Kentucky Genealogy
USA (1,379,301) > Kentucky (48,937)
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Birth Records (1,238) Cemetery Records (26,285) Census Records (4,043) Church Records (1,397) City Directories (897) Court Records (2,035) Death Records (1,833) Histories and Genealogies (1,228) Immigration Records (126) Land Records (756) |
Map Records (1,095) Marriage Records (1,915) Military Records (1,044) Minority Records (109) Miscellaneous Records (343) Newspapers and Obituaries (2,668) Probate Records (956) School Records (2,110) Tax Records (1,093) |
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Overview of Kentucky Genealogy Records
- History: Kentucky was first settled in 1774. It was originally part of the state of Virginia and became a state in 1792. It was a neutral state during the Civil War from 1861-1865 but had enlistments from soldiers on both sides.
- Birth records: Some birth records were kept by the government from 1852 to 1862, from 1874 to 1879, and from 1892 to 1910. Statewide registration of births begin in 1911 with complete records by 1917. Copies of recent birth certificates can be obtained from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.
- Marriages: Marriage records were kept by most counties within a few years of each county's organization. Marriage certificates in 1958 and later can be obtained from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics
- Deaths: Some death records were kept by the government from 1852 to 1862, from 1874 to 1879, and from 1892 to 1910. Statewide registration of deaths began in 1911 with complete records by 1917. Copies of recent death certificates from 1911 and later can be obtained from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.
- Divorces: Divorce records before 1849 were granted by the state legislature. From 1849 and 1959, divorce records were kept by the individual county circuit court, and after 1959 by the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.
- Census: The first federal census available for Kentucky is 1810. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (partial), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950.
- Naturalization records: Naturalization records were kept by the district courts.
- School census records: Some counties administered school censuses which list all members of the family, mostly from 1895 to 1910.
- County records: Court, land, probate, and tax records were kept at the county level.
- Other records: Many cities and towns had newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, city directories, and other records that can be located on the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
- All records: Online indexes and images of many of the above records can be found by using the links on this site.