North Dakota, County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of a name index and images to county marriage records acquired from local courthouses in North Dakota from 1872-1958. A small portion of the records are in poor condition with fragments of the original document remaining and some names partially visible. Images in this collection appear in some county records chronologically and alphabetically in others.

This collection will eventually include all counties in North Dakota and is being published as images and records become available. As of 14 August 2018 the collection includes records from the counties of:

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


 * Name of groom and bride
 * Maiden name of bride
 * Ages of groom and bride
 * Parents’ names


 * Date of marriage
 * Names of officiator and witnesses
 * Race of groom and bride
 * Marital status of groom and bride

Early marriages (before 1886) in North Dakota were not required to be registered but some were filed with the city clerk where the marriage occurred or where the bride or groom resided. A copy of a marriage certificate was presented to the married party if they requested one.

A federal law in 1887 required officiators to file marriage certificates in the county probate court. A state law in 1890 changed the place of filing to the county courts, implemented use of an Application for Marriage License, and requirement for the Judge of the County Court to keep a marriage record book. In later years, marriage licenses were issued and registered in the county clerk offices and sometimes in the office of the county treasurer.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of marriage

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?

 * Use the information to find vital records such as birth, christening and death records
 * Use the information to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for land and probate records

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

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of North Dakota.
 * North Dakota Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

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.