California Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This index is an electronic index for the years 1812 to 1988. This index is not complete for any particular place, region or time period. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Birth / Christening
 * Name of the individual
 * Date of the Event
 * Names of the parents
 * Residence

Coverage Table
A coverage table for this collection is available is the wiki article California Births and Christenings, Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person
 * The approximate date of the birth or christening

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. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Look at an image of the original record, if possible. The original may contain information that was not recorded in the index
 * Use the information to find other records such as marriage, death, or census records
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname, unless the surname is a common surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives that can be verified by records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try viewing any original indexes to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames, middles name, or an abbreviation of their given name

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of California.
 * California Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

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.