GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Ohio Marriages

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find marriage information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the marriage section of the Ohio Guided Research page.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1700s-1990s:  Ohio, County Marriages  at Ancestry ($)
 * |Google search for the names of the bride & groom & place of marriage
 * 1818-1920:  Cincinnati Newspapers 1818-1920  - Abbreviated Index to Marriage & Death Notices

Additional Records with Marriage Information
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. Records that are used to substitute for marriage events may not have been created at the time of the marriage. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Cincinnati was an area where the normal restrictions on marriage did not get enforced. It has been called a "Gretna Green".[2] People from Ohio may have married in a different state for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Tips for finding marriages
Successfully finding marriage records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search given name. Search by given name by leaving out the last name.
 * Search for bride. Search by the bride’s name rather than the groom’s name.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate year of marriage or the county the marriage took place in.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search state. Search using the state name only instead of by county.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Cincinnati was an area where the normal restrictions on marriage did not get enforced. It has been called a "Gretna Green".[1] People from Ohio may have married in a different state for similar reasons. (link to United States Guided Research page)
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * Marriage registration was handled by the counties until 1949, when the state vital records office kept the records.
 * Many Hamilton County (includes Cincinnati) marriage records were destroyed by a courthouse fire in 1884.[1]

Records Published Collection coverage tables show the places and time periods of original records published. Check the coverage table for the collections you searched which did not include your ancestor. Gaps in the online collection may require searches in other records or original marriage records at an archive. Records Destroyed The following counties had record loss. Click on the county for more information.
 * Ohio Marriages, Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Ohio County Marriages Restriction Dates

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Cincinnati was an area where the normal restrictions on marriage were not enforced. It has been called a "Gretna Green".[2] People from Ohio may have married in a different state for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens