New Jersey Genealogy

USA (1,379,301) > New Jersey (19,659)

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Overview of New Jersey records

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Overview of New Jersey Genealogy Records

• History: New Jersey was first settled in the 1620s and became a state in 1787.
• Birth records: A few birth records were kept in New Jersey as early as 1675, but they were very incomplete. State registration of births began in 1848 with complete records by 1920. Birth records for 1848 to 1920 can be obtained from the New Jersey State Archives. Birth records for 1921 and later can be obtained from the New Jersey Department of Health.
• Marriage records: A few marriage records were kept in New Jersey as early as 1673, but they are very incomplete. State registration of marriages began in 1848 with complete records by 1920. Marriage records for 1848 to 1930 can be obtained from the New Jersey State Archives. Marriage records for 1931 and later can be obtained from the New Jersey Department of Health.
• Death records: A few death records were kept in New Jersey as early as 1675, but they were very incomplete. State registration of deaths began in 1848 with complete records by 1920.  Death records for 1848 to 1930 can be obtained from the New Jersey State Archives. Death records for 1931 and later can be obtained from the New Jersey Department of Health.
• Divorce records: The New Jersey Clerk of the Superior Court has divorce records starting in 1850.
• Census records: The first federal census available for New Jersey is 1830. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. There was a state census taken in 1895.
• Probate records: The New Jersey Secretary of State has many older probate records. Probate records from 1804 to the present can be obtained from the individual county surrogate courts.
• County records: Court, land, naturalization, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• 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.