New York, United States Genealogy

United States New York

Guide to New York ancestry, family history and genealogy, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records



New York Counties
Click on the map below to go to a county page. Hover over a county to see its name. To see a larger version of the map, click here.

Extinct or Renamed Counties:  New Netherland· Charlotte· Cornwall· Cumberland· Dukes · Gloucester· Tryon· Yorkshire

Major Repositories
Brooklyn Historical Society· Children's Aid Society· Cornell University Library· Montgomery County Department of History and Archives· National Archives at New York City· New England Historic Genealogical Society· New York City Department of Records and Information Services· New York Foundling Hospital· New York Genealogical and Biographical Society· New York Historical Society· New York Public Library· New York State Archives· New York State Council of Genealogical Organizations· New York State Library· Amsterdam City Archives

Migration Routes
Ellis Island, Castle Garden, etc.· Atlantic Coast Ports· Lake Champlain· Lake Erie· Lake Ontario· Long Island Sound· Hudson River· Mohawk River· St. Lawrence River· Chambly Canal· Champlain Canal· Delaware and Raritan Canal· Erie Canal· Albany Post Road· Catskill Turnpike· Forbidden Path· Great Genesee Road· Great Shamokin Path· Greenwood Road· Hudson River Path· King's Highway · Boston Post Road· Lake Champlain Trail· Lake Shore Path · Lehigh and Lackawanna Paths· Minsi Path· Mohawk or Iroquois Trail· New York Turnpikes· Old Connecticut Path

Did You Know?

 * There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland; more Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy; and more Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel.
 * The Digital Collections of the New York States Archives includes Native American censuses covering the reservations of the Tuscarora, Oneida, Onondaga, Buffalo Creek Seneca, Seneca of Cattaragus, Cayuga, Tonawanda and St. Regis Mohawk tribes. [[Image:New-york.png|right|200px|New-york.png]]
 * Nearly one-third of all Revolutionary War battles took place in New York, including the battles of Long Island, Oriskany, Bennington, and Saratoga. During the Civil War, New York had 465,000 Union soldiers serve - more than any other state. For more information and resources on military records for New York, go to the New York Military Records page.
 * The earliest European settlers were from the Netherlands.

Research Tools

 * New York Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * How to order New York Vital Records
 * State of New York County &amp; City Government Court links
 * Rotating Formation New York County Boundary Maps and Atlases
 * New York State Health Department Vital Records for obtaining births, marriages, and deaths outside New York City 1881-present; and all divorces after 1963; and adoption records.
 * New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * List of New York Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies
 * History &amp; Facts of New York Counties
 * American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
 * How to obtain copies of Vital Records for Genealogical Purposes in Upstate New York a blog article describing the use of microfiche indexes 1881-present in NY prior to ordering from the State Health Dept.
 * Online New York Death Records, Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries A list of online death records indexes for New York City and State.
 * Ellis Island Immigration Record Search New York City passenger arrival lists index 1892-1924. For a more advanced search engine helpful for east Europeans see Ellis Island in One Step.
 * Castle Garden Immigration Index New York City passenger arrival lists index 1820-1892. For a more advanced search engine helpful for east Europeans see Castle Garden in One Step.
 * Family Tree Encyclopedia - Terminology &amp; Meanings of Genealogical Terms
 * Printable Genealogy Forms used in Research
 * Research in New York Military Records
 * New York Ancestors NEHGS's New York databases and articles about probate, census, tax, cemeteries, church, court, and vital records, genealogy and biography.
 * New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Research Aids (for NYGBS members only) digitized New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (complete series), plus over 100 articles, bibliographies, and research tips.
 * FultonHistory.com - New York State historical newspaper archives and search engine.
 * New York county creation dates and parent counties.

Online indexes and records in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

Statewide vital records



Passenger arrival lists



Statewide probate records


 * New York, Queens County Probate Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * New York, Queens County Probate Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Obtain additional help

 * Call or chat with an experienced researcher
 * Join a Facebook Group
 * Consult a Professional Genealogist

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