Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

Guide to Lafayette Parish, Louisiana ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
Lafayette Parish was named for Marquis de la Fayette and was created in January 17, 1923. The parish seat is Lafayette and is located in the south central area of the state.

Parish Courthouse
Lafayette Parish Courthouse 800 S. Buchanan St. Lafayette, LA 70501 Phone: 337-291-6400 Lafayette Parish Courthouse Parish Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1823.

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 parish:

Biographies

 * Lafayette Parish Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Lafayette Parish Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Church Records

 * Louisiana Historical Church Information
 * Directory of Churches in Louisiana — at Church Angel — by city

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this parish - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * Lafayette Parish Court Records (USGenWeb Archives}

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * Louisiana African American Griots Project
 * Afrigeneas - African Ancestored Genealogy
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by parish

Local Histories

 * Lafayette Parish History Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1805-1990 Maps of Louisiana (1805-1990)
 * Louisiana Digital Map Library at USGen Web Archives
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this parish - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * Louisiana Military History Online
 * Lafayette Parish Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)

 Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images at Partner Site
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images at Partner Site
 * 1883 Parishoners on the Roll, Lafayette Parish (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1898-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War Battles: The following Civil War battle was fought in Lafayette Parish:
 * April 17, 1863 - Vermillion Bayou.
 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

World War I
 * 1917-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * Louisiana Newspaper List, listing by name/parish (USNPL)
 * Louisiana Newspaper listing (Newslink)
 * Lafayette Parish News Abstracts (Genealogy Trails)
 * Lafayette Parish Newspaper Records (USGenWeb Archvies)

Obituaries

 * Lafayette Parish Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Lafayette Parish Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1756-1984 Louisiana Wills and Probate Records 1756-1984 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

Social Security Records

 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1834-1850 Index to Lafayette Parish Birth Records (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1837-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Index to Lafayette Parish Marriage Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Lafayette Parish Marriages (Genealogy Trails)

Death

 * Index to Lafayette Parish Death Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1870 Mortality Schedule, Lafayette Parish. Persons who died during the year ending 1st June, 1870 in Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana. (Genealogy Trails)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Lafayette Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Opelousas Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Iberia Parish Library - an affiliate library

Museums

 * Louisiana Museums

Societies

 * Attakapas Historical Association PO Box 43010 Usl Lafayette, LA 70504-3010
 * Louisiana Historical Association 101 LSU Student Union LSU Box 25435 Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Website
 * Louisiana Historical Society 428 Hector Ave Metairie, La. 70005-4412 Website

Websites

 * Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, LAGenWeb Project, part of the USGenWeb Project
 * Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, USGenWeb Archives
 * Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Lafayette Parish Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)
 * Lafayette, Louisiana Genealogy & History Network
 * – 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.