1,216 | 394.3% |
| 1880 | 1,478 | 21.5% |
| 1890 | 3,401 | 130.1% |
| 1900 | 5,158 | 51.7% |
| 1910 | 4,717 | −8.5% |
| 1920 | 8,505 | 80.3% |
| 1930 | 13,283 | 56.2% |
| 1940 | 16,142 | 21.5% |
| 1950 | 23,653 | 46.5% |
| 1960 | 111,435 | 371.1% |
| 1970 | 230,006 | 106.4% |
| 1980 | 272,959 | 18.7% |
| 1990 | 398,978 | 46.2% |
| 2000 | 476,320 | 19.4% |
| 2010 | 543,376 | 14.1% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing census records online, see: Florida Census.
- 1783 Spanish Census USGenWeb
- 1821 Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
- 1823 Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
- 1880 Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos USGenWeb
- 1885 Florida State Population Census includes sex, age, relationship, occupation, place of birth of each family member and parents. Also census for agriculture, manufacture and mortality. - How to Use this Collection
- 1935 1935 Florida State Census at MyHeritage - index ($))
- Federal Census Information from National Archives USGenWeb
- State Census Information from Florida State Archives USGenWeb
- Census of Pensioners Revolutionary Military Service USGenWeb
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Florida denominations, view the Florida Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- NARA Ships Passenger Lists - These passenger lists cover:
- 1834-1897 - Immigration of Russians to the United States
- 1/12/1846-12/31/1851 - Irish Famine
- 1850-1897 - Germans to the United States
- 1855-1900 - Italians to the United States
- 1834-1897 - Immigration of Russians to the United States
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Ammen Cremation and Funeral Care in Melbourne
- Beach Funeral Home in Indian Harbour Beach
- Beckman-Williamson Funeral Homes and Crematory in Cocoa Beach
- Brevard Memorial Funeral Home and Park in Cocoa
- Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home in Melbourne
- Buggs Funeral Home in Melbourne
- Davis Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Melbourne
- Fountainhead Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Palm Bay
- North Brevard Funeral Home in Titusville
- Stone Funeral Home in Melbourne and Cocoa
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Florida Land and Property for additional information about early Florida land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for most counties. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Florida Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- 1821-1997 Maps of Florida
- 1870 Gray's Atlas Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
- 1882 Rand McNally Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
- Exploring Florida, FCIT Maps University of South Florida
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Florida State Military Files USGenWeb
- Florida state pension records from various wars Pension Transcriptions USGenWeb
- Brevard County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
Civil War
- 1861-1865 - Florida Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 - Florida Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1883 Brevard County Pensioners on the Roll as of January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1885-1955 - Florida Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War I
- 1917-1920 - Florida, World War I Navy Card Roster, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War II
- Brevard County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
- 1940-1945 - Florida, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Korean War
- Florida Casualties in the Korean Conflict (distantcousin.com)
- Brevard County Korean War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
Vietnam War
- Brevard County, FL Vietnam War Casualty List (Genealogy Trails)
- Florida Casualties in the Vietnam War distantcousin.com
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Florida Digital Newspaper Library at George A. Smathers Libraries
- Early Florida Newspapers at the Florida State Library USGenWeb
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- U.S. Hidden Ancestors Obituaries
- USGenWeb Obituaries Project Obituary transcriptions from Florida counties
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Indexes and Records
- 1784-1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1827-1950 Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950 at Ancestry ($)
- 1868-1975 Probate Docket, 1918-1944; General Index to Probate and Guardianship, 1868-1975(*); County Judge's Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1877-1926 Probate Records, 1877-1926(*); County Judge's Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Florida Public Records Search at Florida State Archives ($)
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Florida Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida State Archives, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1880-1935 - Florida, Births and Christenings, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1802-1998 - Florida, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 - Florida, Marriage Index, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1957 - Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1993 - Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1837-1974 - Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1896-1901 - Marriages 1896-1901 at Southeasterngenealogy.com $
- 1970-1999 - Florida, Marriages, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1877-1939 - Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1877-1998 - Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1900-1921 - Florida, Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1927-2001 - Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001 at Ancestry $
- 1970-1999 - Florida, Divorces, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Voter Records[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1868 Web: Florida, U.S., Voter Registration Rolls, 1867-1868 at Ancestry - index ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Brevard County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Cocoa Florida Family History Center
- Orlando Florida Family History Center
- Orlando Florida Hunters Creek Family History Center
- Osceola Library System - multiple locations - an affiliate library.
- West Oaks Branch Library and Genealogy Center - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Brevard County. For state-wide library facilities, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Brevard County Public Libraries
Website
Multiple locations. Among the 17 Brevard County Libraries, three (listed below) have genealogy collections available to the public.
- The Titusville Public Library
2121 S. Hopkins Ave.
Titusville, FL 32780
Phone: 321-264-5026
Website - Melbourne Public Library
540 East Fee Ave.
Melbourne, FL 32901
Phone: 321-952-4514
Website - Catherine Schweinsberg Rood Central Library
308 Forrest Ave.
Cocoa, FL 32922
Phone: 321-633-1792
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Brevard County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Florida Societies.
Brevard Genealogical Society
PO Box 1123
Cocoa, FL 32923-1123
Website
Facebook
Brevard Heritage Council
3783 Indian River Dr
Cocoa, FL 32922
Phone: 321-537-6607
Facebook
Genealogical Society of South Brevard
PO Box 786
Melbourne, FL 32902-0786
Email:contactus@gssb.net
Website
Genealogical Society Of North Brevard, INC.
PO Box 897
Titusville, FL 32781-0897
Email: edward_swan@bellsouth.com
Website
North Brevard Historical Society and Museum
301 South Washington Avenue
PO Box 5265
Titusville, FL 32783
Phone: 321-269-3658
Email: titusvillemuseum@aol.com
Website
South Brevard Historical Society
PO Box 1064
Melbourne, FL 32902-1064
Phone: 321-725-4115
Email:contact@southbrevardhistory.org
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
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- The USGenWeb Project: The FLGenWeb Project:Brevard County
- Brevard County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Brevard County, FLGenWeb Project, Inc
- Brevard County, Florida Genealogy Trails
- Brevard County FL Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- FamilySearch Catalog -The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Bradford County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia 04/24/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Brevard County, Florida," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, website, accessed 30 January 2019.
