Public Records

Public records can be an excellent source for genealogical research. The articles you'll find here can show you where to look for the information you need and how to tie together what you locate to form a more complete picture of your family history.

Finding Valuable Records

There are so many different types of public records that you may need to consider, and the information they reveal can be invaluable. A few of the many sources you may want to consider include:

• Census records: Looking through census records is a great way to find important information related to family history.
• Marriage records: Reviewing marriage records can help researchers find information about blood relations and in-laws.
• Real estate records: Information about real estate transactions can help researchers track down when relations arrived in, and departed from, specific areas.
• National archives: Country-specific national archives, such as the National Archives in Washington, DC as well as the National Archives of Canada, are rich sources for public records.
• Immigration records: Locating immigration records, such as a Mayflower passenger list, official Ellis Island immigration records and related facts can prove invaluable to genealogy researchers.
• Military service: Details about military records from the Civil War, World War II and other wars, as well as from countries like Canada, Great Britain and the U.S., can reveal ancestry information.
• Newspaper records: Detailed obituaries and information published in print can often be located by reviewing old newspaper archives.
• Death records: Obituaries are not the only way to find information about the death of an ancestor. There are options for locating government death records that are specific to a certain country, such as New Zealand.

Resource You Can Count On

The writers and editors here at LoveToKnow Genealogy know first-hand which public records will probably be the most helpful in your genealogical research project, and they will know the best way to get a copy of the records. They willingly share their knowledge on public records and geneaology research, along with tips on how to make sure the information does relate to your ancestor and his history. From ideas on locating birth records to records about indentured servants, you can find what you're looking for here. When you're looking for a trusted resource to help you find the valuable information you need, there's no better online destination.