Merced County, California Genealogy

Guide to Merced County, California ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named from the Merced River, or El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (River of Our Lady of Mercy); named in 1806 by an expedition, headed by Gabriel Moraga, which came upon it at the end of a hot dusty ride. The county seat Merced and the county was created 1855. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Merced County Courthouse 2260 N Street Merced, CA 95340 Phone: 209-725-4100 Merced County Website

County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1855. County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and burial Records

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Biographies

 * A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, California. New Haven, Connecticut : Research Publications, 1968. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * Biographies of Merced County, California (CAGenWeb Project)
 * Index to Merced County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Census Records

 * 1870 Merced County Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Church Records
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Merced

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1856-1885 (*); Merced County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1921 (*); Merced County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * California Land Patents Database, Merced County (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * Merced County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * California Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of California (1850-1925)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration

 * 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Military Records

 * Merced County History & Military Information - Scroll down to pertinent links. (CAGenWeb Project)

 Civil War World War I
 * 1883 Merced County List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1886 Merced County Veterans, Hancock Post No. 104, G. A. R. 1886 (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

 World War II
 * Index to Merced County World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Merced County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)

 Korean War
 * Merced County Korean War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
 * California, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Obituaries

 * Merced County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Index to Merced County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)

Voting Records

 * Merced County Great Register of Voters, 1868-1898 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1782-1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry— index and images ($)
 * 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Vital Records

 * Merced County Vital Records (CAGenWeb Project)

Birth

 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Merced County Birth Notices, 1870-1884 (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
 * Merced County Marriage Notices, 1868-1962 (Genealogy Trails)

Death

 * 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)

Divorce

 * 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

FamilySearch Centers

 * Los Banos California FamilySearch Center
 * Madera California FamilySearch Center
 * Mariposa California FamilySearch Center
 * Merced California FamilySearch Center
 * Modesto California FamilySearch Center
 * Oakhurst California FamilySearch Center
 * Turlock California FamilySearch Center
 * Madera County Library - an affiliate library

Societies
Merced County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 3061 Merced, CA 95344 Website Merced County Historical Society Courthouse Museum 21st &amp; N Streets Merced, CA 95340 Website

Websites

 * Merced County CAGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Linkpendium
 * Merced County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Merced County CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

 * Merced Research Guide at California State Library