Guide
New Jersey Genealogy Search at a Glance
New Jersey family history has an early start in the vital records: the state began statewide registration in May 1848, decades before most states, and the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton holds the births, marriages and deaths from 1848 through the early 1900s with free online indexes, along with the colonial records from the 1660s, the state censuses of 1855 through 1915 and the county records of 21 counties on microfilm. The Archives' online searchable databases are among the most useful in the country.
New Jersey's proprietary period left East Jersey and West Jersey land records, and the county clerks and surrogates have kept deeds and probate since the counties formed in 1683.
Official sources on this page were checked on September 25, 2026.
Guide
New Jersey Genealogy
New Jersey statewide genealogy links
- New Jersey Department of Health and Senior ServicesGenealogical Records
- Genealogical Society of New JerseyState Genealogical Society
- New Jersey Department of StateState Archives Databases
- New Jersey Division of Archives and Records ManagementState Public Records and Archives
- Secretary of State Genealogical and Colonial RecordsState Genealogical Records
- New Jersey County Government Records
- Search Superior Court of New Jersey and Miscellaneous Judicial RecordsSearch Judicial Records
- NJGenWeb ProjectSearch USGenWeb Project
- New Jersey State LibraryState Library Resources
Guide
Vital records for New Jersey family history
New Jersey began statewide birth, marriage and death registration in May 1848, and the State Archives holds the records from 1848 to about 1930 for births, 1848 to 1940 for marriages and 1848 to 1955 for deaths, with free online indexes and copies by mail, while the New Jersey Department of Health's Vital Statistics office holds later records. Marriage records before 1848 survive in county and church records and in the Archives' colonial marriage bonds from 1711 to 1795. Divorce records sit with the superior court, with older files at the Archives.
- New Jersey State Archives searchable databasesFree online indexes to births, marriages and deaths from 1848 and colonial records, checked September 25, 2026
- New Jersey Vital StatisticsBirth, death, marriage and divorce certificates for recent years, checked September 25, 2026
- New Jersey Vital Records guideHow to order certificates and what is public
Guide
New Jersey archives, census and military records
The State Archives holds the state censuses of 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905 and 1915, the colonial and state land records of East and West Jersey, Revolutionary War, Civil War and Spanish-American War service records, the New Jersey State Prison registers, county naturalization records and county records on microfilm, with many indexed online. New Jersey took state censuses every ten years from 1855 to 1915. The New Jersey Historical Society in Newark and Rutgers University's Special Collections hold manuscripts and family papers, and the National Archives at New York holds New Jersey's federal court and naturalization records.
- New Jersey State ArchivesState censuses, land, military and county records, checked September 25, 2026
- Rutgers University Special CollectionsNew Jersey manuscripts, family papers and the digital newspaper project, checked September 25, 2026
- National Archives at New YorkFederal court and naturalization records for New Jersey, checked September 25, 2026
- FamilySearch New Jersey research guideFree indexed New Jersey records and state censuses, checked September 25, 2026
Guide
County courthouse records in New Jersey
New Jersey county clerks hold deeds and mortgages from each county's founding, with the earliest deeds before 1785 at the State Archives, and most clerks post online indexes. County surrogates hold wills, estates and guardianships, with the older probate files from 1670 to 1900 at the State Archives, indexed online. The superior court holds civil and divorce cases. New Jersey's 21 counties formed from the 1680s to 1857, and Bergen, Essex, Middlesex and Monmouth county records reach back to the 1680s.
Guide
Federal & 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.
NARA, National Archives 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.
FamilySearch 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.
Library of Congress, Local History & Genealogy The LoC's research guides, city directories, newspapers, and Civil War records, most accessible free online through loc.gov.
Straight answers
New Jersey Genealogy Search, questions
When did New Jersey start keeping vital records?
In May 1848, earlier than most states. The New Jersey State Archives holds births, marriages and deaths from 1848 through the early 1900s with free online indexes.
Did New Jersey take state censuses?
Yes, every ten years from 1855 to 1915, all held by the New Jersey State Archives and indexed online, filling the gaps between federal censuses including the lost 1890 count.
Where are New Jersey colonial probate records?
At the New Jersey State Archives, which holds wills and estate files from 1670 to 1900 with an online index. Later files are with the county surrogates.