BillionGraves Index - FamilySearch Historical Records
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| This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org. | |
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| Record Description | |
| Record Type: | Cemetery |
| Collection years: | 1500s-Present |
| FamilySearch Resources | |
| Archive | |
| BillionGraves | |
What is in This Collection?
This collection is a name index of records posted on billiongraves.com. BillionGraves is a database of records and images from the world's cemeteries, all tagged with GPS locations. Volunteers around the world capture images of headstones in a cemetery and upload them to the site. As BillionGraves users are gathering and uploading new headstone images and transcriptions daily, content on their site may be more complete than what is available in this collection.
Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.
Index and Image Visibility
Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images. For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.
Collection Content
The following information may be found in these records:
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- Name of cemetery
- Date of burial
- Relationships (Father, mother, husband, wife, etc.)
- Other family members
- Epitaphs
- Military service, unit, and rank information
- Religious symbols that may indicate the deceased's religious affiliation
How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
- The name of the deceased
- The approximate date of death
- The location of the burial
Search the Index
Search by name on the Collection Details Page.- Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
- Click Search to show possible matches
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On the BillionGraves website itself, when viewing the image, you can rotate and zoom in or out as needed, just use the controls at the top of the actual image. Some headstones were photographed sideways due to conditions at the time the photo was taken which makes the rotation feature a very useful tool. Some inscriptions, particularly some epitaphs, may appear too small to read, zooming in will be useful for those situations |
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
- When you have located the grave for someone, consider ordering their death certificate
- Use the information found on the grave stone to access other valuable records, such as census, land, and probate
- Look for other family members, or people with the same surname who may be buried nearby your individual
I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?
- Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
- For women you know have married or were married at some point in their lives, look for the name with the husband's surname on it. Some also will not have the maiden name although a few do. Often it is not possible to put all names on a headstone due to the size of the headstone, so this helps when trying to locate a female name. Girls under at least 15 but usually 18 to 22 will almost invariably have only the maiden surname
- Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor
Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.
FamilySearch Catalog
- Nancy Ellen Carlberg, Cemetery research Anaheim, California : Carlberg Press, c2000 FS Library 973 D27ccr
- Elsa Hochwald. Handbook for recording inscriptions in cemeteries St. John's, Newfoundland : Newfoundland and Labrador Genealogical Society, c1994 FS Library 971.8 V37h
- Jeremy Jones ; edited by Philip Rahtz. How to record graveyards 2nd ed. London, England : Council for British Archaeology : Rescue, 1979 FS Library 942 A1 no. 577
- Harold Mytum. Recording and analyzing graveyards Walmgate, England : Council for British Archaeology, c2000 FS Library, 942 V3mh
- Sharon DeBartolo Carmack. Your guide to cemetery research Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, c2002 FS Library 973 V37c
FamilySearch Historical Records
FamilySearch Digital Library
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. |