Maryland Research Tips and Strategies

From FamilySearch Wiki
Maryland Wiki Topics
Maryland flag.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Maryland Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

The Maryland Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for Maryland. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.

Maryland Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Maryland

Finding Maryland Birth, Marriage or Death Records[edit | edit source]

Finding Maryland Records[edit | edit source]

Maryland Statewide Databases[edit | edit source]

Maryland Research Process[edit | edit source]

Maryland Research Tips[edit | edit source]

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Maryland:

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide registration: The state began registering births and deaths in 1898 (Baltimore began in 1875), with full compliance by the 1910s.[1]
  • Local registration: A few counties recorded births and deaths before 1720 in the county land records. From 1865 to 1899 some county clerks and the Secretary of the Senate maintained birth and death records. These records are incomplete, and the exact dates of the records vary from county to county.[2]
  • Access to records: See Maryland Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Maryland.


Substitute Records:

  • Secondary source: Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
  • Accuracy: Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
  • List of substitute records: See Maryland Substitute Records for more information.


Finding Parents:

  • Death records: Early death records may contain parents of the deceased. However, state recorded deaths starting in 1898 required birth and parent information. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
  • Obituaries: Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See Maryland Newspapers and Maryland Obituaries for more information.
  • Church records: Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See Maryland Church Records for more information.


Census Records:

  • Check all census years: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See Maryland Census Records for more information.
  • Clues to other records: There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
  • Finding families: Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.

Further Maryland Research[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Maryland Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1997, 43. (Accessed 19 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
  2. ↑ Maryland Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1997, 43. (Accessed 19 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Maryland_Research_Tips_and_Strategies&oldid=6125617"