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Alabama County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950
CID1743384
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Alabama,
United States
Flag of Alabama
Flag of Alabama
Locator map of Alabama
Location of Alabama
Record Description
Record Type Marriages
Collection years 1809-1950
FamilySearch Resources
Content Resources
Related Websites
Archive
Various county probate courts


What is in This Collection?

The collection consists of an index & images of marriage records created by Alabama counties for the years 1809 to 1950. The records are arranged by county, volume and date. Currently this collection is partially indexed; additional records will be added as they are completed. Be aware that some images in this collection are restricted. The earliest marriage bonds and licenses were usually handwritten on loose papers that were later bound into lettered volumes. Some marriage records had multiple entries on each page, while others had single records per page. Marriages were recorded by the clerk of the district court for each county from the time the county was formed. Persons desiring to marry obtained a license that they presented to the minister or other person authorized to marry, such as a justice of the peace. Once the marriage was performed, the officiator sent a return to the clerk confirming that the marriage had occurred. Civil marriage records were created to legalize marital relationships and to protect the interests of the wife and other heirs to legal claims on property. The marriage date, place, residence of the bride and groom, and occupations are relatively reliable. Other information, such as age or birthplace, is dependent on the knowledge, memory, and accuracy of the informants, usually the bride and groom.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility

FamilySearch provides images and indexes subject to contractual limitations and changes. Access to images and indexes may vary. Some collections may only have partial indexes without images. See Restrictions for Viewing Images for details.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Early Marriage

  • Name of the groom
  • Name of the bride, often including the maiden name of the bride
  • Date of the marriage
  • Event place

Later Marriage

  • Names of the parents or guardians of the bride and groom
  • Birthplaces of the bride and groom
  • Residences of the bride and groom
  • Age and races of the bride and groom
  • Marital status of the bride and groom

 

Tip: Many marriages recorded in the South, are separated by race in volumes, books, or registers. Be sure to check to determine if you have the right set of marriage records.

Collection Content

Sample Images

  • 1870 Marriage record

    1870 Marriage record

  • 1877 Marriage License

    1877 Marriage License

Coverage Table

The coverage table shows the places and time periods covered in the indexed records in this collection. Most of the records in the collection are from the time periods listed in the table; however, the collection may have a few records from before or after the time period.

County Years Covered in Index
Baldwin 1810, 1812, 1814-1825, 1827-1836, 1841, 1845-1936, 1958
Barbour 1807-1809, 1816-1818, 1823-1826, 1828-1829, 1832-1834, 1836, 1838-1941, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1959, 1971, 1985, 1988, 1995
Bibb 1803, 1805, 1810, 1812-1945, 1950-1953, 1957, 1959-1960, 1963-1965, 1968, 1970-1973, 1977, 1979-1981, 1988, 1992-1995, 1997
Bullock 1835, 1857, 1860, 1867-1893, 1899, 1916, 1929-1959, 1968-1969, 1973, 1981-1982, 1987
Chilton 1822, 1831, 1869-1883, 1888, 1890-1938, 1942-1945, 1956-1957, 1997
Cleburne 1834, 1837, 1867-1893, 1898, 1926, 1936-1954, 1960
Crenshaw 1868-1890, 1931-1958
Cullman 1844-1845, 1918, 1928-1951, 1987
Dallas 1818-1826, 1829-1832, 1835-1895, 1902-1930, 1938, 1965
Jefferson 1829, 1836, 1848, 1921, 1927-1951, 1968
Madison 1818-1831, 1853-1885, 1890-1895, 1919-1951, 1957, 1980, 1985
Mobile 1802, 1806, 1809, 1812-1828, 1833-1834, 1840-1842, 1844, 1849, 1852-1856, 1858-1930, 1934, 1936-1943, 1946-1951, 1953-1957, 1964-1968, 1970, 1972, 1981
Morgan 1821-1952, 1962, 1987, 1991
Perry 1803, 1814-1815, 1818-1931, 1935, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1973-1974, 1987, 2010
Pike 1805, 1830-1859, 1885, 1888-1894, 1896-1910
St. Clair 1833-1835, 1898-1938, 1945, 1963, 1982

For additional coverage tables for this collection, see the wiki article Alabama County Marriages Coverage Table - FamilySearch Historical Records.

Digital Folder Number List

This collection was published as a DGS browse collection. A table listing each DGS number and its contents can be found at Alabama, County Marriages Digital Folder Number List.

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching the collection, it is helpful to know:

  • The name of the individual
  • The date of the event or the name of a parent or spouse

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

To view images in this collection:
  1. Look at the Alabama, County Marriages Digital Folder Number List article to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
  2. Go to the Browse Page
  3. Select the Film number to view the images
Tip: More images are available in the FamilySearch Catalog at Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950. Some catalog records link to multiple references. In this case, click on a reference to find a camera icon to see images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Add any new information to your records
  • If available, check the image for additional information
  • Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
  • Search for the family in county records where they married

I Can’t Find the Person Who I’m Looking For, What Now?

  • Try searching by surname only
  • The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
  • Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in Alabama.

Other FamilySearch Collections

These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

FamilySearch Historical Records

FamilySearch Digital Library

  • Alabama Historical Records Survey Project, Service Division Work Projects Administration, Guide to public vital statistics in Alabama Birmingham, Alabama : Alabama Historical Records Survey Project, 1942 FamilySearch Digital Library

Known Issues

Click here for a list of known issues with this collection.

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.
Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.
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