DeKalb County, Georgia Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Johann de Kalb. The County is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse
DeKalb County Courthouse 556 North McDonough Street Decatur, GA 30030 Phone: 404-371-2836 DeKalb County Website Clerk Superior Court has divorce, court and land records from 1842. Probate Court has marriage and probate records from 1842.

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:

Cemeteries
The following web site may have additional information on DeKalb County cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Georgia cemetery records

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places


 * Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1854-1965 (FamilySearch) - Includes membership, baptisms, and marriages for Clarkston, Wesley Chapel, Belmont, and Tucker churches.
 * Rehoboth Baptist Church Records, 1854-1932 (Family Search) - Microfilm of original records held at the Georgia Archives.
 * Religion Subject Files (DeKalb History Center) - Listing of available subject files for DeKalb County churches.
 * Photograph Subject Files (DeKalb History Center) - Listing of available photographs of DeKalb County churches.
 * Redan United Methodist Church Records, 1894-1994 (DeKalb History Center) - Church conference and various committee records.
 * Covenant Presbyterian Church Records, 1972-1973 (DeKalb History Center) - Church bulletins and correspondence for this Clarkston, Georgia congregation.

Court Records

 * DeKalb County Superior Court Minutes/Book A, 1836-1843 (DeKalb History Center) - Index of all cases tried by the Superior Court during this time period, case records available at the DeKalb History Center.
 * Index of DeKalb Inferior Court Records, 1823-1859 (FamilySearch)
 * DeKalb County Minutes of Ordinary Court and Inferior Court, 1823-1901 (FamilySearch) - includes index.
 * DeKalb County Superior Court Minutes, 1836-1905 (FamilySearch) - includes index.
 * Decatur City Court Minute Books, 1923-1956(DeKalb History Center) - Incomplete records from this time period, specific dates listed in finding aid.
 * DeKalb County Civil Court Criminal Docket Book, 1957 (DeKalb History Center)
 * DeKalb County Justice of the Peace Records, 1880-1960 (DeKalb History Center) - Contains civil proceedings and criminal suits by multiple justices.
 * DeKalb County Superior Court Records, 1860-1910 (DeKalb History Center)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans 
 * Register of Free Persons of Color, Freeman record (DeKalb History Center) - provides the names, ages, birth places, residences, and brief descriptions of all free African-Americans residing in DeKalb County from 1851-1864.

Land and Property Records

 * 1735-1866 Georgian Colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866 at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - alpha index
 * 1783-1909 Headright and Bounty Plats, 1783-1909 at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
 * 1805-1833 District Plats of Survey at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images organized by county and district
 * Colonial Plats and Warrants at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index

Deed books and indexes that survived the courthouse fires are available on the ground floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse in the Clerk of the Superior Court, Real Estate Division. Land records found at the courthouse date from approximately 1840 to the present, beginning with Deed Book L.


 * Deeds and mortgages, 1842-1905, with grantee and grantor index, 1840-1910 at FamilySearch
 * DeKalb County Land Title Abstracts (DeKalb History Center) - Finding aid includes list of surnames and land lots.
 * Selected Deeds (Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project)

Local Histories

 * The history of DeKalb County, Georgia 1822-1900 by Vivian Price - Includes maps and an index.
 * Historic DeKalb County: An Illustrated History by Vivian Price

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of Georgia (1758-1932)
 * Map Collection, 1730-2004 (DeKalb History Center) - Includes Sanborn, topographical, state, city, and county maps.

Military Records

 * USGen Web Archives Project: Military - Includes Revolutionary War Pensioners Census, Indian Wars transcriptions, and Civil War muster rolls.

Civil War 

Online Records


 * 1861-1863 DeKalb County, Georgia, Confederate Enlistment Index, 1861-1863 (This DeKalb History Center webpage contains a link to DeKalb County Confederate Database on Ancestry (free)) - Indexed by surname and lists rank and regiment.
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 Confederate Enlistment Oaths and Discharges at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images and alphabetical index
 * 1861-1865 Confederate Muster Rolls at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images; filter by commanding officer, service branch and regiment
 * 1861-1865 Confederate Pension Application Supplements - images and alphabetical index; filter by county
 * 1864 Militia Enrollment Lists, 1864 - images; filter by county
 * 1867-1868  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1879-1920  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1879-1960 Confederate Pension Applications, 1879-1960, and Confederate Pension Application Supplements, 1879-1960 (Georgia Archives) - Digitized images of applications and supporting materials. (Use Advanced Search or Browse All option.)
 * Civil War Muster List, 1861 at FamilySearch
 * Military Subject Files (DeKalb History Center) - Includes muster rolls for individual regiments.
 * Confederate Veterans Pension Rolls, 1890-1931 at FamilySearch
 * 1879-1960 Confederate Pension Applications - images and alphabetical index; filter by county


 * - 7th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company E
 * - 36th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Broyles') (Confederate), Company F
 * - 38th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Companies A,D,and K
 * - 42nd Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company D
 * - 66th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Companies B,E,and H


 * Price, Vivian. 1997. History of DeKalb County, Georgia, 1822-1900. Fernandina Beach, FL: Wolfe Pub. Co.
 * Confederate States of America. Army. Georgia Infantry Regiment, 7th, Company E. 1961. Muster list, 1861. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah.
 * Georgia. Court of Ordinary (DeKalb County). 1964. Confederate veterans pension rolls, 1890-1931. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah.

Spanish-American War
 * 1898 Spanish-American War Service Summary Cards - images and alphabetical index; filter by residence, muster location and unit

World War I  World War II
 * 1914-1918 World War I Casualties Scrapbooks - images and alphabetical index
 * 1917-1919 World War I Service Records, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch (microfilms)
 * 1920-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1922-1945 Military Discharge Records, 1922-1945 at FamilySearch (microfilms)
 * 1940-1942 Georgia World War II Draft Registration Cards 1940-1942 at findmypast - index ($))

Newspapers

 * Atlanta Journal-Constitution Archives - Searchable archive covering 1868-1942, 1985-present as well as links to microfilm holdings.
 * Georgia Historic Newspapers at Digital Library of Georgia
 * Newspaper Books Collection, 1919-1995 (DeKalb History Center) - Includes the DeKalb New Era, the Decatur-DeKalb News, the Decatur-DeKalb News/Era, the DeKalb News/Sun, and the Lithonia Observer.
 * Selected Newspaper Transcriptions (USGen Web Archives Project)

Other Records
Voting Records 
 * 1867-1868  at FamilySearch — index

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1733-1753 Colonial Wills at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
 * 1742-1990 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1742-1992 Georgia Wills and Probate Records 1742-1992 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1754-1776 Colonial Will Books at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
 * 1840-1964 Probate Records, 1840-1964 at FamilySearch - Includes indexes; microfilmed.
 * 1841-1919 Wills and Estates 1841-1869; 1870-1889; 1890-1919 (abstracts) Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1841-1919 DeKalb County, Georgia Probate Records by Jeanette Holland Austin - Includes Will Books A, B, and C covering 1841-1919 as well as Sales and Appraisements for 1852-1858.
 * 1846-1852 Index to Deed Book L, 1846-1852 Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1850-1853 Index to Deed Book M, 1850-1853 Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * Selected Wills &amp; Estate Records (USGenWeb Archives Project)

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.

Tax Records

 * DeKalb County Tax Digests, 1905-1948 (DeKalb History Center) - A mostly complete collection of tax digests for this time period, many of which include Confederate Veterans lists.
 * DeKalb County Tax Digest, 1848-1850 at FamilySearch
 * 1787-1900 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection, index and images

Birth

 * 1870-1960  at FamilySearch — index, and some images

Statewide registration of births in Georgia began in 1919 and was generally complied with by 1928. Birth records are available only to the individual or his legal representative. Birth records can be obtained by writing to:

Georgia Department of Human Resources Vital Records Unit 47 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Room 217-H Atlanta, GA 30334-1201 Telephone: 404-679-4702 Internet: Georgia Vital Records

The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed at VitalRecords.com.

Atlanta birth records since 1887 are available from:

Fulton County Health Department 141 Prior Street Atlanta, GA 30303 Telephone: 404-730-4000 Internet: Fulton County Health Department

Marriage

 * 1560-1993 Georgia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index ($)
 * 1699-1944 Georgia Marriages 1699-1944 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1754-1960  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1785-1950  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1787-1962  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1808-1967  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1808-1967  at FamilySearch - Please see Georgia Marriages for more information on this collection.
 * 1828-1978 Georgia Marriage Records from Select Counties 1828-1978 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1840-1848 Marriage Records - images 1840-1848 at Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1840-1908 DeKalb County Marriage Books, 1840-1893 (Georgia Archives) - Digitized microfilm of marriage certificates and indexes. (Select DeKalb County from dropdown list at bottom of page, click Search)
 * 1840-1908 Marriage Database Index, 1840-1908 (This DeKalb History Center webpage contains a link to DeKalb County Marriage Database on Ancestry (free)) - Indexed by bride and groom surnames.
 * 1840-1872 DeKalb County Marriage Books A and B Index 1840-1872. Batch  at FamilySearch.
 * 1840-1872 DeKalb County Marriage Books A and B Index 1840-1872. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1872-1881 DeKalb County Marriage Books C and D Index 1872-1881. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1882-1893 DeKalb County Marriage Books E and F Index 1882-1893. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1885-1886 (from old newspapers) Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1893-1895 DeKalb County Marriage Book G Index 1893-1895. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1840-1848 Marriage Records images. Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1848-1856 Marriage Records index. Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1856-1872 Marriage Records index. Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1885-1886 Marriage Records from newspapers. Georgia Pioneers ($)

Death

 * 1870-1960  at FamilySearch — index, and some images
 * 1914-1927  at FamilySearch — index and images; also available from Georgia Death Certificates, 1914-1927 (Georgia Archives) - Mostly complete records that have been indexed and digitized.
 * 1919-1998 Georgia Deaths 1919-1998 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1919-1930 Georgia Death Certificates at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - index and images
 * 1928-1930 Georgia Non-Indexed Death Certificates at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
 * 1928-1942  at FamilySearch — index and images; also available from Georgia Non-Indexed Death Certificates, 1928-1930 (Georgia Archives) - Digitized indexes and certificates that can be looked up by surname if year is known (Note also the 'Browse All' option at the top of the page).
 * 1931-1935 Georgia Death Certificates, 1931-1935 (Georgia Archives) - These years have not been digitized but are available to researchers at the Georgia State Archives
 * 1933-1998  at FamilySearch — index

Death records for 1935 to present can be obtained by writing to:

Georgia Department of Human Resources Vital Records Unit 47 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Room 217-H Atlanta, GA 30334-1201 Phone: 404-679-4702 Georgia Vital Records

The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed at VitalRecords.com.

Family History Centers

 * Tucker Georgia Family History Center

Websites

 * DeKalb County, GA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Georgia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * DeKalb History Center - Local historical society with online databases for cemetery, marriage, land, and military records.
 * USGenweb DeKalb County, Georgia project - A variety of records transcribed by volunteers.
 * GAGenWeb Archives
 * Georgia Genealogical Society
 * Georgia Archives - Records for DeKalb County are listed under Record Group 144 at the state archives.
 * Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * - 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