Michigan, County Marriages Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1820-1937.

Images of marriage registers and certificates from county records. The content and time period varies by county. This collection only includes some records from the following counties: Allegan, Alpena, Eaton, and Missaukee. We do not have rights to publish the images.

Record Content
Marriage records may contain the following information:
 * Age of bride and groom
 * Calculated birth years
 * Parents’ names
 * Event place
 * Event date

How to Use the Record
As you are searching, it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, estimated marriage year, and family relationships.

Search the Collection
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

Using the Information

 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.
 * Use the county and the certificate number to obtain a copy of the original marriage certificate from the county.
 * Use the bride’s maiden name to locate additional family records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community.
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Check for variant spellings of the names.
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. In addition local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.
 * Search the records of nearby localities (or military units, counties, parishes, etc.).

General Information about These Records

 * Physical description or format of the original material
 * History of the record
 * Why the record was created
 * Reliability of the information in the record
 * Percentage of the population covered in the record
 * Preservation quality of the record

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually. Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):