New Jersey Genealogy Search at a Glance
New Jersey genealogy search, look up ancestors, browse NJ archived records, history, census information and more online
1New Jersey Genealogy
New Jersey statewide genealogy links
- New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Serviceswww.nj.govGenealogical Records
- Genealogical Society of New Jerseywww.gsnj.orgState Genealogical Society
- New Jersey Department of Statewww.nj.govState Archives Databases
- New Jersey Division of Archives and Records Managementwww.njarchives.orgState Public Records and Archives
- Secretary of State Genealogical and Colonial Recordswww.njarchives.orgState Genealogical Records
- New Jersey County Government Recordswww.njarchives.orgCounty Government Records
- Search Superior Court of New Jersey and Miscellaneous Judicial Recordswww.njcourts.govSearch Judicial Records
- NJGenWeb Projectusgenwebsites.orgSearch USGenWeb Project
- New Jersey State Librarywww.njstatelib.orgState Library Resources
2Federal & National Authoritative Sources
These federal and national sources complement New Jersey's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when New Jersey state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.
The federal government's primary archive. Holds the U.S. census (1790, 1950), ship passenger lists, naturalization records, military service files, and land entry files.
https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy (archives.gov)
Free online genealogy platform operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Digitized microfilm copies of many county and state records worldwide.
https://www.familysearch.org/ (familysearch.org)
The LoC's research guides, city directories, newspapers, and Civil War records, most accessible free online through loc.gov.
https://guides.loc.gov/genealogy (loc.gov)
New Jersey Genealogy Search, FAQ
Is the 1950 census released?
Yes. Under the 72-year rule, the 1950 U.S. Census was released by NARA on April 1, 2022 and is free to search on archives.gov and familysearch.org.
How do I request a military service record?
NARA's National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis holds military service records. Requests use SF-180 and are free for the veteran or next of kin.
Do I need a paid subscription to do genealogy?
No. FamilySearch, Archives.gov, the Library of Congress, and most state archives provide substantial free access. Commercial services (Ancestry, MyHeritage) add convenience and private trees but not exclusive records.
Where are vital records for the 1800s kept?
Before state-level vital registration (roughly 1890, 1920 depending on state), most births, deaths, and marriages were recorded only by the county, the church, or the family Bible. State archives and FamilySearch are the primary starting points for that era.