Louisiana Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

What Is in This Collection?
The collection consists of a name index and images of Louisiana deaths. The statewide records for all parishes cover 1911-1959. Coverage outside these dates for individual parishes varies. This collection does not include records for deaths from 1875-1893 and has only a few entries for 1894-1904. Death records for 1850-1875 are for Jefferson Parish only.

Certified copies of certificates can be ordered from the Louisiana State records website

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Information that may be found in the Louisiana Death Records, depending on the time period, include:


 * Name
 * Death date
 * Location
 * Cause of Death
 * Date of birth
 * Marital status
 * Occupation
 * Name of informant

Digital Folder List
This collection was published as a DGS browse collection. These collections do not include any human-readable waypoint data making them difficult to use. A table showing each DGS number and its contents can be found in Louisiana Deaths Index Digital Folder Number List. The list can be sorted by DGS number, GS number, parish, volume and year.

How Do I Search the Collection?
You can search the index or view the images or both. Before using this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the individual
 * Approximate date and or location of death

View the Images
To view images in this collection:
 * 1) Look at the Louisiana Deaths Index Digital Folder Number List article to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
 * 2) Go to the Browse Page
 * 3) Select the Film number to view the images

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.

Remember to:
 * Whenever possible, look at the original record. If often has more information than the indexed record.
 * Print or download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed.
 * In case you need to find this record again later, copy the citation found on each record or image. Familysearch wiki has a Example Research Log that you can download and use for this purpose.

For more tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

I Found Who I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find other church and vital records such as birth, baptism, and marriage records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in censuses.
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family.
 * Church Records were kept years before counties began keeping records. They are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.

An index to the Orleans parish death records beginning in 1804 can be found at The USGenWeb Archives Project: Louisiana, Orleans Parish. An index to these records and the Orleans parish death records is available at the Louisiana Government website.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or parish.
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Check the infobox above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records.

Related Collection
The New Orleans Public Library, has acquired the Louisiana Biography and Obituary Index references obituaries and death notices published in New Orleans newspapers from 1804-1972 and biographical information published in older Louisiana collective biographies. The original index, housed in the Louisiana Division of New Orleans Public Library, is an alphabetical card file of more than 650,000 names. This information can be accessed by following these steps:


 * Go to New Orleans Public Library
 * Click on City Archives and Special Collections
 * Scroll down to Genealogy
 * Click on Louisiana Biography and Obituary Index
 * Click on the large red words 'Search the Index'
 * Enter a name

If you only enter a surname you get every result for that surname. Also, if you only enter the surname married women who were born as that surname may also come up, if the obituary gave her maiden name.

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.

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry): Image Citation:

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