Summit County, Ohio Genealogy
Guide to Summit County, Ohio 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 is named for the highest elevation on the Ohio and Erie Canal which is located in the county. Summit county is located in the North-central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Summit County Courthouse
205 S High St
Akron, OH 44308
Phone: 330-643-2162
Summit County Courthouse
County Recorder has land records from 1840
Probate Court has birth, marriage, death and probate records[4]
Summit County, Ohio 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 |
| 1866 | 1840 | 1870 | 1840 | 1840 | 1839 | 1820 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
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: [8]
| Cities | ||
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| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
For an extensive list of resources for Bible Records see Ohio Bible Records.
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Bierce, Lucius Verus, Historical Reminiscences of Summit County. (Akron, Ohio: T. and H.G. Canfield, 1854). Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books.
- Kenfield, Scott Dix, Akron and Summit County, Ohio, 1825-1929, (Chicago, Illinois: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1928). Volume 2 online at FamilySearch Digital Library; Volume 3 online at FamilySearch Digital Library - Volume 1 is historical; Volumes 2 and 3 are biographical.
- Doyle, William B. Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens. (Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1908). Online at: Biographies at USGenWeb Archives; FamilySearch Digital Library
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 22,560 | — |
| 1850 | 27,485 | 21.8% |
| 1860 | 27,344 | −0.5% |
| 1870 | 34,674 | 26.8% |
| 1880 | 43,788 | 26.3% |
| 1890 | 54,089 | 23.5% |
| 1900 | 71,715 | 32.6% |
| 1910 | 108,253 | 50.9% |
| 1920 | 286,065 | 164.3% |
| 1930 | 344,131 | 20.3% |
| 1940 | 339,405 | −1.4% |
| 1950 | 410,032 | 20.8% |
| 1960 | 513,569 | 25.3% |
| 1970 | 553,371 | 7.8% |
| 1980 | 524,472 | −5.2% |
| 1990 | 514,990 | −1.8% |
| 2000 | 542,899 | 5.4% |
| 2010 | 541,781 | −0.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1840 1840 United States Federal Census at Ancestry ($)
- 1850 United States Census 1850 at FamilySearch; Scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to both Ancestry ($) and FamilySearch.
- 1850-1880 U. S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at Ancestry ($)
- 1860 United States Census 1860 at FamilySearch; Scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to both Ancestry ($) and FamilySearch.
- 1870 United States Census 1870 at FamilySearch; Scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to both Ancestry ($) and FamilySearch.
- 1880 United States Census 1880 at FamilySearch; Scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to both Ancestry ($) and FamilySearch.
- 1890 1890 Veterans Schedule at Ancestry ($)
- 1890 and 1900 Census Records at USGenWeb Archives
- 1900 United States Census 1900 at FamilySearch; Scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to both Ancestry ($) and FamilySearch.
- 1910 1910 United States Federal Census at Ancestry ($)
- 1920 United States Census, 1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
- 1930 1930 United States Federal Census at Ancestry ($)
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 Ohio denominations, see Ohio Church Records.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Akron
Historical Churches
- Congregational Church of Tallmadge Church House (dedicated in 1825) at Ohio History
Current Churches
- Churches near Summit County, Ohio at Google Maps
- Summit County Ohio Churches at OH HometownLocator
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Jewish
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Funeral Homes near Summit County, Ohio at Google Maps.
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 Ohio Land and Property for additional information about early Ohio land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1796–2015 U.S. General Land Office Records at Ancestry ($)
- Land Records at USGenWeb Archives - Bureau of Land Management Database
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for this county. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see Ohio Local Histories.
- Doyle, William B., Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio: and Representative Citizens, (Chicago, Illinois: Biographical Pub. Co., 1908). Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books, Internet Archive.
- Perrin, William Henry, History of Summit: With an Outline Sketch of Ohio, (Chicago, Illinois: Baskin and Bettey, 1881). Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books, Internet Archive.
- Grismer, Karl Hiram, Akron and Summit County, (Akron, Ohio: Summit County Historical Society, 1952). Online at FamilySearch Digital Library; FHL book 977.136 H2g
- Kenfield, Scott Dix, Akron and Summit County, Ohio, 1825-1929, (Chicago, Illinois: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1928). Volume 1 online at FamilySearch Digital Library - Volumes 2 and 3 are biographical and listed in the Biography section above.
- Historical Collections of Ohio by Henry Howe Vol. II 1888; transcribed.
- Akron Women's History at University of Akron
- Summit Memory - historical images and indexes.
- Ohio Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.
- Fifty Year Club, Summit County Looks Back Through 100 Years: An Historical Review of Akron and Summit County; 1840-1940, (Akron, Ohio: Fifty Year Club, 1940). FHL film 1320898 Item 16; book 977.136 H2s
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- 1788-1940 Maps of Ohio (1788-1940) at MapofUS
- 1856 Summit County Map 1856 at Summit Memory
- 1872 1872 Topographical Atlas at Summit Memory
- 1874 Combination Atlas Map of Summit County, 1874 at Summit Memory
- 1910 Atlas and Industrial Geography of Summit County, 1910 at Summit Memory
- 1915 Akron Plat Map, 1915 at Summit Memory
- Akron at OHGenWeb Project
- Map of Summit County, Ohio at OHGenWeb Project
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- 1888-1919 Ohio Soldier Home Records, 1888-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- Military Records at USGenWeb Archives
Revolutionary War
- Soldiers of the American Revolution at Genealogy Trails, buried in or said to be buried in Summit County, Ohio
Civil War
- 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection
- Civil War Soldiers Buried in Summit County at Genealogy Trails
- Civil War at Summit Memory
Civil War service men from Summit County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment)that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Summit County.
- -1st Regiment, Ohio Light Artillery, Battery D
- -104th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company H
- -107th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company I
World War I
- 1914-1918 Ohio, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1914-1919 Ohio, World War I Statement of Service Cards, 1914-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1916-1920 Ohio, WWI Index and Return Cards, 1916-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)
World War II
- 1938-1946 U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 at Ancestry ($)
- 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- World War II Casualties at Genealogy Trails
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1977 Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1850-1991 Naturalization Records at The Summit County Clerk of Courts
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Summit County newspapers often contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.
- For more online Ohio newspapers index and images, see Ohio Newspapers.
- 1793-late 1900s Newspapers at Ohio History Connection — Select county.
- 1793-2009 Ohio Newspapers, 1793-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
- Early-late 1900s Newspapers at Ohio Memory — sort by County, City, Time Period, and more.
- The Record Courier Stow Sentry
- Twinsburg Bulletin
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Akron Beacon Journal Subject Indexes 1841- 1939 Summit County, Ohio Newspapers at Akron-Summit Public Library
- Akron Beacon Journal Obituary Indexes 1937 to present at Akron-Summit Public Library
- Obituaries Akron Beacon Journal at Legacy.com (only 1 year of past obituaries held online)
- Obituaries at USGenWeb Archives
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
From 1797 or the creation of the county, probate records were held by the Court of Common Pleas. After 1852, records are held by the Summit County Probate Court. Records include wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, marriage, adoption, and birth and death records (1867-1908 only). The records may give the decedent's date of death, name of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
See Ohio Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1786-1998 Ohio, Wills and Probate Records 1786-1998 at Ancestry ($) — index and images.
- 1789-1996 Ohio Probate Records 1789-1996 at FamilySearch.org — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Ohio tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses before 1820 or to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties.
Online Tax Indexes and Records
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Marriages were usually recorded from the formation of the county and are held at the office of the County Probate Court. Divorce records are located with the county Clerk of Courts.
Any existing birth and death records from 1867 through December 19, 1908 are located at the County Probate Court. The Ohio Department of Health has birth records filed after December 20, 1908 and death records filed after January 1, 1954, while the Ohio History Connection houses death records from December 20, 1908 through December 31, 1953.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1962 Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962 at Ancestry ($) — Index
- 1841-2003 Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1866-1908 Summit County, Ohio, Birth Records at Ancestry ($)
- 1908-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1998 at Ancestry ($) — Index
- 1959-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1959-1998 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1789-2013 Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1800-1942 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index.
- 1800-1958 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index.
- 1840-1980 Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records at Ancestry.com ($)
- 1970-2003 Ohio, Marriages, 1970 - 2003 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1833-1967 Ohio, Church and Civil Deaths, 1833-1967 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1840-2001 Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1866-1908 Summit County, Ohio, Death Records at Ancestry ($)
- 1908-1932, 1938–1944, and 1958–2007 Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007 at FamilySearch – How to Use this Collection; Index.
- 1908-1932, 1938-2018 Ohio, Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018 at Ancestry ($) — index and images
- 1913-1944, 1954-1963 Ohio Death Index, 1913-1944, 1954-1963 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1962-2007 Ohio, Divorce Abstracts, 1962-1963, 1967-1971, 1973-2007 at Ancestry ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Summit County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Ohio 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
- Akron Ohio Family History Center
- Akron-Summit County Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Summit County. For state-wide library facilities, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
Akron-Summit County Public Library
Main library
60 S High St
Akron, OH 44326
330-643-9000
Website
Herrick Memorial Library
101 Willard Memorial Square
Wellington, OH 44090
440-647-2120
Website
Barberton Public Library
602 W Park Ave
Barberton, OH 44203-2458
330-745-1194
Website
Cuyahoga Falls Library
2015 Third St
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
330-928-2117
Website
Hudson Library and Historical Society
96 Library St
Hudson, OH 44236-2947
330-653-6658
Website
Peninsula Library
6105 Riverview Road
PO Box 236
Peninsula, OH 44264-0236
330-657-2291
Website
Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library
3512 Darrow Rd
Stow, OH 44224
330-688-3295
Website
Twinsburg Public Library
10050 Ravenna Rd
Twinsburg, OH 44087-1796
330-425-4268
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Cuyahoga Valley Historical Museum
1775 Main St
2nd Floor
Peninsula, OH 44264
Website
Summit County Historical Society of Akron, OH
Perkins Stone Mansion
John Brown House
Portage Township School District No. 2
550 Copley Rd
Akron, OH 44320
330-535-1120
Website
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Summit County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Ohio Societies.
Western Reserve Historical Society
Research Library in the History Center
10825 East Blvd
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-721-5722
FamilySearch Wiki
Website
Summit County Chapter Ohio Genealogical Society
PO Box 2232
Akron, OH 44309-2232
Email:info@summitogs.org
Website
The Historical Society of Olde Northfield
9390 Olde Eight Rd
Northfield Center, OH
Email:Palmer-House@hson.info
Website
Peninsula Library & Historical Society
6105 Riverview Rd
PO Box 236
Peninsula, OH 44264
E-mail:info@peninsulalibrary.org
Website
Hudson Genealogical Study Group
a chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society
E-mail:HGSG1986@gmail.com
Website
Richfield Historical Society
3907 Broadview Rd
Richfield, OH 44286
330-659-0336
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Local Gov't Records by County at Ohio History Connection — Browse their list; records are not online.
- Custom Browse of Historical Collections at Ohio Memory — Use map or alpha bar to select county or place, then browse search options in left sidebar.
- Ohio Genealogical Society ($) — online databases
- Summit Memory - Summit Memory is an online, collaborative project capturing the history of Summit County, Ohio. Collections include historic photographs, documents, newspapers, artifacts and audiovisual resources contributed by partner organizations throughout the county. Summit Memory is administered by the Akron-Summit County Public Library.
- Summit County OH Genealogy at LDS Genealogy
- Summit County OH Genealogy Research. Contains information for researching genealogy in Summit county OH, Census, bios, obituary, birth, death, marriage, maps, and other records
- Summit County OHGenWeb at OHGenWeb
- Summit County, Ohio at Genealogy Trails
- Summit County, Ohio at Cyndi's List
- Genealogy and History at Histopolis
- 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]
- ↑ Ohio Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library
- ↑ Ohio Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Summit County, Ohio Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ohio/summit/ accessed 2/27/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Ohio Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library
- ↑ Ohio Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Summit County, Ohio," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summit_County,_Ohio, accessed 16 January 2019.
