Kentucky, Vital Record Indexes - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of indexes of births, marriages and deaths from January 1911 to July 1999. These indexes were created by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives from data files obtained from the Office of Vital Statistics.

The first vital statistics laws were passed in 1852 but were repealed in 1962. Additional attempts were made to require recording of vital records between the years 1862 and 1911 when the current Office of Vital Statics was created.

The surviving lists, returns and certificates are in the State Archives in Frankfort. They are arranged by county and cover the following years:


 * 1852-1859
 * 1873-1879
 * 1893-1910
 * 1973-1999 (marriages only)

The cities of Covington, Lexington, Louisville and Newport also maintained birth and death registers from the late 1890s to 1911.

A number in the child's "middle name" field on a birth record indicates that no name was provided for the child. 1=boy child 2=girl child If the mother was unmarried the child was assigned the mother's first and last name. If the mother was married the child was assigned the father's first and last name.

Copies of original records are available from: Office of Vital Statistics 275 E. Main St. Frankfort, KY 40601 $ Fees apply

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

Birth
 * Name of the child
 * Gender
 * Names of the parents
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace

Marriage
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Groom's name
 * Bride's name including her maiden name
 * Names of the officiator and witnesses
 * Names of the parents or guardians of the bride and groom
 * Groom's place of birth
 * Bride's place of birth
 * Residences of the bride and groom
 * Bride and Groom's age
 * Bride and Groom's race
 * Marital status of the bride and groom

Death
 * Name of the deceased
 * Date of birth
 * Place of birth
 * Marital status
 * Gender
 * Race
 * Age at death
 * Occupation
 * Date of death
 * Time of death
 * Place of death
 * Address of the deceased
 * Parents’ names
 * Places of birth of the parents
 * Date of burial
 * Place of burial
 * Cause of death
 * Name and address of the informant

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching the collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The birth date and birthplace for your ancestor
 * The marriage date and place for your ancestor
 * The death date and death place for your ancestor
 * The names of family members and their relationships

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 Now?
When you have located your ancestor’s birth, marriage or death record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the information found to search for the family in census records
 * Use the information found to search for the family in land records
 * Use the information found to search for the family in church records
 * Use the information found to search for the family in additional state and county records
 * Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been born, married and/or died in the same place or nearby

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.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Kentucky.
 * Kentucky Guided Research
 * Kentucky Record Finder
 * 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.