Copiah County, Mississippi Genealogy
Guide to Copiah County, Mississippi ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
This county was named for a Choctaw Indian word meaning calling panther. Copiah County is located in the southwest area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Copiah County Courthouse
PO Box 507
Hazlehurst, MS 39083
Phone: 601-894-3021
Copiah County Website
Clerk Chancery Court has divorce records from 1840, probate and land records from 1825 and confederate veterans records.
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records from 1825 and court records.[3]
Copiah County, Mississippi Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1 Nov 1912 | 1825 | 1 Nov 1912 | 1825 | 1823 | 1825 | 1810 |
Record Loss
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
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 | ||
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| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Various Mississippi Bible Records at The Alford American Family Association
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 7,001 | — |
| 1840 | 8,954 | 27.9% |
| 1850 | 11,794 | 31.7% |
| 1860 | 15,398 | 30.6% |
| 1870 | 20,608 | 33.8% |
| 1880 | 27,552 | 33.7% |
| 1890 | 30,233 | 9.7% |
| 1900 | 34,395 | 13.8% |
| 1910 | 35,914 | 4.4% |
| 1920 | 28,672 | −20.2% |
| 1930 | 31,614 | 10.3% |
| 1940 | 33,974 | 7.5% |
| 1950 | 30,493 | −10.2% |
| 1960 | 27,051 | −11.3% |
| 1970 | 24,749 | −8.5% |
| 1980 | 26,503 | 7.1% |
| 1990 | 27,592 | 4.1% |
| 2000 | 28,757 | 4.2% |
| 2010 | 29,449 | 2.4% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Copiah County census records online, see: Mississippi Census.
Federal Census
- 1660-1820 U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 at Ancestry $
- 1850 United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
- 1850 United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1860 United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
State Census
- 1792-1866 Mississippi, State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866 at Ancestry $
- 1805-1890 Mississippi, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1805-1890 at Ancestry $
- 1841 State Census Returns 1841 - Copiah County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
- 1845 State Census Returns 1845 - Copiah County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
- 1853 State Census Returns 1853 - Copiah County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
- 1880 State Census Return 1880 - Copiah County Collection at FamilySearch - images only - NOTE Male and Females over 21 (separated listing)
Church Records
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 Mississippi denominations, view the Mississippi Church Records wiki page.
- 1910-1919 Mississippi, Church Records, 1910-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
- 1825-1889 Court Minutes, 1834-1889; Index to Minutes, 1825-1848(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1826-1903 Probate and Final Records, 1826-1903(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1854-1869 Court Docket, 1854-1858; 1866-1869(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1856-1922 Court Minutes, 1856-1922, Docket 1856-1881, Index 1900-1916(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1857-1922 Final Records, 1857-1922(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1882-1926 Divorce Records, 1882-1926(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
- 1863-1866 Mississippi, Freedmen's Department (Pre-Bureau Records), 1863-1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1865-1872 Mississippi, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- The Freedmen's Bureau Marriage Records at Mississippi Department of Archives and History - index and transcription
A researcher has compiled 4 lists of the slave owners and slaves as enumerated in the 1850 and 1860 Federal Censuses for Copiah County[7]
- 1850 Copiah Co., Mississippi – Slave Owners Alphabetical
- 1850 Copiah Co., Mississippi – Slave Owners Enumeration Order
- 1860 Copiah Co., Mississippi – Slave Owners Alphabetical
- 1860 Copiah Co., Mississippi – Slave Owners Enumeration Order
A register of former slaves showing their former slave owners can be found at Mississippi Freedmen's Bureau Office Records, 1865-1872.
The register was created by the Freedmen’s Bureau and contains entries for approximately 2000 slaves living in Copiah County. It is undated, but based on the ages of the former slaves, the register was created between 1865 to 1866. The register contains the following information for most of the entries:
- Former slave’s current name
- Former slave’s gender
- Former slave’s age
- Former slave’s color
- Former slave’s occupation
- Former slave’s current residence
- Former owner’s name
- Former residence. This can be a place name or a plantation name.
The entries are grouped by the former owner’s name. The former owners are not arranged in alphabetical order in the register. The register has not been indexed and must browsed.
Funeral Homes
- Hazlehurst Funeral Home in Hazlehurst.
- House of Peoples Funeral Home in Hazlehurst.
- Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home in Hazlehurst.
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
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 Mississippi Land and Property for additional information about early Mississippi land ownership. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Copiah County, Mississippi deed records, (1823-1900; index, 1825-1988), 1823-1988 Index
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Copiah County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Mississippi Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Maps of Mississippi (1785-1918)
- Family Maps of Copiah County, Mississippi Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
Migration
Military Records
Multiple Wars
- 1775-1951 Military grave registrations - Copiah County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
- 1836-1844 Register of Military Commissions - Copiah County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
- 1860-1861 Register of Military Commissions - Copiah County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
Mexican-American War
- 1846-1848 United States Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848 How to Use this Collection; at FamilySearch — index & images
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Mississippi, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images at partner site
- 1861-1865 Mississippi, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images at partner site
- 1861-1865 Roster of Confederate soldiers and sailors, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - images only
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry index free
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry index free
- 1889-1942 Mississippi, Confederate Records, 1889-1942 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1900-1974 Mississippi, Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1900-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1936-1939 Civil war records a Memorial list of those that served in the Civil War - Copiah County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
Regiments. Men in Copiah County 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 Copiah County:
- - 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
- Company K - McWillie Blues
- - 4th Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry
- Company A - Terrall [Terrell] Dragoons
- Company B - Copiah Horse Guards
- Company E - Ramsey’s Company
- - 6th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
- Company F - Crystal Springs Guards
- Company G - Rockport Steel Blades
- - 10th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry (Old)
- Company H - Bahala Rifles
- - 10th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry (Old)
- Company I - Bahala Rifles
- - 12th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
- Company A - Charlie Clark Rifles [also listed as Co. H]
- Company D - Pettus Relief, aka Pettus Rifles
World War I and II
- 1917-1919 Mississippi, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1917-1918 Mississippi, World War I Army Veterans, Master alphabetical index, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1918-1943 Honorable discharge records (Copiah County, Mississippi) 1918-1943 at FamilySearch Library only
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Mississippi, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
State Archives
- 1820-1951 Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images - incomplete - Topics covered: Ex Slave Narratives, list of military veterans, Military grave registrations, Naturalizations and some Land records.
VOTER List
- 1871-1967 Mississippi, Voter Registration, 1871-1967 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1876-1923 Mississippi, Copiah County, voter registration, 1876-1923
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records are held by the Copiah County, Mississippi Genealogy Clerk of Court and are housed at the Copiah County, Mississippi Genealogy Courthouse. Microfilmed records can be found online at Mississippi Probate Records, 1781-1930. See the wiki page Mississippi Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
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.
Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, and adoptions.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1780-1982 Mississippi Wills and Probate Records 1780-1982 at Ancestry ($)
- 1781-1930 Mississippi Probate Records 1781-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1823-1875 Probate Records (Loose Papers), 1823-1875(*); Chancery Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1825-1889 Court Minutes, 1834-1889; Index to Minutes, 1825-1848(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1826-1903 Probate and Final Records, 1826-1903(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1832-1921 Wills, 1832-1921(*); Probate and Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1844-1924 Probate Records, 1844-1924(*); Chancery Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1854-1869 Court Docket, 1854-1858; 1866-1869(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1850-1892; 1908-1957 Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1878 Enumeration of Educable Children at FamilySearch (other years also available). Listing of locations and approximate image start number available here. Images also available online from the Mississippi Archives.
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Mississippi tax records replace missing censuses and provide lists of residents during years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years. For more information, see Mississippi Taxation.
- 1823-1899 County Tax rolls (1823-1899) - Copiah County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. Mississippi law did not require keeping birth or death records until 1912. Births and deaths are kept by the Mississippi Bureau of Vital Statistics. Marriage records are kept by the county. See also How to order Mississippi Vital Records or order electronically online.
See Mississippi Vital Records for more information on getting Mississippi records.
Birth
Marriage
- 1776-1935 Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 at Ancestry $
- 1800-1825 Mississippi Marriages to 1825 at Ancestry $
- 1800-1911 Mississippi, Marriages, 1800-1911 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1823-1921 Copiah County Marriage Books A-K and 1-25 Index 1823-1921 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
- 1826-1850 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-50 at Ancestry $
- 1826-1900 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-1900 at Ancestry $
- 1858-1979 Mississippi, County Marriages, 1858-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images for various counties
Death
- 1822-1921 Mississippi Deaths and Burials, 1822-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
- 1912-1943 Mississippi, Death Certificate Index, 1912-1943 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1912-1943 Reclaim the Records: Mississippi Death Index at Internet Archive - images of index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Copiah County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Mississippi Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch 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 FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Jackson Mississippi FamilySearch Center
- Red Star Mississippi FamilySearch Center
- MaGee Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Copiah County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Mississippi Societies.
Copiah County Historical and Genealogical Society
PO Box 111
Crystal Springs, MS 39059
Email: cchgsinfo@gmail.com
Facebook
Websites
- Copiah County, Mississippi Genealogy & History Network
- Mississippi Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- USGenWeb Copiah County, Mississippi project. Has maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
- Copiah County, Mississippi County website
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mississippi.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Copiah, Mississippi," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copiah_County,_Mississippi."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mississippi.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Copiah County, Mississippi . Page 378-384 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 379-381.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mississippi.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Copiah County, Mississippi," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copiah_County,_Mississippi, Last accessed 15 September 2019.
- ↑ From LisaAndRoger.com website http://lisaandroger.com/2009/06/giving-a-little-back/