Connecticut Genealogy

USA (1,379,301) > Connecticut (21,645)

By Record Type

Overview of Connecticut records

If you're not sure which records would be helpful, you can try our Ancestor Source Finder tool.

By County

By City

Overview of Connecticut Genealogy Records

• History: Connecticut was first settled in 1634 and became a state in 1788.
• Birth records: Birth records are kept by the individual towns. Birth records were kept by town clerks as early as 1649. However, the records kept were not always complete. In 1870 the recording of vital records became more complete. Statewide birth registration began in 1897 and was complete by 1915. Birth records from 1897 to the present can be obtained from the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
• Marriage records: Marriage records are kept by the individual towns. Marriage records were kept by town clerks as early as 1649. however, the records kept were not always complete. In 1870 the recording of vital records became more complete. Statewide marriage registration began in 1897 and was complete by 1915. Marriage records from 1897 to the present can be obtained from the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
• Death records: Death records were kept by town clerks as early as 1649. however, the records kept were not always complete. In 1870 the recording of vital records became more complete. Statewide birth registration began in 1897 and was complete by 1915.  Death records from 1897 to the present can be obtained from the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
• Divorce records: Divorce records are kept by the clerk of the superior court where the divorce was granted.
• Census records: The first federal census available for Connecticut is 1790. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950.
County records: Court, land, probate, naturalization, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• Other records: Many cities and towns kept newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, city directories, and other records that can be located by using the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
• All records: Use the links on this site to locate online indexes and images of many of the above records.