GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Ohio Marriages

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find marriage information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the marriage section of the Ohio Guided Research page.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1700s-1990s: Ohio, County Marriages - at Ancestry ($)
 * |Google search for the names of the bride & groom & place of marriage
 * 1818-1920: Cincinnati Newspapers 1818-1920 - Abbreviated Index to Marriage & Death Notices

Additional Records with Marriage Information
Substitute records can contain information about more than one event, and are used when records for an event are not available. Because the substitute records may not be created at the time of the event, it may contain incorrect information. Search for as many substitute records as possible to collaborate information found in substitute records to help improve accuracy.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Cincinnati was an area where the normal restrictions on marriage did not get enforced. It has been called a "Gretna Green".[2] People from Ohio may have married in a different state for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Tips for finding marriages
Success with finding marriage records in online databases depends on a few key points:
 * Your ancestor's name may misspelled. Try the following search tactics:
 * Try searching using the spouse's name.
 * Try different spelling variations of the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Try a given name search (leave out the last names)


 * Expand the date range of the search.
 * Try searching with the state name only instead of by county.
 * If your ancestor's name is common, try adding more information to narrow the search.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Cincinnati was an area where the normal restrictions on marriage did not get enforced. It has been called a "Gretna Green".[1] People from Ohio may have married in a different state for similar reasons. (link to United States Guided Research page)
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * Marriage registration was handled by the counties until 1949, when the state vital records office kept the records.
 * Many Hamilton County (includes Cincinnati) marriage records were destroyed by a courthouse fire in 1884.[1]

Records Published Collection coverage tables show the places and time periods of original records published. Check the coverage table for the collections you searched which did not include your ancestor. Gaps in the online collection may require searches in other records or original marriage records at an archive.
 * Ohio Marriages, Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Ohio County Marriages Restriction Dates
 * County marriage holdings, Ohio

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Cincinnati was an area where the normal restrictions on marriage were not enforced. It has been called a "Gretna Green".[2] People from Ohio may have married in a different state for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens