Tennessee Research Tips and Strategies

Links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Tennessee

 * Tennessee Online Genealogy Records
 * How to find Tennessee Birth Records
 * How to find Tennessee Marriage Records
 * How to find Tennessee Death Records

Birth information
Statewide registration of births began in 1914 in Tennessee with general compliance by 1927. The best substitute record for locating birth information is death records (the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other substitute records.

Finding Parents
Statewide registration of deaths began in 1914 in Tennessee with general compliance by 1936. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Tennessee death records

Look in all censuses
Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.