Guide
New Mexico Genealogy Search at a Glance
New Mexico has the oldest European records in the United States after Florida: Catholic sacramental registers from the 1690s reconquest, Spanish and Mexican civil and land grant documents from 1598 onward, and the Spanish colonial censuses of 1750, 1790 and 1823. The New Mexico State Records Center and Archives in Santa Fe holds the Spanish and Mexican archives, the territorial records from 1846 and the county records of 33 counties on microfilm, and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe holds the parish registers.
Statewide vital registration did not begin until 1920, the latest of any state, so church records, county records and the Spanish and Mexican censuses carry most families.
Official sources on this page were checked on September 25, 2026.
Guide
New Mexico Genealogy
New Mexico statewide genealogy links
- New Mexico Genealogical Society
- New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
- Heritage the Online Catalog for New Mexico State Archives
- New Mexico State Land OfficeLand Records
- New Mexico State Judiciary Case LookupCourt Cases
- New Mexico Archives ProjectSearch USGenWeb Archives
- New Mexico State Library Census CollectionLibrary Genealogical Resources
- Indian Genealogical Research at New Mexico State Archives
Guide
Vital records for New Mexico family history
New Mexico began statewide birth and death registration in 1920, with partial registration from 1907, and the New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics in Santa Fe holds the certificates. Birth records become public after 100 years and death records after 50, and the State Records Center holds the public ones. Before 1920, the Catholic parish registers, published in indexed volumes by the New Mexico Genealogical Society, are the primary vital records. Marriage licenses were issued by each county clerk from the county's founding, and divorce records sit with the district court clerk.
- New Mexico Bureau of Vital RecordsBirth and death certificates from 1920, checked September 25, 2026
- New Mexico State Records Center and ArchivesSpanish and Mexican archives, territorial records and public vital records, checked September 25, 2026
- New Mexico Vital Records guideHow to order certificates and what is public
Guide
New Mexico archives, census and military records
The State Records Center and Archives holds the Spanish Archives of New Mexico from 1621 to 1821 and the Mexican Archives from 1821 to 1846, the Spanish land grant and Surveyor General claim files, the territorial penitentiary registers, New Mexico's Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I service records and county records on microfilm, with a digital archive online. The Spanish colonial censuses of 1750, 1790 and 1823 are published and indexed. The Center for Southwest Research at the University of New Mexico holds manuscripts, and the National Archives at Denver holds New Mexico's federal court, land office and Bureau of Indian Affairs records, including the Pueblo and Navajo agency files.
- New Mexico Digital ArchivesFree digitized New Mexico records, photographs and newspapers, checked September 25, 2026
- Bureau of Land Management General Land Office recordsFederal land patents and Spanish land grant surveys for New Mexico, checked September 25, 2026
- National Archives at DenverFederal court, land and Indian agency records for New Mexico, checked September 25, 2026
- FamilySearch New Mexico research guideFree indexed New Mexico records and parish registers, checked September 25, 2026
Guide
County courthouse records in New Mexico
New Mexico county clerks are the county recorders and hold deeds, mortgages, marriage licenses and probate records from each county's founding, with the earliest counties formed in 1852 and many clerks posting online indexes, and district court clerks hold divorce, civil and naturalization files. The State Records Center has microfilmed the older books of every county. Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Taos, Bernalillo, Valencia and San Miguel county records reach back to the 1850s and include Spanish language entries.
Guide
Federal & National Authoritative Sources
These federal and national sources complement New Mexico's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when New Mexico 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 Mexico Genealogy Search, questions
When did New Mexico start keeping birth and death records?
Statewide in 1920, the latest of any state, with partial records from 1907. Catholic parish registers from the 1690s are the vital records for earlier generations.
Where are New Mexico's Spanish and Mexican records?
At the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives in Santa Fe, which holds the Spanish Archives from 1621 to 1821 and the Mexican Archives from 1821 to 1846, and at the Archdiocese of Santa Fe for church registers.
Are the Spanish colonial censuses of New Mexico indexed?
Yes. The 1750, 1790 and 1823 censuses have been published and indexed by name, and the New Mexico Genealogical Society has published the parish baptism, marriage and burial registers.