Austin County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Austin County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Texas Online Genealogy Records

Description
The county was named for Stephen F. Austin, who facilitated the Anglo-American colonization of Texas and is known as the "Father of Texas". The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage, land and probate records from early 1800’s, cemetery, court, military discharge and naturalization records; Discharge Court has divorce records County Clerk

One East Main Bellville, Tx 77418 Phone: 979-865-5911 Fax: 979-865-0336 District Clerk

One East Main Bellville, Tx 77418 Phone: 979-865-5911 Austin Texas County Website

History

 * Austin County History
 * Pioneers of Austin County~Austin County TXGenWeb

Parent County
1836--Austin County was created 17 March 1836 from Old Mexican Municipality.
 * County seat: Bellville

The county was named for Stephen F. Austin, founder of the Anglo-American colony that eventually became Texas

Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Austin County border changes.

Record Loss
1960--The Austin County Courthouse, built in 1888, was destroyed by fire on April 5, 1960. Courthouse records were saved.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog



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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Neighboring Counties
Colorado •  Fayette  •  Fort Bend  •  Waller  •  Washington  •  Wharton

African American

 * 1865-1870 - FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * Texas African American Griots ~  USGenWeb
 * AfriGeneas ~  African Ancestored Genealogy

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Additional Cemetery Sources


 * Austin County Cemetery Index of Names ~ Austin County TXGenWeb
 * African American Cemeteries Online ~ Partial index/transcriptions of African American cemeteries
 * Cemetery Junction ~  Links to cemetery transcriptions

Church

 * Austin County, Texas Churches ~Austin County, TXGenWeb
 * Early Church Records of Austin County~partial record listing.
 * Texas Christian Church Directory~ ChurchAngel
 * Catholic Parishes in Texas

Lutheran

 * Records of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Ulm, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1906 - 1989  - How to Use this Collection

Local Histories

 * Texas Museums ~  List of all museums in Texas  ~  Hidden Ancestors
 * Austin County History

Maps

 * Texas Land Survey Maps for (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Historical Maps From the Republic to the Turn of the Century ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenWeb site
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military

 * Fallen Heroes ~ Partial Index of casualties from Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Honoring Our Veterans ~ Partial index of veterans from Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Military Resources ~ Links to research Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors

Mexican-American War

 * 1845 - 1848 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 at Ancestry.com — index $

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861 - 1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1861 - 1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * Confederate Pension Applications ~ Texas State Library and Archives Commission
 * 1838 - 1900 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards 1838-1900 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

World War I

 * 1917 - 1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers


Off-line Newspaper Information Online Newspapers


 * Sealy News, serving Sealy and Austin County.
 * Daily Texan
 * Texas Digital Newspaper Program at The Portal to Texas History


 * Online Newspaper Abstracts
 * Newspaper Extracts and Abstracts in Book Form

Obituaries

 * 1966 - 1978 Pete E Etlinger Funeral Home of Bellville Notices 1966 - 1978 ~Complete Index~Austin County, TXGenWeb
 * Obituaries of Austin County, Texas Partial listing of obituaries published in Austin County, Texas~Austin County, TXGenWeb
 * Obituary Resources ~ Links to research and locate obituaries ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * USGenWeb Archives Obituary Project ~  Texas
 * Afrigeneas ~ African American death notices, obituaries and funeral programs compiled by users from current newspapers and historical sources
 * Obituary Depot ~ Texas Newspaper Citations
 * Obituary Project ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Obituary Daily Times ~ Citations to over 15,000,000 obituaries including interactive search function

Probate
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1800 – 2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records 1800-2000 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1903 - 1935 - FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Taxation

 * 1846-1910 Texas, County Tax Rolls 1846-1910 at Findmypast ($) — index and images

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records
 * 1840 - 1981 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection
 * 1903 - 1935 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1926-1995 Texas Births, 1926 - 1995 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records,br.


 * 1802 - 2010 Texas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1814 - 1909 and 1966 - 2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1824 - 1920 Early Marriages of Austin County, Texas 1824-1920 ~Complete Index~Austin County, TXGenWeb
 * 1837 - 1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837 - 1973 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837 - 1977 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837 - 1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1966 - 2005 Texas Marriage Records 1966 - 2005  -  Hidden Ancestors
 * 1966 - 2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage ($) — index

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records
 * 1903 - 1973 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1903 - 1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1903 - 2000 (index) - FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1964 - 1998 - FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates or four million people who have died since 1964.
 * 1977 - 1986 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection

Divorce

 * 1968 - 2005 Texas Divorce Records 1968 - 2005   ~  Hidden Ancestors
 * 1850 - 1930 USGenWeb Census Project ~ Texas 1850 - 1930
 * 1968 - 2010 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection
 * 1968 - 2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage ($) — index

Societies and Libraries
The Bellville Historical Society Concordia Hall, 953 S. Tesch Street PO Box 67 Bellville, Texas 77418 E-mail address:[mailto:BellvilleHistoricalSociety.com BellvilleHistoricalSociety.com]

Genealogical Society''' PO Box 1507 Austin 78767-1507

Bellville Public Library 12 W Palm St Bellville, TX 77418 Telephone Number: 979-865-3731

Virgil and Josephine Gordon Memorial Library 917 N Circle Dr Sealy, TX 77474 Telephone Number: 979-885-7469

Family History Centers

 * Austin Texas Family History Center
 * Austin Texas Oak Hills Family History Center
 * Bear Creek Texas Family History Center
 * Bear Creek Texas West Family History Center
 * Fallbrook Texas Family History Center
 * Houston Texas Family History Center
 * Katy Texas Family History Center
 * Klein Texas Family History Center
 * Melbourne Texas Family History Center
 * Tomball Texas Family History Center
 * Richmond Texas Family History Center
 * Shadowdale Texas Family History Center
 * Houston Texas Family History Center


 * Houston Public Library Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research - an affiliate library
 * Nesbitt Memorial Library - an affiliate library

Websites

 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county.
 * Austin TXGenWeb. May have name indexes, history or other county information.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project. Name indexes and other information.
 * The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.
 * Cyndi's List ~ Texas