Fayette County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Fayette County, Alabama ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Fayette County, Alabama | |
| Map | |
 Location of Alabama in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | 20 December, 1824 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Fayette |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Fayette County Courthouse] 103 1st Avenue NE Fayette, AL 35555 Phone: (205) 932-4617 Fayette County Website |
Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 County Courthouse
- 3 History
- 4 Places/Localities
- 5 Resources
- 6 Societies and Libraries
- 7 Helpful Websites
- 8 Fayette County Alabama Genealogy Websites
- 9 Fayette County Alabama Genealogy References
County Information
Fayette County, Alabama Record Dates
| | |||||
| Birth | Marriage | Death | Census | Land | Probate |
| 1884 | 1866 | 1899 | 1830 | 1824 | 1851 |
County Courthouse
Probate Judge has birth records 1884-1941, death records
1899-1941
marriage records from 1866, land records from 1848
and military discharge records from 1919[2]
Description
The County was named for Marquis de Lafayette. The County has Fayette as its seat and the County was created December 20, 1824. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.[3]
History
The county is named after Revolutionary War hero, the Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834).[4]
Parent County
1824--Fayette County was created 20 December 1824 from Marion, Pickens, and Tuscaloosa Counties.
County seat: Fayette [5]
Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Alabama county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Alabama County Boundary Maps" (1799-1980) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Record Loss
1866 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.
1911--Fayette County Courthouse and much of the business section of Fayette destroyed by fire on March 24, 1911. Many county records lost. [6]
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
- Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki.
- Arlene Eakle, When the Records are Gone in the Tennessee Genealogy Blog.
- Michael John Neill, Burned Counties in Family History Circle.
Places/Localities
Populated Places
Neighboring Counties
Resources
Biography
Biographies of many notable residents of Fayette County, Alabama Genealogy were published in Memorial Record of Alabama (1893). Digital version at FamilySearch Books Online - free. Begins on page 1022.
Cemeteries
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The following web site has additional information on Fayette county cemeteries.
- Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.
Census
| Fayette County, Alabama | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | — | |
| 1830 | 3,547 | — |
| 1840 | 6,942 | 95.7% |
| 1850 | 9,681 | 39.5% |
| 1860 | 12,850 | 32.7% |
| 1870 | 7,136 | −44.5% |
| 1880 | 10,135 | 42.0% |
| 1890 | 12,823 | 26.5% |
| 1900 | 14,132 | 10.2% |
| 1910 | 16,248 | 15.0% |
| 1920 | 18,365 | 13.0% |
| 1930 | 18,443 | 0.4% |
| 1940 | 21,651 | 17.4% |
| 1950 | 19,388 | −10.5% |
| 1960 | 16,148 | −16.7% |
| 1970 | 16,252 | 0.6% |
| 1980 | 18,809 | 15.7% |
| 1990 | 17,962 | −4.5% |
| 2000 | 18,495 | 3.0% |
| 2010 | 17,241 | −6.8% |
State Census
- 1866 - Alabama State Census, 1866 at FamilySearch — index
Church Records
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 Alabama denominations, view the Alabama Church Records wiki page.
Court Records
Land and Property
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 Alabama Land and Property for additional information about early Alabama land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of Fayette County, Alabama Genealogy see:
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Fayette County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2007. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes free surname index. FHL Book 976.187 E7bg.
- 1849 - 1849 Land Grants. Southeastern Genealogy ($)
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Fayette County, Alabama 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 Alabama Local Histories.
Maps
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- Family Maps of Fayette County, Alabama Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
- Alabama Maps Collection: Alabama Department of Archives and History
Military
Civil War
Civil War service men from Fayette County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Fayette County.
- - 5th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company A
- - 11th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I
- - 26th Regiment, Alabama Infantry (O'Neal's), Company A, B, C, D, E, I and K
- - 32nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I
- - 36th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D
- - 38th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F
- - 41st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H
- - 42nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F
- - 50th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G, formerly Company K, 38th TN Infantry
- - 50th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I, formerly Company H, 38th TN Infantry
- - 58th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company B
Online Records
- 1861-1865 - Alabama Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 - Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1907, 1921, 1927 - Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch — images
- Alabama Civil War Service Card Files at Alabama Department of Archives and History-(free)
Newspapers
Finding More Alabama Newspapers
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Fayette County, Alabama Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Fayette County, Alabama Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
Probate Records
Probate records are held by the Fayette County, Alabama Genealogy Probate Court. Most records are housed at the Fayette County, Alabama Genealogy Courthouse. Many records are on microfilm at the Family History Library.
See the wiki page Alabama Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
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 places of residence.
Record types: Wills, dower records, personal property sales, settlement records, orphans’ records, and bonds.
- Fayette County, Alabama Will and Probate Records at USGenWeb.org. Includes several excerpts of wills.
Online Probate Records
- 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1809 – 1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985 at FamilySearch — images
- 1837 — 1838 Estate Settlements Southeastern Genealogy ($)
Taxation
Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.
- 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Fayette County is in District 3.
Vital Records
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 Alabama State Department of Health , the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred or order electronically online.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama. See also How to order Alabama Vital Records
Birth
- 1881 – 1930 Alabama Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch.org — index
Marriage
- 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry – ($); Index. contains over 12,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
- 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1827, 1850–1851, 1858, 1860, 1864–1903, 1906, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry – ($); Index. This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.
- 1827, 1850–1851, 1858, 1860, 1864–1903, 1906, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry – ($); Index. This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.
- 1866-1931 - Fayette County Marriage Index 1866-1931 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.[8]
- 1866–1900 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920"at Ancestry – ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.
- 1866–1900 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920"at Ancestry – ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.
- 1809 – 1950 Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950 at FamilySearch.org — index/images
- 1816 – 1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch.org — index
- 1800 – 1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry.com — index $
- 1809 – 1920 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4192 Alabama Marriages,
- 1809-1920 (Selected Counties)] at Ancestry.com — index $
Death
- 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry – ($); Index. Volunteers extracted the details in this index from microfilmed copies of church, civil, family, and other records of Alabama deaths and burials. details vary depending on the original record. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.
- 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry – ($); Index. Volunteers extracted the details in this index from microfilmed copies of church, civil, family, and other records of Alabama deaths and burials. details vary depending on the original record. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.
- 1899-1912 - Fayette County Death Index 1899-1912. Batch B547542 at FamilySearch - free.
- 1908–1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry – ($); Index. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).
- 1908–1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry – ($); Index. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).
- 1908-1974 - Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free
- 1881 – 1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch.org — index
- 1908 – 1974 Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch.org — index
- 1881 – 1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry.com — index $
- 1908 – 1959 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5188 Alabama Deaths,
- 1908-59] at Ancestry.com — index $
Voting Registers
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Fayette County has one book.
Societies and Libraries
Fayette County Historical Society
P. O. Box 309
Fayette, AL
35555
205-932-3255
Fayette Fayette County Memorial Library
205-932-6625
Fayette County Memorial Library Website
Libraries
Fayette County Memorial Library
326 Temple Avenue North
Fayette, Alabama 35555
Telephone: 205-932-6625
The Evelyn W. Robertson Genealogy Room holds local history materials.
Family History Centers
Family history centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes. See family history center for more information. Search the online FHC directory for a nearby family history center.
Helpful Websites
Fayette County Alabama Genealogy Websites
- Fayette County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- FamilySearch Catalog
- USGenWeb Archives Project ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
- Fayette County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Fayette County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
Fayette County Alabama Genealogy References
- ↑ Alice Eichholz, Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, Revised ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992), 13-28. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27rb 1992
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Fayette County p. 37. ; .
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Fayette, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayette_County,_Alabama 06/05/2017.
- ↑ "Fayette County, Alabama," Wikipedia.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ GenDisasters.com - Fayette, AL Courthouse and Business Section Fire, Mar 1911 http://www3.gendisasters.com/alabama/10146/fayette-al-courthouse-business-section-fire-mar-1911
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/images/0/06/Igialabamadj.pdf.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/images/0/06/Igialabamadj.pdf.
