GuidedResearch:Finding Town of Origin - United States Immigration

Do You Know When Your Ancestor Immigrated to the United States?
Click on the Migration Wave Covering the Year Your Ancestor Came to the United States.
 * pre-1790
 * 1790-1820
 * 1820-1880
 * 1880-1930
 * 1930-1965
 * 1965-2000

Click on the different record groups to learn what clues they can give and how to search them.

Census Records
Below is a table with possible immigration information found in the United States Census records. The below information can give clues as to when a person immigrated.  Beginning in 1850, the United States censuses listed the birthplace of a person. This information can be helpful in knowing the country of origin. These earlier census records can also give clues as to when a family immigrated to the United States if some of the children were born in their homeland country and some in the United States. This is helpful in narrowing down the year of immigration. As noted in the table, some of the later censuses provide an estimated or exact year of immigration as well. NOTE: The immigration years can vary from census to census, especially if the person immigrated as a child and did not remember the year exactly.

Online Naturalization Resources
Since the adoption of the United States constitution, there have been naturalization laws and regulations in place. The naturalization process often took place in county courts. To learn more about the naturalization process and what records are available see United States Naturalization and Citizenship.

Vital Records
Vital records can be helpful in discovering when a person came over; you can find clues based on where they or their parents were born. Sometimes the town of origin will be listed on the death certifcates or marriage. However, the information contained on these records is only as accurate as the memory of the person relaying the information.

Migration Routes/Communities
Researching the migration patterns of where a person lived can give possible clues as to where they originated from. A lot of people moved where people from their homelands had already set up residence. If you know the community where they lived look up the history of it.