Pennsylvania, Civil Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of an index and images of marriage records from the following counties: Allegheny,1885-1905, 1937-1950 (series A-F, S-Z) ; Index 1885-1925; Bucks,1677-1686; Lancaster,1757-1799; Luzerne,1885-1950; Montgomery,1885-1906,index 1885-1973; Philadelphia, 1885-1915,1885-1916.

Marriages were recorded to legalize marital relationships and to safeguard the interests of the wife and other heirs. The most reliable information is the date and place of the marriage and license date. Other information is dependent upon the reliability of the informant.

Counties in the state generally achieved 90 percent compliance by 1915
 * On January 12, 1852, the Pennsylvania Legislature enacted its first statewide law requiring the registration of vital records, including marriages. Probably due to lack of compliance, the law was repealed in 1855
 * On October 1, 1885, a new law went into effect that made it illegal for any “minister of the gospel, justice of the peace, or other officers, or persons authorized by law to solemnize marriages” to marry any couple who did not first obtain a marriage license. Since then, marriage licenses have been recorded without interruption with the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court within each county
 * Before 1885, marriage records created by ministers, justices of the peace, and larger cities may still be kept by the originator, but the bulk of the marriages recorded in Pennsylvania are in this collection

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

Marriage


 * Full names of the bride and groom
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Current residence(s) of the bride and groom
 * Age, race, occupation and nativity of bride and groom
 * Notes of a previous marriage
 * Names of parents


 * Notes of parental consent, if required
 * Date of the license
 * Name of person performing the ceremony
 * Maiden name of mothers
 * Birthplaces of the father and mother
 * Name of family members (parents, spouse, etc.)

Coverage Map
To see a coverage map of FamilySearch's holdings of Pennsylvania marriages, click here.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * At least one other piece of information

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?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the information to find other records such as birth, christening, census, land and death records
 * Use the information to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for church records
 * Search for land and probate records

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

 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Pennsylvania Guided Research
 * Pennsylvania Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Pennsylvania Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Historical Records Survey. Inventory of vital statistics within each county.
 * Alleghany County. Marriage license dockets 1885-1905, 1937-1950 (series A-F, S-Z) ; Index 1885-1925
 * Bucks County. Marriages, early wills and arrivals of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1677-1686
 * Lancaster County. Marriage license bonds and baptisms of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1757-1799
 * Luzerne County. Marriage license dockets, 1885-1950
 * Montgomery County. Marriage license docket, 1885-1906; index, 1885-1973
 * Philadelphia County. Affidavit of applicant for marriage license (Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania), 1885-1915; index, 1885-1916
 * (Pennsylvania Archives. Series 6, Volume 6)Pennsylvania marriage licenses, 1784-86

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.