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Michigan, County Births - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Michigan,
United States
Flag of Michigan
Flag of Michigan
Locator map of Michigan
Location of Michigan
Record Description
Record Type Births
Collection years 1867-1917
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites
Archive
Multiple county courts, Michigan


What is in This Collection?

The collection consists of images of county birth records from 53 of the 83 county courthouses in Michigan. Some of the records are "delayed births" which were recorded years after the actual birth. The time period varies by county, but generally covers the years 1867 to 1917.

Clerks of each County Court recorded births that were reported by parents, doctors and midwives beginning in 1867. This information was then sent to the secretary of the state. From 1867 to 1879, about 15% to 20% of the births were recorded; from 1880-1902, coverage increased to about 60% to 70%. The state required counties to begin recording births to document the occurrence of a birth and to track public health issues.

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.

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

  • Name of the child
  • Gender
  • Names of the parents
  • Birth date
  • Birthplace
  • Race

Collection Content

Sample Image

  • 1890 Birth Record

    1890 Birth Record

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • The name of your ancestor
  • The county your ancestor resided in
  • The names of family members and their approximate ages

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

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:
  1. Select County
  2. Select Record Type, Date Range and Volume to view the 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.

What Do I Do Next?

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

  • Add any new information to your records
  • Use the age or estimated birth date to find other church and vital records such as baptism, marriage, and death records
  • Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records
  • Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in censuses. Witnesses were usually family members
  • Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family
  • Church Records were kept years before counties began keeping records. They are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

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

  • If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
  • If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
  • Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
  • Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Michigan.

Other FamilySearch Collections

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

FamilySearch Catalog

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.
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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