Orange County, California Genealogy
Guide to Orange County, California ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Orange County was created 4 Jun 1889[1] and was named for the orange, so the county would sound like a semi-tropical, Mediterranean region to people from the east coast. Its county seat is Anaheim. It is located in the southwestern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Orange County Courthouse
700 W Civic Center Dr.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: 657-622-5800
Orange County Website
County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land records.
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1964.
Orange County, California 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 |
| 1887 | 1889 | 1889 | 1889 | 1889 | 1889 | 1850 |
Record Loss
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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:[5]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
- Orange is the third largest county by population, preceeded by (1)Los Angeles and (2)San Diego Counties, according to the California State Association of Counties
- European Discovery and Mission Period
Gaspar de Portola and a party of sixty-two men first entered what is now Orange County on July 22, 1769.[6] Orange County’s only mission, San Juan Capistrano, was founded in 1776. During the Mission Period the area was under the military jurisdiction of the presidio at San Diego and under the rule of Spain. The Mission Period ended following the Secularization Act of 1833 and, while most of the mission communities disintegrated rapidly, the village of San Juan Capistrano survived. [7]
See the wiki article California Land and Property for help with locating records from this period.
- Rancho Days
The only Spanish grant in what is now Orange County was Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. This grant to Antonio Yorba and Pablo Peralta was a very large grant made in 1810 covering the areas to the east and south of the Santa Ana River.[8] Spain’s authority ended in1821 and grants made after this were by the Mexican government. For a detailed description of the method of land granting by the Mexicans see “Land Grant Policies an the Ranchos” by William McPherson[9] The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in January 1848 ended the war with Mexico and the United States acquired California along with much other territory. The United States agreed to honor the many existing Mexican land grants but many had unclear title. The Americans wanted land and some of it was purchased and some taken. [10]
See the wiki article California Land and Property for help with locating records from this period.
- Formation of Orange County
When California became a state in 1850, the area of what is now Orange County became part of Los Angeles County. As the area grew, dissatisfaction with the distance from the governing seat of Los Angeles grew as did interest in separating from Los Angeles County. In 1889, at the time of creation of the county, there were only three incorporated cities, Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Orange.[11]Oranges were not common in this county at the time that the suggestion of Orange County was made in 1871. “…to encourage immigration, the area was boomed by real estate promoters as a semi-tropical paradise—a place where anything could grow… The name orange has a Mediterranean flavor about it, so for that reason it was selected to suggest our climate…By 1889, after a devastating blight wiped out the grape industry, oranges had indeed become our most promising crop, even if they were not responsible per se for the county’s naming” [12]
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Orange County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Orange County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
For online censuses (state and federal) and for more information, see California Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1890 | 13,589 | — |
| 1900 | 19,696 | 44.9% |
| 1910 | 34,436 | 74.8% |
| 1920 | 61,375 | 78.2% |
| 1930 | 118,674 | 93.4% |
| 1940 | 130,760 | 10.2% |
| 1950 | 216,224 | 65.4% |
| 1960 | 703,925 | 225.6% |
| 1970 | 1,420,386 | 101.8% |
| 1980 | 1,932,709 | 36.1% |
| 1990 | 2,410,556 | 24.7% |
| 2000 | 2,846,289 | 18.1% |
| 2010 | 3,010,232 | 5.8% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
The first census in which you will find Orange County is the 1900 US Population Schedule. Orange County census records include 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940.
Cities and unincorporated areas in present-day Orange County are included with the County of Los Angeles for the US Population Schedules 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880.
Industry and Agriculture Schedules exist for Los Angeles County including the areas of Orange County for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.
Mortality Schedules also exist for Los Angeles County including the areas of Orange County for the years 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880.
- 1852 California State Census, 1852 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Church Records
Church records vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. Usually listed on the town level, they may contain ages, dates (baptism, christening, birth, marriage, death), maiden names, and more. See also California Church Records.
- 1864-1985 California, Church Records, 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Roman Catholic
The first Catholic missions were organized in 1769. Most of the mission records begin in 1770 and are on film. The FamilySearch Library and the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley have extensive collections of the early records. For the index to these records, see:
Temple, Thomas W. An Alphabetical Listing of the California Mission Vital Records. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1985. FS Library Collection 1307621 item 4; fiche 6047009
The following sources may help you find Catholic mission records:
Weber, Francis J. A Select Guide to California Catholic History. Los Angeles, California: Westernlore Press, 1966. FS Library Collection 979.4 K21c
Bowman, J.N. "The Parochial Books of the California Missions, 1961," The Quarterly (Historical Society of Southern California)], Vol. 43, No. 3. FS Library Collection 979.4 B2s
Barton, Noel R. "Genealogical Research in the Records of the California Missions," Genealogical Journal, Vol. 4, No. 1. FS Library Collection 973 D25gj v. 3-4 (1974-1975)
Many original mission records and other Catholic records have been gathered into central repositories. These include:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens website features the Early California Population Project (ECPP) which provides public access to all the information contained in California's historic mission registers. Records include baptism, marriage and burial records for each of the California missions including the San Juan Capitstrano Mission in Orange County. Records include information on Indians, soldiers, and settlers of Alta California from 1769-1850.
The Diocese of Orange
2811 East Villa Real Drive
Orange, CA 92867-1999
Phone: (714) 282-3000
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 14195
Orange, CA 92863-1595
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
Court History and Records
Orange County Clerk-Recorder, 630 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
Phone: 714-834-2500
Holdings include birth, death and marriage certificates
(1889-current) and property records (1954-current).
See also: Orange County Archives
The main criminal courthouse is at 700 Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, California. There are three branch courts but even more locations. North Court is in Fullerton. West Court is in Westminster. Harbor Court has locations in Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel and Laguna Hills. The Lamoreaux Justice Center is in Orange.
The Courthouse (Superior court) is not a recommended source for Genealogical Data.
The County Recorder is where most vital record and land records are housed, but most of the vital records are now protected by California law, and the Recorder would be of little help except to immediate relatives.
Orange County Clerk-Recorder, 630 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
(714) 834-2500
For records prior to 1960:
Orange County Archives
Old Orange County Courthouse Room 101
211 W. Santa Ana Blvd.
Santa Ana, California, 92701
714-834-2536
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
- 1889-1944 Naturalization records, 1889-1944 Orange County (California). County Clerk, at FamilySearch.org
- 1915-1976 California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index, 1915-1976 at FamilySearch.org
Also see information in theCalifornia Emigration and Immigration wiki article.
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records provide exact location of land, often reveal family relationships, and give names of witnesses and neighbors. They include deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents. See California Land and Property for online resources, including early land grants.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1889-1926 Deed Records, 1889-1920; Index to Deeds, 1889-1926(*); Orange County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1889-1926 Declarations of Homesteads in Orange County, 1889-1926(*); Orange County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog - images
- 1889-1926 Orange County, California, Declarations of Homesteads, 1889-1926; Index, 1890-1926 Orange County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog - images
- Index to Orange County Federal Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Orange County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.
The greatest repositories of Local Histories are at the Orange County California FamilySearch Center, 674 South Yorba, Orange, California, and the collection of the Orange County Genealogical Society, located at the Huntington Beach Public Library, 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach, California. Also noted is the Orange Public Library and History Center, 407 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, California
Phone: 714- 288-2400
- The History of Orange County California with Biographical Sketches; Samuel Armour, supervising Editor; Historic Record Company,Los Angeles, CA, 1911 (FS Library US/CAN Film 1000115 Item 1)
- History of Orange County California; Mrs. J.E. Pleasants; J.R. Finnell & Sons Publishing Co, Los Angeles, CA; 1931 (FS Library US/CAN Fiche 6209824 )
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- Maps of Orange County
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Military Records
Civil War
- Civil War Veterans buried in Orange County is a project compiled by the Orange County California Genealogical Society.
- Civil War Roundtable of Orange County California is a local organization interested in the study of the Civil War and preservation of its battlefields and historic sites with a particular interest in Orange County, California.
- The site Santa Ana History includes additional information about Civil War Veterans Graves of Orange County, California.
- Sedgwick Post No. 17, G. A. R. 1886 - Orange County Civil War Veterans. (USGenWeb Archives)
World War I
- 1914-1918 California, Geographical and Name Index of Californians who served in WWI, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
World War II
- Index to Orange County World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
Vietnam War
- Index to Viet Nam Veterans Memorial (CAGenWeb Project)
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1831-1985 California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
The county is served by:
- Orange County Register
- Orange County edition of the Los Angeles Times. The Orange County California FamilySearch Center has a collection of Microfilmed L.A. Times archives (incomplete) and there are additional collections at the University of California, Irvine; California State University, Fullerton
- Mission Viejo city library.
There are many community based newspapers as well some of which are available at Chronicling America. Orange County area newspapers are also available at Chronicling America for the years prior to 1900 under Los Angeles.
Saddleback News index to microfilm – Birth, marriages and deaths in south Orange County from 1969 – 1989: http://soccgs.org/saddleback-valley-news-vital-record-indexes-1969-1989/. Indexed by the South Orange County Genealogy Society (2013 - 2014).The images of the Saddleback News newspaper (no longer being published) are available on microfilm at the Mission Viejo, CA city library.
An excellent archive of newspapers is available at the Orange County Archives.
Newspaper holdings at the Orange County Archives
include,...
Fullerton newspapers (1909-1925)
Huntington Beach News (1908-1956)
Laguna Life (1936-1938)
Laguna Beach (News) Post (1949-1988)
Santa Ana Journal (1935-1938)
Santa Ana Register (1925-1929, 1936-1939)
South Coast News (1930-1967)
Laguna Hills Leisure World News (1965-1987)
Other South Orange County newspapers (1965-1988)
Obituaries
- 1969-1989 Saddleback Valley News Vital Record Indexes 1969-1989 – Birth, marriages and deaths in south Orange County from 1969 – 1989]. Indexed by the South Orange County Genealogy Society (2013 - 2014). Images of the Saddleback News are available on microfilm at the Mission Viejo, CA Library.
- Orange County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Orange County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
Other Records
Voting Records
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1890: The California 1890 Great Register of Voters Index, compiled by the California State Genealogical Alliance, is available at the Orange County Californai FamilySearch Center
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index($)
- 1892-1896 Orange County Great Register of Voters - Transcription in progress. (Genealogy Trails)
Also available on fiche at the same location are:
- 1993 Orange County Voters Index
- 1996 Orange County Voters Index
- 1981-1982 Ownership Index
- 1989-1990 Address Register
- 1991-1992 California Property Owners
Available at Ancestry ($)
California Voter Registrations, 1900-1968
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. They may give the decedent's date of death, names and residences of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, and others. For online records and more information, see California Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
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*1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
California tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see California Taxation.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. The state has records since July 1905, although county records may start earlier. See California Vital Records for more information.
Due to identity theft, California Law now restricts vital records access to immediate family. The Orange Regional FamilySearch Center has access to state-wide databases of Births, Deaths, Marriages and voter registrations. These were compiled before the change in California law, and are not complete. Birth is available to 1986 Death to 1993 Voter registration to 1993 There are also marriage records available at The Western States Marriages at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
- Orange County RootsWeb Vital Records; Orange County RootsWeb Vital Records (Rootsweb)
- Ancestry.com $ has the following collections of vital records that include Orange County.
- California Birth Index, 1905-1995
- California Marriage Index, 1960-1985
- California Death Index, 1940-1997
- Marriages, Births, and Deaths from the Santa Ana Register (CAGenWeb Project)
Birth
- 1800-1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1812-1988 California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1905-1995 California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($) Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1905 Orange County, California Genealogy Trails Births for the year 1905
Marriage
- 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1850-1945 California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1850-1952 California, County Marriages, 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1925 Orange County Marriage Licenses, July 1925 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1960-1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
Death
- 1776-2000 California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1800-1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1905-1939 California Death Index, 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1940-1997 California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
Divorce
- 1966-1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Orange County. For state-wide facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
For records prior to 1960:
- Orange County Archives
Old Orange County Courthouse Room 101
211 W. Santa Ana Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA, 92701
Phone: 714-834-2536
Website - Orange County Historical Commission
13042 Old Myford Road
Irvine, CA 92602
Phone: 714-973-6606
Email: OCHC@occr.ocgov.com
Website - Native American Institute
1015 N Lemon Street
Fullerton, CA 92832 - Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research (SHHAR)
Website
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
- Anaheim California FamilySearch Center
- Garden Grove California FamilySearch Center
- Huntington Beach California FamilySearch Center
- Huntington Beach California North FamilySearch Center
- Irvine California FamilySearch Center
- Long Beach California FamilySearch Center
- Orange County California FamilySearch Center
- Orange Coast College California FamilySearch Center
- Huntington Beach Public Library - an affiliate library
- South Orange County California Genealogical Society Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Orange County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.
Huntington Beach Library
7111 Talbert Ave
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Phone: 714-842-4481, ext. 2227
Website
The library’s collection of over 18,000 genealogical books is housed at the Central Library and is for onsite reference use only. The collection is maintained by the Orange County California Genealogical Society (OCCGS).
Anaheim Heritage Center
241 S. Anaheim Blvd, #3821
Anaheim, CA 92805
Phone: 714-765-6453
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Orange County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.
Genealogical Society of North Orange County, California (GSNOCC)
P.O. Box 706
Yorba Linda, CA 92885-0706
Email: gsnocc@gmail.com
Website
Orange County California Genealogical Society
c/o Huntington Beach Central Library
7111 Talbert Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Phone: 714-536-5549
Website
Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 7141
Newport Beach, CA 92658
Phone: 949-423-3746
Email: info@ocjgs.org
Website
South Orange County California Genealogical Society (SOCCGS)
PO Box 4513
Mission Viejo, CA 92690-4513
Email: info@soccgs.org
Website
The Anaheim Historical Society
Website
Websites
- Orange County CAGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- Linkpendium
- Online Archive of California
- Orange County, California Genealogy Trails
- Orange County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- Orange County Research (California State Genealogical Alliance)
- 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
- Orange Research Guide at California State Library
References
- ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Orange County, California" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiOrange_County,_California 05/04/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Orange County, California. Page 84-88 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), 81-83.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Orange County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County,_California#Communities, accessed 19 September 2019.
- ↑ Cramer, Esther R. A Hundred Years of Yesterdays: A Centennial History of the People of Orange County and Their Communities. (Santa Ana: Orange County Centennial, Inc.,1988), 19
- ↑ Cramer, A Hundred Years of Yesterdays, 21-23
- ↑ Cramer, A Hundred Years of Yesterdays, 25.
- ↑ Cramer, A Hundred Years of Yesterdays, 24-30
- ↑ Cramer, A Hundred Years of Yesterdays, 28-30
- ↑ Cramer, A Hundred Years of Yesterdays, 36-37.
- ↑ Cramer, A Hundred Years of Yesterdays, 39.