Washington, County Birth Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains county birth registers from the state of Washington for the years 1873-1965. These records could also include delayed birth certificates and justifications. Some volumes include an index. The register and returns were created by the county auditor in each county. The birth records list name of the child, date of birth, place of birth, sex, race, the status of birth, name of mother, her age and race, name of the father, and his age, race, occupation, and state of birth, date of return and name of the person returning information. Microfilm of original records is located at the Washington State Archives in Olympia, Washington.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Birth Certificate
 * Name of child
 * Date of Birth and place
 * Parents name

Delayed Birth Certificate
 * Name of person
 * Birth date and place
 * Parents name and place of birth
 * Name of doctor at birth
 * Signature of applicant

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

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?

 * If possible, use what you know to find an image of the original record. The index contains only basic identifying information for a person; the original record therefore may contain more information not found in the index.
 * Continue to search the index for family members.

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

 * Check for variants of given names and surnames. It was not uncommon for an individual to be listed under a nickname, middle name, or abbreviation of their given name (Do not include the nickname instructions to foreign collections as the list is US-oriented)
 * Search the records of nearby locations

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Washington.
 * Washington Guided Research
 * Washington Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1907 &#124; 1907-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.