Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

Guide to Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
Avoyelles Parish was named for the Avoyel Native Americans and was created March 31, 1807. The parish seat is Marksville and is located in the east central area of the state.

Parish Courthouse
Avoyelles Parish Courthouse 312 North Main Street Marksville, LA 71351-2450 Phone: 318-253-7523 Avoyelles Parish Courthouse

Parish Clerk has marriage and land records from 1908, probate records from 1925, court records from 1929, divorce records from 1939 and military records from 1886.

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 parish:

Biographies

 * Avoyelles Parish Biography Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, Biographies (Genealogy Trails)

Census Records

 * Louisiana Census Images (USGenWeb Census Images Project)
 * Index to Avoyelles Parish Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Church Records

 * Louisiana Historical Church Information
 * Directory of Churches in Louisiana — at Church Angel — by city

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * Index to Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, Court Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * Louisiana African American Griots Project (USGenWeb Project)
 * Afrigeneas, African Ancestored Genealogy
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by parish

Local Histories

 * The Duplissey Family (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Civil War Letters Written By Jean Baptiste G. Gremillion April 1862-1865 (USGenWeb Archives)
 * The Story of Marksville, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Louisiana (1805-1990)
 * Louisiana Digital Map Library at USGen Web Archives
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this parish - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * Louisiana Military History Online
 * Index to Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)

 Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men in Avoyelles Parish served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their parish. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this parish:
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1883 Pensioners on the Rolls as of January 1, 1883, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1898-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1st Regiment, Louisiana Cavalry (Confederate), Company G

Civil War Battles The following Civil War battles were fought in Avoyelles Parish:
 * March 14, 1864 - Fort DeRussy.
 * May 16, 1864 - Mansura, also known as Smith's Place or Marksville.
 * May 18, 1864 - Yellow Bayou, also known as Norwood’s Plantation.
 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

World War I
 * 1917-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * Louisiana Newspaper List, listing by name/parish (USNPL)
 * Louisiana Newspaper listing (Newslink)

Obituaries

 * Obituaries and Death Notices, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Obituary Records for Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1756-1984 Louisiana Wills and Probate Records 1756-1984 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Social Security Records

 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * Index to Vital Records of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Birth Records, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1837-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, Marriages (USGenWeb Archives)
 * List of Early Marriages, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * Marriage Announcements, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Vital Records of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)

Death

 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1850 Mortality Schedule. Persons who Died during the Year ending 1st June, 1850 in The parish of Avoyelles, State of Louisiana. (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1860 Mortality Schedule. Persons who died during the year ending June 1, 1860, in the Parish of Avoyelles, State of Louisiana. (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1880 Mortality Schedule. Persons who died during the year ending May 31, 1880, in District 1, in the Parish of Avoyelles, State of Louisiana. (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Vital Records of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Alexandria Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Baker Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Baton Rouge Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Denham Springs Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Natchez Mississippi FamilySearch Center
 * Opelousas Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Alexandria Genealogical Library - an affiliate library
 * East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Livingston Parish Library - an affiliate library
 * St. Tammany Parish Public Library - an affiliate library
 * West Feliciana Parish Library - an affiliate library

Museums
Louisiana Museums

Societies

 * Commission Des Avoyelles PO Box 28 Hamburg, LA 71339-0028
 * Central Louisiana Genealogical Society PO Box 12206 Alexandria, LA 71315-2206 Website
 * Louisiana Historical Society 428 Hector Ave Metairie, La. 70005-4412 Website
 * Louisiana Historical Association 101 LSU Student Union LSU Box 25435 Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Website

Websites

 * Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, LAGenWeb
 * Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana Archives USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Genealogy Trails: Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
 * Avoyelles Parish LA Genealogy (LDSGenealogy)
 * Louisiana Genealogy & History Network
 * – 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.