Shelby County, Alabama Genealogy

Guide to Shelby County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.



Description
Shelby County was created on 7 February 1818 and was named for Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. Its county seat is Columbiana. It is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Shelby County Courthouse 112 N. Main St #128 PO Box 1810 Columbiana, AL 35051 Phone: 205-669-3760 Fax: 205-669-3786 Shelby County Website

Probate Judge has marriage probate and land records from 1824

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.

Bible Records

 * Bible Records at BYU Family History Library
 * Shelby County, Alabama Bible Records at Access Genealogy
 * Shelby County, Alabama Bible Records at Alabama Genealogy
 * Shelby County Bibles at USGenWeb Archives Project

Biographies

 * Northern Alabama, Historical and Biographical. Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land, 1888. Pg. 160. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Shelby County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project

Cemeteries

 * Alabama, Shadow Lawn Memorial Gardens, Cemetery Records at MyHeritage - index ($)

Census Records
State Census


 * 1855   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1866  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * 1831-1994  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1807-1927 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1810-1926 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1813-1928 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1815-1915 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1819-1904 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1821-1909 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1821-1921 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1822-1910 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1822-1915 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1822-1915 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1822-1923 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1822-1937 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1822-1955 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1822-1957 (*); FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1823-1907 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1823-1923 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1823-1978 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1824-1911 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1824-1949 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1826-1890 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1826-1902 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1828-1901 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1829-1917 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1830-1880 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1830-1915 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1830-1917 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1830-1929 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1830-1938 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1834-1919 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1834-1944 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1835-1870 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1835-1920 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1836-1926 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1837-1901 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1838-1915 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1838-1923 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1839-1880 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1839-1926 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1841-1915 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1846-1915 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1849-1923 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1850-1921 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1854-1897 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1854-1919 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1854-1945 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1866 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1944 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1872-1898 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1878 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1889-1915 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1839-1948 (*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1919-1935 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Directories

 * 1888-1890 Birmingham, Alabama Directories, 1888-1890. 1890. Birmingham, AL: R. L. Polk and Co. Online at: Ancestry — index ($)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

 * 1865-1872  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only

Funeral Homes

 * Bolton Funeral Home in Columbiana
 * Charter Funeral Home in Calera
 * Rockco Funeral Home in Montevallo
 * Southern Heritage Funeral Home and Cemetery in Pelham
 * The Good Shepherd Funeral Home in Montevallo
 * Westside Funeral Home in Calera

Land and Property Records
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of Shelby County see:


 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Shelby County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2007. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes surname index..

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Land records, 1880-1934
 * Deeds, 1819-1902; indexes, 1819-1905
 * Tract book, 1819-1900
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * History of Shelby County. By Eloise Galloway. Birmingham, Ala.: Alabama College, 1937. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
 * Family Maps of Shelby County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Alabama Maps and Blueprints Collection at Alabama Department of Archives and History – maps can be browsed by location or subject

Military Records

 * Soldier's discharge records, 1920-1946

Multiple Wars
 * ca.1918-ca.1962  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images at partner site
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images at partner site
 * 1861-1865 Civil War Service Database at Alabama Department of Archives and History - index
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1871-1880  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1930  at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History


 * - 2nd Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company B
 * - 7th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company E
 * - 10th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C "Cahaba Valley Boys"
 * - 18th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I (Curry Guards)
 * - 20th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G
 * - 24th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H "Steele Guards"
 * - 25th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C
 * - 30th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D and K
 * - 31st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G and K
 * - 44th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D and E

World War I
 * 1917-1919  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1917-1918 Alabama World War I Service Records at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
 * 1917-1918 Alabama World War I Gold Star Files at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images

World War II
 * 1940-1945  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1940-1966 Alabama Active Military Service Reports at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Circuit Court. Naturalization records, 1846-1901
 * naturalization records

Newspapers

 * Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Other Records

 * Shelby County, Estray records, 1890-1927
 * Record of patients in the Almshouse, 1899-1913
 * Sheriff's Records, 1850-1975
 * Sherriff's Office, beat books

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1753–1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1800-1934 (*); Probate and County Courts at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1809-1985 (*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1818-1851 (*); Orphans' and County Courts at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1818-1867 (*); Probate, Orphans', and County Courts at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1818-1915 Probate Estate Files Index at USGenWeb.org
 * 1821-1856 Images of Estates, Book B, 1821-1839; 1828-1841 (and Index); Vol. D, 1841-1856 (and Index) at Southeastern Genealogy ($)
 * 1830-1976 (*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1896-1930 (*); Probate and County Courts at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

School Records

 * 1904-1938 Shelby County Historical Society. School census
 * 1916-1924 Shelby County. School Census

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014  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 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

 * 1865-1866 U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Shelby County is in District 2.
 * 1830-1924 Shelby County Historical Society, tax books

Birth

 * 1881–1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images

Marriage

 * 1733-2013 Alabama, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
 * 1800-1969 Alabama, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1969 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1802-1825 Alabama, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1825 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1809-1920 Alabama, U.S., Compiled Marriages from Selected Counties, 1809-1920 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1809–1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
 * 1816–1957  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1818-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1824-1876 Shelby County Marriage Index 1824-1876. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1876-1895 Shelby County Marriage Index 1876-1895. Batch  at FamilySearch

Death

 * 1881–1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1881-1974 Alabama, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1902-1914 Shelby County Death Index 1902-1914 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
 * 1908-1959 Alabama, U.S., Death Index, 1908-1959 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1908-1974  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Voter Registration

 * Shelby County. Registration of voters, 1908-1924


 * 1834-1981  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection, index and images

Archives
Alabama Department of Archives and History 624 Washington Ave PO Box 300100 Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: 334-242-4435 Email: [mailto:mark.palmer@archives.alabama.gov mark.palmer@archives.alabama.gov] Website Facebook

FamilySearch Centers

 * Birmingham Alabama FamilySearch Center
 * Columbiana Alabama FamilySearch Center
 * Leeds Alabama FamilySearch Center
 * Birmingham Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Shelby County Museum and Archives - an affiliate library

Libraries
Shelby County Public Library Mildred B. Harrison Regional Library – System Headquarters 50 Lester Street Columbiana, Alabama 35051 Phone: 205-669-3910 Website Facebook
 * Albert L Scott Library 100 9th Street NW Alabaster, AL 35007 Phone: 205-664-6822 Website Facebook
 * Chelsea Public Library 16623 Highway 280 Chelsea, AL 35043 Phone: 205-847-5750 Email: [mailto:chelsealibrary.al@gmail.com chelsealibrary.al@gmail.com] Website Facebook
 * Columbiana Public Library 50 Lester Street Columbiana, AL 35051 Phone: 205-669-5812 Email: [mailto:columbianapl@gmail.com columbianapl@gmail.com] Website Facebook
 * Harpersville Public Library 39414 Highway 25 PO Box 370 Harpersville, AL 35078 Phone: 205-644-6331 Email: [mailto:harpersvillelib@shelbycounty-al.org harpersvillelib@shelbycounty-al.org] Website Facebook
 * Jane B Holmes Library 230 Tucker Road PO Box 262 Helena, AL 35080 Phone: 205-664-8308 Website Facebook
 * Lallouise Florey McGraw Public Library 42860 Hwy 25 PO Box 3 Vincent, AL 35178 Phone: 205-672-2749 Website Facebook
 * Mt Laurel Public Library 111 Olmsted Street Birmingham, AL 35242 Phone: 205-991-1660 Email: [mailto:mtlaurel@shelbycounty-al.org mtlaurel@shelbycounty-al.org] Website Facebook
 * North Shelby Library 5521 Cahaba Valley Rd Birmingham, AL 35242 Phone: 205-439-5500 Email: [mailto:nsref@shelbycounty-al.org nsref@shelbycounty-al.org] Website Facebook
 * Parnell Memorial Library 277 Park Drive Montevallo, AL 35115 Phone: 205-667-3052 Email: [mailto:parnellibrary@shelbycounty-al.org parnellibrary@shelbycounty-al.org] Website Facebook
 * Pelham Public Library 2000 Pelham Park Boulevard PO Box 1627 Pelham, AL 35124 Phone: 205-620-6418 Website Facebook
 * Roy Downs Memorial Calera Library 9700 Hwy 25 Calera, AL 35040 Phone: 205-668-7200 Email: [mailto:apowers@calera.org apowers@calera.org] Website Facebook
 * Vernice Stoudenmire Public Library 9905 N Main Street Wilsonville, AL 35186 Phone: 205-669-6180 Email: [mailto:wilsonvillelibrary@gmail.com wilsonvillelibrary@gmail.com] Website Facebook
 * Westover Public Library 3312 Westover Rd Westover, AL 35147 Phone: 205-678-3375 Email: [mailto:atyler@westoveralabama.org atyler@westoveralabama.org] Website Facebook

Societies
Hoover Historical Society 2020 Valleydale Road #108 PO Box 360233 Hoover, AL 35236 Phone: 205-739-7316 Email: [mailto:info@hooverhistoricalsociety.org info@hooverhistoricalsociety.org] Website Facebook Shelby County Historical Society 1854 Old Courthouse PO Box 457 Columbiana, AL 35051 Phone: 205-669-3912 Email: [mailto:schs1854@bellsouth.net schs1854@bellsouth.net] Website

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project. Record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
 * Shelby County ALGenWeb. Record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
 * Shelby County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * – 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.