Santa Clara County, California Genealogy

United States

California

Santa Clara County

Guide to Santa Clara County, California ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

California Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: San Jose Organized: February 18, 1850 Parent County(s): Original Neighboring Counties Alameda • Merced • Monterey • San Benito • San Joaquin • San Mateo • Santa Cruz • Stanislaus See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

Santa Clara County was created 18 Feb 1850 and was named for the Mission Santa Clara de Asís, St. Clare of Assisi. Its county seat is San Jose. It is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Santa Clara County Courthouse
191 N First St.
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: 408-882-2100
Santa Clara County Website

County Recorder has birth and death records from 1873.
Recorder has birth and death records from 1873, marriage records from 1850, land records from 1846 and military records from 1920.
County Clerk has divorce, probate and naturalization records.

Santa Clara 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.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1873	1850	1873	1850	1846	1850	1850
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1905. General compliance by 1920.

Record Loss

May 18, 1931: A fire quickly spread through the courthouse, causing extensive damage. 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

Parent County(s): Created as an original county, on 18 Feb 1850. County Seat: San Jose California Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county California Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating California 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
Campbell Cupertino Gilroy Los Altos Los Altos Hills	Los Gatos Milpitas Monte Sereno Morgan Hill Mountain View	Palo Alto San Jose Santa Clara Saratoga Sunnyvale
Unincorporated communities
Bell Station Casa Loma Chemeketa Park Coyote	East San Jose Llagas Uvas Madrone, Morgan Hill Redwood Estates	Rucker San Antonio Valley Sveadal
Census-designated places
Alum Rock Burbank Cambrian Park	East Foothills Fruitdale Lexington Hills	Loyola San Martin Stanford
Historic communities
Almaden Township: Present-day Almaden Valley, Cambrian Park and portions of Campbell and Los Gatos Alviso Township: Present-day Alviso Burnett Township: Present-day Coyote, Santa Teresa and Morgan Hill	Fremont Township: Present-day Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and part of Cupertino Gilroy Township: Present-day Gilroy and San Martin Milpitas Township: Present-day Milpitas	Redwood Township: Present-day Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Redwood Estates and portions of Cupertino and Campbell San Jose Township: Most of present-day San Jose Santa Clara Township: Present-day Santa Clara and portions of San Jose, Cupertino and Campbell

Resources

Biographies

• Index to Santa Clara County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
• Index to Santa Clara County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
• Index to Santa Clara County Published Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)

Cemeteries

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

• 1838-1985 California, Santa Clara County, San Jose, Oak Hill Cemetery Headstone Inscriptions, 1838-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Census Records

For online censuses (state and federal) and for more information, see California Census.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	11,912	—
1870	26,246	120.3%
1880	35,039	33.5%
1890	48,005	37.0%
1900	60,216	25.4%
1910	83,539	38.7%
1920	100,676	20.5%
1930	145,118	44.1%
1940	174,949	20.6%
1950	290,547	66.1%
1960	642,315	121.1%
1970	1,064,714	65.8%
1980	1,295,071	21.6%
1990	1,497,577	15.6%
2000	1,682,585	12.4%
2010	1,781,642	5.9%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

• 1870 Index to Santa Clara County Census Records by Township (USGenWeb Archives)

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

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Gilroy, Los Gatos, Naglee (San Jose), Palo Alto, San Jose and Willow Glen (San Jose).

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Directories

• 1936 San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, City Directory, 1936 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
  
• 1937 San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, City Directory, 1937 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
  
• 1938 San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, City Directory, 1938 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
  
• 1940 San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, City Directory, 1940 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
  
• 1957 San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, City Directory, 1957 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
  
• 1960 San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, City Directory, 1960 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
  
• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
  

Funeral Homes

Alameda Family Funeral & Cremation, Inc. in Saratoga Alpha Omega Cremation Inc. in Campbell Bay Area Mortuary Services, Funeral Home & Community Chapel in San Jose Beddingfield Funeral Service in San Jose California Cremation Society in San Jose Casa Funeral San Jose in San Jose Chapel of Flowers Funeral Home in San Jose Darling & Fischer Campbell Memorial Chapel in Campbell Darling & Fischer Chapel of the Hills in Los Gatos Darling & Fischer Garden Chapel in San Jose Habing Family Funeral Home in Los Gatos Honor Cremations in San Jose Lima & Campagna Mortuaries in San Jose Lima & Campagna Mortuaries in Sunnyvale Lima Family Erickson Memorial Chapel in San Jose Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary in Santa Clara Martinez Family Funeral Home in San Jose Neptune Society of Central California in San Jose Sacred Space Funeral and Cremation Services in San Jose Saratoga-Cupertino Funeral Cremation Service Inc. in Saratoga San Jose Funeral Service in San Jose Santa Clara Funeral & Cremation Service in San Jose Spangler Mortuaries in Sunnyvale Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park in San Jose Willow Glen Funeral Home in San Jose

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

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

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Santa Clara County. Histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see California Local Histories.

• Index to Santa Clara County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of California (1850-1925)
• 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

• 1883 Santa Clara County, California - List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
• 1884, 1886 Civil War Veterans Rosters, G.A.R. Post Records (USGenWeb Archives)
• Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers Buried in San Jose, California (Genealogy Trails)

Regiments. Civil War service men in Santa Clara County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this county:

- 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company A

- 1st Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company D

- 1st Regiment, California Cavalry (Union), New Company E

- 8th Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company C

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 of World War II Army Enlistees, Santa Clara County, California (USGenWeb Archives)

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1831-1985 California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1852-1989 California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Newspapers

• 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
• California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
• California, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Obituaries

• Index to Santa Clara County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
• Index to Santa Clara County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

Other Records

Voting Records

• 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
• 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index ($)

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

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. The Office of the Clerk-Recorder has birth records after 1873, marriage records after 1851, and death records after 1873.

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($)

Marriage

• 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
• 1850-1945 California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1850-1952 California, County Marriages, 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
• 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
• Santa Clara County Marriage Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)

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 Santa Clara County. For state-wide facilities, see California 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

• Menlo Park California FamilySearch Center
• San Jose California FamilySearch Center
• Santa Clara California FamilySearch Center
• California Genealogical Society Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Santa Clara County. For state-wide library facilities, see California Archives and Libraries.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Santa Clara County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see California Societies.

California Pioneers of Santa Clara County
P.O. Box 8208
San Jose, CA 95155
Website
Facebook

Cupertino Historical Society and Museum
10185 N. Stelling Road
Cupertino, CA 95014
Website
Facebook

Gilroy Historical Society
P.O. Box 1621
Gilroy, CA 95020
Email: gilroy.museum@ci.gilroy.ca.us
Contact Us
Website
Facebook

Los Altos Hills Historical Society
27200 Elena Road
Los Altos, CA 94022
Website

Morgan Hill Historical Society
P.O. Box 1258
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Contact Form
Website
Facebook

Palo Alto Historical Association
P.O. Box 193
Palo Alto, CA 94302
Website

Saratoga Historical Foundation
P.O. Box 172
Saratoga, CA 95070
20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road
Saratoga, CA 95070-5935
Phone: 408-867-4311
Contact Form
Website

Stanford Historical Society
P.O. Box 2328
Stanford, CA 94309-2328
Website

Santa Clara County Historical And Genealogical Society
2635 Homestead Road
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Phone: (408) 615-2986
Email: office@scchgs.org
Website
Facebook

Websites

• Santa Clara County CAGenWeb
• Linkpendium
• USGenWeb Archives
• Santa Clara County, California Genealogy Trails
• Santa Clara County CA 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.