Marin County, California Genealogy
Guide to Marin County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Marin County, California | |
Map | |
![]() Location in the state of California, United States Genealogy | |
![]() Location of California in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | February 18, 1850 |
---|---|
County Seat | San Rafael |
Courthouse | |
Address | Marin County Courthouse 3501 Civic Center Dr San Rafael, CA 94903 Phone 415.499.6094 Marin County Website |
County Information[edit | edit source]
Marin County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1863 | 1856 | 1863 | 1900 | 1852 | 1880 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County Recorder has birth and death records from 1863, marriage records from 1856, land records from 1852; County Clerk has divorce and court records from 1900 and probate records from 1880[2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
18 February 1850: Marin County was created as an original county. County seat: San Rafael [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for "Marin", great chief of the tribe Licatiut". The county seat San Rafael and the county was created February 18, 1850. The County is located in the west central area of the state.[4]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating California county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation California County Boundary Maps" (1850-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Records Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Places/Localities[edit | edit source]
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:[5]
Cities | ||
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- Marin County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Surname Index, Marin County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- Index to Marin County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1850 | 323 | — |
1860 | 3,334 | 932.2% |
1870 | 6,903 | 107.0% |
1880 | 11,324 | 64.0% |
1890 | 13,072 | 15.4% |
1900 | 15,702 | 20.1% |
1910 | 25,114 | 59.9% |
1920 | 27,342 | 8.9% |
1930 | 41,648 | 52.3% |
1940 | 52,907 | 27.0% |
1950 | 85,619 | 61.8% |
1960 | 146,820 | 71.5% |
1970 | 206,038 | 40.3% |
1980 | 222,568 | 8.0% |
1990 | 230,096 | 3.4% |
2000 | 247,289 | 7.5% |
2010 | 252,409 | 2.1% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
For tips on accessing Marin County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.
- 1850, 1870 - Index to Marin County Census Transcriptions (USGenWeb Archives)
Church History and 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 California denominations, view the California Church Records wiki page.
- 1864-1985 California, Church Records, 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- San Rafael
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Crime and Criminals[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Germans[edit | edit source]
Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Marin County, California Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section California Local Histories.
- Marin County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- A Brief History of Marin County (CAGenWeb Project)
Land and Property[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 California Land and Property for additional information about early California land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
- Original Mexican Land Grants from Mexico in Marin between 1834 and 1846 CAGenWeb Project)
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
- 1883 - Marin County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1886 - Gen. McDowell Post No. 90, G. A. R. 1886 Civil War - Rosters (USGenWeb Archives)
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1914-1918 California, Geographical and Name Index of Californians who served in WWI, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
World War II[edit | edit source]
- Index to Marin County World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
- 1946 - Marin County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1852-1989 California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852-1989 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Marin County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Marin County, California Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog. Do NOT use the word County. (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Index to Marin County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Marin County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Marin County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Corte Madera, and Tiburon areas.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
The county clerk is usually the custodian of probate records. The records include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
You can obtain copies of the original probate records (such as wills and estate files) by writing to the county clerk at the county courthouse.
The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for California - Marin - Probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1782 – 1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1833 – 1991 California Probate Estate Files 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
Repositories[edit | edit source]
Archives, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
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
- California Genealogical Society Library - an affiliate library
Societies[edit | edit source]
Taxation[edit | edit source]
California tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page California Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
See also How to order California Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. See the CDC Where to Write website for information on acquiring copies of these records. The State office has records since July 1905. For earlier records, contact the County Recorder.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1812 - 1988 California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1905 - 1995 California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Some Marin County Birth Notices, 1874-1954 (Genealogy Trails)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1850 - 1945 California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection index
- 1850 - 1952 California, County Marriages, 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
- 1960 - 1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Some Marin County Marriage Notices, 1863-1951 (Genealogy Trails)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1966 - 1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- Marin County Divorce Index (Genealogy Trails)
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1776 - 2000 California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, some images
- 1800 - 1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1905 - 1939 California Death Index, 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1940 - 1997 California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Marin County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Corte Madera, and Tiburon areas.
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Marin County Genealogical Society
Marin Family History Center at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
(415) 479-2200
220 North San Pedro Rd
San Rafael, CA 94903
Website
Marin County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1511
Novato 94948
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Marin County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Marin County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Marin County, California Genealogy Trails
- Marin County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Marin County, California. Page 84-88 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 81-83.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Marin County, California. Page 85 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Marin County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marin_County,_California 05/04/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Marin County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marin_County,_California, accessed 16 September 2019.