Holmes County, Mississippi Genealogy

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

Description
This county was named for David Holmes. Holmes County is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Holmes County Courthouse 1 Court Square P.O. Box 239 Lexington, MS 39095 Phone: 662-834-2281 Holmes County Website Clerk Chancery Court has divorce records from 1894, probate and land records from 1833 and burial records. Clerk Circuit Court has marriage and court records.

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:

Bible Records

 * Bible Records at MSGenWeb
 * Family Bibles of Holmes Co. Families at Holmes County, MSGenWeb
 * Vital Records Index Page at RootsWeb

Census Records
Federal Census
 * 1660-1820 U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 at Ancestry $
 * 1850  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
 * 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1860 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

State Census
 * 1792-1866 Mississippi, State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866 at Ancestry $
 * 1805-1890 Mississippi, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1805-1890 at Ancestry $
 * 1866   State Census Returns 1866 - Holms County Collection at FamilySearch - images only - Note film is correct, image index has the wrong event place)

Church Records

 * 1910-1919  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

230 Swan Drive, Greenwood, MS 38930-6929 Phone: 662-453-2236

Court Records

 * 1862-1937 (*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans 
 * 1863-1866  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
 * 1865-1872  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
 * The Freedmen's Bureau Marriage Records at Mississippi Department of Archives and History - index and transcription

Funeral Homes

 * Affordable Funeral Home of Durant in Durant.
 * Hairston and Hairston Funeral Homes in Lexington.
 * Lakefront Memorial Funeral Home in Tchula.
 * Porter and Sons Funeral Home in Lexington.
 * Southern Funeral Home in Lexington.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Land records, 1824-1959; indexes, 1832-1903, 1824-1959 Viewable at FamilySearch.org.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of Mississippi (1785-1918)
 * Family Maps of Holmes County, Mississippi Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com . Free surname search.

Military Records
Multiple Wars
 * 1775-1951 Military grave registrations - Holms County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
 * 1838-1845 Register of Military Commissions - Holms County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
 * 1858-1860 Register of Military Commissions - Holms County Collection at FamilySearch - images only

Mexican-American War 
 * 1846-1848  How to Use this Collection;  at FamilySearch — index and images

Civil War 
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images at partner site
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images at partner site
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry free index
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry free index
 * 1889-1942  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
 * 1900-1974  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only


 * - 1st Battalion, Mississippi Sharpshooters
 * Company B - Red Rebels
 * - 1st Regiment, Mississippi Light Artillery
 * Company D - Wofford’s Battery
 * - 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry
 * Company A - Kyle’s Company
 * - 4th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
 * Company C - Red Invincibles
 * Company G - Nelson Grays
 * - 12th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
 * Company F - Durant Rifles (also listed as Co. I)


 * County Recorder Military records, 1861-1920 Includes records of the Civil War and WWI

World War I 
 * 1861-1920 Military records, 1861-1920
 * 1917-1919  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1917-1918  at FamilySearch  - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1936-1941 Naturalization index take-off cards 1936-1941 - Holms County Collection at FamilySearch - images only

Other Records
 State Archives
 * 1820-1951   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images - incomplete - Topics covered: Ex Slave Narratives, list of military veterans,  Military grave registrations, Naturalizations and some Land records.

VOTER List
 * 1871-1967 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1780-1982 Mississippi Wills and Probate Records 1780-1982 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1781-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
 * 1833-1977 (*); Chancery Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

School Records

 * 1850-1892; 1908-1957   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

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

 * 1833-1873 County Tax rolls (1833-1873) - Holms County Collection at FamilySearch - images only

Marriage

 * 1776-1935 Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 at Ancestry $
 * 1800-1911 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1800-1825 Mississippi Marriages to 1825 at Ancestry $
 * 1826-1850 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-50 at Ancestry $
 * 1826-1900 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-1900 at Ancestry $
 * 1858-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images for various counties
 * 1884-1916 Holmes County Marriage Books G-H and 1-14 Index 1884-1916 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
 * 1884-1967 Marriage records, 1889-1951; index to marriages, 1884-1967 Index

Death

 * 1822-1921  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
 * 1912-1943  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1912-1943 Reclaim the Records: Mississippi Death Index at Archive.org - images of index

FamilySearch Centers

 * Greenville Mississippi FamilySearch Center
 * Philadelphia Mississippi FamilySearch Center
 * Raytown Mississippi FamilySearch Center


 * Forest Public Library - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Holmes County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network
 * Mississippi Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb Holmes County, Mississippi project. Has maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * – 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.