Alabama County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index and images of marriage records created by Alabama counties for the years 1809 to 1950. The records are arranged by county, volume and date. Currently this collection is partially indexed; additional records will be added as they are completed. Be aware that some images in this collection are restricted. The earliest marriage bonds and licenses were usually handwritten on loose papers that were later bound into lettered volumes. Some marriage records had multiple entries on each page, while others had single records per page. Marriages were recorded by the clerk of the district court for each county from the time the county was formed. Persons desiring to marry obtained a license that they presented to the minister or other person authorized to marry, such as a justice of the peace. Once the marriage was performed, the officiator sent a return to the clerk confirming that the marriage had occurred. Civil marriage records were created to legalize marital relationships and to protect the interests of the wife and other heirs to legal claims on property. The marriage date, place, residence of the bride and groom, and occupations are relatively reliable. Other information, such as age or birthplace, is dependent on the knowledge, memory, and accuracy of the informants, usually the bride and groom.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Early Marriage
 * Name of the groom
 * Name of the bride, often including the maiden name of the bride
 * Date of the marriage
 * Event place

Later Marriage
 * Names of the parents or guardians of the bride and groom
 * Birthplaces of the bride and groom
 * Residences of the bride and groom
 * Age and races of the bride and groom
 * Marital status of the bride and groom

Coverage Table
The coverage table shows the places and time periods covered in the indexed records in this collection. Most of the records in the collection are from the time periods listed in the table; however, the collection may have a few records from before or after the time period. For additional coverage tables for this collection, see the wiki article Alabama County Marriages Coverage Table - FamilySearch Historical Records.

Digital Folder Number List
This collection was published as a DGS browse collection. A table listing each DGS number and its contents can be found at Alabama, County Marriages Digital Folder Number List.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching the collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The date of the event or the name of a parent or spouse

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. Keep track of your research in a research log.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
 * Search for the family in county records where they married

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

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Alabama.
 * Guided Research
 * Step-by-Step Alabama Research, 1880-Present

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

Family History Library Holdings

 * D.A.R. Genealogical Record Committee. Alabama marriage records 1818-1898
 * Barbour Co. Divorce Records, 183-1941

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * Alabama County Marriages, 1818-1936

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.

Alabama, matrimonios del condado (Registros históricos de FamilySearch)