Santa Clara County, California Genealogy
Guide to Santa Clara County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Santa Clara County, California | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of California | |
 Location of California in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | February 18, 1850 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | San Jose |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | Santa Clara County Courthouse 70 W Hedding St 1st Floor San Jose, CA 95110-1768 Phone: 408.299.2481 Santa Clara County Website |
Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 County Courthouse
- 3 Historical Facts
- 4 Places/Localities
- 5 Resources
- 5.1 Bible Records
- 5.2 Biography
- 5.3 Cemeteries
- 5.4 Census
- 5.5 Church History and Records
- 5.6 Court Records
- 5.7 Crime and Criminals
- 5.8 Directories
- 5.9 Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups
- 5.10 Gazetteers
- 5.11 Genealogy
- 5.12 History
- 5.13 Land and Property
- 5.14 Maps
- 5.15 Migration
- 5.16 Military History and Records
- 5.17 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 5.18 Newspapers
- 5.19 Obituaries
- 5.20 Periodicals
- 5.21 Probate Records
- 5.22 Repositories
- 5.23 Societies
- 5.24 Taxation
- 5.25 Vital Records
- 5.26 Voting Registers
- 6 Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries
- 7 Websites
- 8 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Santa Clara County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1873 | 1850 | 1873 | 1850 | 1846 | 1850 | 1850 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Santa Clara County Courthouse
70 W Hedding St 1st Floor
San Jose, CA 95110-1768
Phone: 408.299.2481
County Recorder has birth and death records from 1873
Recorder has birth and death records from 1873,
marriage records from 1850, land records from 1846
and military records from1920 County Clerk has divorce,
probate and naturalization records[2]
Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
18 February 1850: Santa Clara County was created as an original county. County seat: San Jose [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Saint Clare of Assisi, Italy. The county seat San Jose and the county was created 1850. [4]The County is located in the west central area of the state.[5]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating California county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation California County Boundary Maps" (1850-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Records Loss[edit | edit source]
May 18, 1931: A fire quickly spread through the courthouse, causing extensive damage.
Places/Localities[edit | edit source]
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Historic communities | ||
|
|
|
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- Index to Santa Clara County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Santa Clara County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- Index to Santa Clara County Published Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web sites may have additional information on Santa Clara County cemeteries.
- Interment.net California cemetery records by County.
- 1838-1985 - California, Santa Clara County, San Jose, Oak Hill Cemetery Headstone Inscriptions, 1838-1985 at FamilySearch — index
- 1850-1960 - California Cemetery Transcriptions, 1850-1960 at FamilySearch — index and images
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 11,912 | — |
| 1870 | 26,246 | 120.3% |
| 1880 | 35,039 | 33.5% |
| 1890 | 48,005 | 37.0% |
| 1900 | 60,216 | 25.4% |
| 1910 | 83,539 | 38.7% |
| 1920 | 100,676 | 20.5% |
| 1930 | 145,118 | 44.1% |
| 1940 | 174,949 | 20.6% |
| 1950 | 290,547 | 66.1% |
| 1960 | 642,315 | 121.1% |
| 1970 | 1,064,714 | 65.8% |
| 1980 | 1,295,071 | 21.6% |
| 1990 | 1,497,577 | 15.6% |
| 2000 | 1,682,585 | 12.4% |
| 2010 | 1,781,642 | 5.9% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Santa Clara County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.
- 1870 - Index to Santa Clara County Census Records by Township (USGenWeb Archives)
Church History and Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about California denominations, view the California Church Records wiki page.
- 1864-1985 - California, Church Records, 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — index
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Gilroy, Los Gatos, Naglee (San Jose), Palo Alto, San Jose and Willow Glen (San Jose).
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Crime and Criminals[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Germans[edit | edit source]
Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Santa Clara County, California Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section California Local Histories.
- Index to Santa Clara County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See California Land and Property for additional information about early California land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
- 1929-1954 - California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — index
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in Santa Clara County, California Genealogy served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Santa Clara County, California Genealogy:
- - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company A
- - 1st Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company D
- - 1st Regiment, California Cavalry (Union), New Company E
- - 8th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company C
- 1883 - Santa Clara County, California - List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1884, 1886 - Civil War Veterans Rosters, G.A.R. Post Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers Buried in San Jose, California (Genealogy Trails)
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1914-1918 - California, Geographical and Name Index of Californians who served in WWI, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — index and images
World War II[edit | edit source]
- Index of World War II Army Enlistees, Santa Clara County, California (USGenWeb Archives)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1831-1985 - California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — index and images (NOTE: As of October 2018, no Santa Clara County records were in this collection. Check the image list for county coverage.)
- 1852-1989 - California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — index and images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Santa Clara County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Santa Clara County, California Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog. Do NOT use the word County. (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Index to Santa Clara County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Santa Clara County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
The county clerk is usually the custodian of probate records. The records include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
You can obtain copies of the original probate records (such as wills and estate files) by writing to the county clerk at the county courthouse.
The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for California - Santa Clara - Probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1782 – 1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1833 – 1991 California Probate Estate Files 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — images
Repositories[edit | edit source]
Archives, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Introduction to Family History Centers
- Los Altos California Family History Center
- San Jose California Family History Center
- Santa Clara California Family History Center
Societies[edit | edit source]
Taxation[edit | edit source]
California tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page California Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. See the CDC Where to Write website for information on acquiring copies of these records. The State office has records since July 1905. For earlier records, contact the County Recorder. See also How to order California Vital Records
Birth[edit | edit source]
The website for the Office of the Clerk-Recorder for Santa Clara County has information about how to request birth records. They have births after 1873.
Online Records
- 1800 - 1994 - California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1812 - 1988 - California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — index
- 1905 - 1995 - California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — index
Marriage[edit | edit source]
The website for the Office of the Clerk-Recorder for Santa Clara County has information about how to request marriage records. They have marriages after 1851.
Online Records
- 1800 - 2007 - California, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1850 - 1945 - California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — index
- 1850 - 1952 - California, County Marriages, 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1854 - 1885 - Western States Marriage Index.
- 1960 - 1985 - California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — index and images
- Santa Clara County Marriage Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1966 - 1984 - California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — index
Death[edit | edit source]
The website for the Office of the Clerk-Recorder for Santa Clara County has information about how to request death records. They have deaths after 1873.
Online Records
- 1776 - 2000 - California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — index, some images
- 1800 - 1994 - California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1905 - 1939 - California Death Index, 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — index
- 1940 - 1997 - California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — index
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Gilroy Historical Society
PO Box 2190
Gilroy, CA 95021
Website
Los Altos Hills Historical Society
27200 Elena Road
Los Altos, CA 94022
Website
Morgan Hill Historical Society
PO Box 1258
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Website
Palo Alto Historical Association
PO Box 193
Palo Alto, CA 94302
Website
Saratoga Historical Foundation
PO Box 172
Saratoga, CA 95070
Website
Stanford Historical Society
PO Box 2328
Stanford, CA 94309-2328
Website
Santa Clara County Historical And Genealogical Society
2635 Homestead Road
Santa Clara 95051
Website
California Pioneers of Santa Clara County
PO Box 8208
San Jose, CA 95155
Facebook
Cupertino Historical Society and Museum
10185 N. Stelling Road
Cupertino, CA 95014
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Santa Clara County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Santa Clara County CAGenWeb
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Santa Clara County, California Genealogy Trails
- Santa Clara County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Santa Clara County, California. Page 84-88 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 81-83.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Santa Clara County, California. Page 87At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Santa Clara County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/sclara/#.WRDWYuUrKM8 05/08/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Santa Clara County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Clara_County,_California 05/08/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Santa Clara County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Clara_County,_California, accessed 23 September 2019.
