Find A Grave Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection is an index courtesy of Find A Grave, an expansive family history database of records and images from the world's cemeteries. The index covers the years 1500-2013.

This collection provides limited indexed data only; for a much richer user experience, including access to photographs, portraits, biographies, and stories, visit FindAGrave.com

This collection is being published as information becomes available from Find A Grave.

Collection Content
The records usually contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Year of death
 * Cemetery where buried

The records contain:


 * User name of the contributor, and a link to the contributor's profile page
 * An edit button where details/information can be submitted to the contributor for approval
 * A button to upload a photo
 * A button to request a memorial photo be added

They may also include the following:


 * Full death date
 * Birth year or full birth date
 * Cemetery plot location and/or GPS coordinates
 * Relationship links to other family members buried in the same or other cemeteries
 * Photo of the headstone
 * Other biographical information

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know the following:
 * The name of the deceased
 * The approximate date of death
 * The location of the burial

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.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed.

Next click on your ancestor's name in the search results list. This will take you to the grave entry in the "FindAGrave Index."

Again, download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors. The following examples show ways you can use the information:


 * Use the birth and death dates to obtain copies of birth and death certificates
 * Use the name, dates and burial place to search for census, church and land records
 * Use the name and burial information to obtain a cemetery record and funeral records. These records often list family members and residences

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may also be listed in the index
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct. You may need to compare the information of more than one family or person to make this determination
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * If you already know where your ancestor was buried, search the records of that cemetery
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals with the same family number

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.

"Find A Grave Index." Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 12 September 2017. Citing index and images. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com : 2014.
 * Collection Citation: