GuidedResearch:Ohio Births Before 1867

This page will give you guidance and resources to find birth information for your ancestor in Ohio before 1867.

Online Resources

 * Ohio County Births - Ohio, County Marriages - ($), Index and images
 * Ohio Births and Christenings|Google search for the names of the bride & groom & place of marriage
 * | Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1774-1973

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Cincinnati was an area where the normal restrictions on marriage did not get enforced. It has been called a "Gretna Green". People from Ohio may have married in a different state for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Tips for finding marriages
Success with marriage records depends on a few key points.
 * Your ancestor's name may misspelled. Try the following search tactics:
 * Try searching using the spouse's name.
 * Try searching spelling variations for your ancestor.
 * Try different spelling variations of the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Try a given name search (leave out the last names)


 * Expand the date range of the search.
 * Try searching with the state name only instead of by county.
 * If your ancestor's name is common, try adding more information to narrow the search.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Cincinnati was an area where the normal restrictions on marriage did not get enforced. It has been called a "Gretna Green". People from Ohio may have married in a different state for similar reasons. (link to United States Guided Research page)
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens

Why the Record may not Exist
Marriage registration was handled by the counties until 1949, when the state vital records office kept the records.

Known Record Gaps
Many Hamilton County (includes Cincinnati) marriage records were destroyed by a courthouse fire in 1884.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Cincinnati was an area where the normal restrictions on marriage did not get enforced. It has been called a "Gretna Green". People from Ohio may have married in a different state for similar reasons.
 * Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens