Hernando County, Florida Genealogy

United States

Florida

Hernando County

Guide to Hernando County, Florida ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Florida Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Brooksville Organized: February 24, 1843 Parent County(s): Alachua Neighboring Counties Citrus • Pasco • Sumter • See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

Hernando County was created 24 Feb 1843 and was named for the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. Its county seat is Brooksville. It is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Hernando County Courthouse
20 N Main Street
Brooksville FL 34601
Phone: 352-754-4201
Hernando County Website

Clerk County Court has marriage records.
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, probate, court and land records from 1877.

Hernando County, Florida 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.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1899	1900	1899	1877	1877	1877	1830
*Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1899. General compliance by 1920.

Record Loss

1877 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see: Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill at 24-7 Family History Circle. When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog. Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. List of counties in the United States with Record Loss

Boundary Changes

1843-- Hernando County was created 24 February 1843 from Alachua County. The name changed to Benton 6 March 1844 and was renamed Hernando 24 December 1850. County seat: Brooksville Florida Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county Florida Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Florida county boundary changes

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:

Cities
Brooksville Weeki Wachee
Unincorporated communities
Alderman Ayers Berkeley Camps Conrock Cooglers Beach Croom	Dixie Dutton Still Hill and Dale Kalon Norman Palm Grove Colony Powell	Rerdell Richloam Rital Talisman Terrell Willow Sink
Census-designated places
Bayport Brookridge Garden Grove High Point Istachatta Lake Lindsey	Masaryktown Nobleton Brooksville orth Weeki Wachee Pine Island Ridge Manor	South Brooksville Spring Hill Spring Lake Timber Pines Weeki Wachee Gardens Wiscon

Resources

Bible Records

• Hernando County, Florida Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Hernando, Florida online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	BillionGraves Find a Grave Interment.net RecordAGrave Index USGW Tombstone Transcription Project
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	WorldCat.org
List of Cemeteries in the County	BillionGraves FamilySearch Places Find a Grave
See Florida Cemeteries for more information

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	926	—
1860	1,200	29.6%
1870	2,938	144.8%
1880	4,248	44.6%
1890	2,476	−41.7%
1900	3,638	46.9%
1910	4,997	37.4%
1920	4,548	−9.0%
1930	4,948	8.8%
1940	5,641	14.0%
1950	6,693	18.6%
1960	11,205	67.4%
1970	17,004	51.8%
1980	44,469	161.5%
1990	101,115	127.4%
2000	130,802	29.4%
2010	172,778	32.1%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

For tips on accessing census records online, see: Florida Census.

• 1783 - Spanish Census USGenWeb
• 1821 - Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
• 1823 - Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
• 1880 - Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos USGenWeb
• 1885 Florida State Population Census includes sex, age, relationship, occupation, place of birth of each family member and parents. Also census for agriculture, manufacture and mortality. - How to Use this Collection
• 1935 1935 Florida State Census at MyHeritage - index ($))
• Federal Census Information from National Archives USGenWeb
• State Census Information from Florida State Archives USGenWeb
• Census of Pensioners Revolutionary Military Service USGenWeb

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 Florida denominations, view the Florida Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places

Directories

• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African American

• 1880 - Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos USGenWeb
• USGenWeb African American Griots Project

Funeral Homes

• Brewer and Sons Funeral, Cremation, and Cemetery Services in Spring Hill
• Cason Funeral and Cremation Service in Brooksville
• Downing Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Spring Hill
• Jacobs Funeral Home in Brooksville
• JT Campbell Funeral and Cremation Services in Brookville
• Merritt Funeral Home and Crematory in Brooksville and Spring Hill
• Pinecrest Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service in Spring Hill
• Turner Funeral Home in Spring Hill

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 Florida Land and Property for additional information about early Florida land grants. 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

• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Local Histories

Local histories are available for most counties. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Florida Local Histories.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• 1821-1997 Maps of Florida
• 1870 Gray's Atlas Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
• 1882 Rand McNally Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
• Exploring Florida, FCIT Maps University of South Florida
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

• Hernando County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
• Florida State Military Files USGenWeb
• Florida state pension records from various wars Pension Transcriptions USGenWeb
• 1812-1813 1812-1813 Residents of East Florida Patriots or Loyalists at Genealogy Trails - index

Civil War

• 1861-1865 Florida Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1861-1865 Florida Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
• 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
• 1883 Hernando County Pensioners on the Roll as of January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
• 1885-1955 Florida Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

World War I

• 1917-1918 Hernando County Civilian Draft Registration (Surnames A-K) (USGenWeb Archives)
• 1917-1918 Hernando County Civilian Draft Registration (Surnames L-Z) (USGenWeb Archives)
• 1917-1920 Florida, World War I Navy Card Roster, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

World War II

• 1940-1945 Florida, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• Hernando County Army Enlistees, Names Aiken - Rutherford (USGenWeb Archives)
• Hernando County Army Enlistees, Names Sadler - Zigler (USGenWeb Archives)
• Hernando County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)

Korean War

• Hernando County Korean War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
• Florida Casualties in the Korean Conflict distantcousin.com

Vietnam War

• Hernando County Vietnam War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
• Distantcousin.com Florida Casualties in the Vietnam War

Naturalization and Citizenship

• 1862-1960 Florida, United States Naturalization Records, 1862-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection, Inventory; index & images, coverage may vary

Newspapers

• 1800s-Current Florida, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
• Florida Digital Newspaper Library at George A. Smathers Libraries
• Early Florida Newspapers at the Florida State Library USGenWeb

Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1784-1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
• 1827-1950 Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950 at Ancestry ($)
• 1877-1932 Guardianship Records, 1877-1932(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1884-1926 Probate Court Minutes, 1884-1926(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1884-1936 Administration Records, 1884-1936(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1884-1936 Wills, 1884-1936(*); County Judge at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

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

Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Florida Taxation.

Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida State Archives, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.

Birth

• 1880-1935 Florida, Births and Christenings, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Marriage

• 1802-1998 Florida, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
• 1822-1875 and 1927 - 2001 Florida, Marriage Index, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1823-Onward Florida Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
• 1830-1957 Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1830-1993 Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1837-1974 Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1970 - 1999 Florida, Marriages, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))

Death

• 1877-1939 Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1877-1998 Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1900-1921 Florida, Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Divorce

• 1927-1950 Florida Divorce, 1927-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1927-2001 Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001 at Ancestry $
• 1970 - 1999 Florida, Divorces, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Voting Records

• 1867-1868 Web: Florida, U.S., Voter Registration Rolls, 1867-1868 at Ancestry - index ($)
• 1880-Onward Florida, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Hernando County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Florida 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

• Brooksville Florida FamilySearch Center

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Hernando County. For state-wide library facilities, see Florida Archives and Libraries.

Museums

Hernando Historical Museum Association
601 Museum Ct
PO Box 10572
Brooksville, FL 34603
Phone: 352-799-0129
Email: info@hernandohistoricalmuseumassoc.com
Website
Facebook

Societies

Listed below are societies in Hernando County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Florida Societies.

Genealogy Society of Hernando County
PO Box 1793
Brooksville 34605-1793
Phone: 352-515-5294
Email:gshcinfo@gmail.com
Website

Historic Hernando Preservation Society
PO Box 1925
Brooksville, FL 34605
Email: hernandopreservation@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Silverthorn Genealogy Club
4997 Championship Cup Lane
Brooksville, FL 34609

Websites

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

• FLGenWeb
• Hernando County, USGenWeb Archives
• Hernando County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• Hernando County, Florida Genealogy Trails
• Hernando County FL Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
• 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.