California County Marriages, 1843-1918 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection is an index to selected marriage records in California for the years from 1843-1918. Most of the entries are for Napa County. Due to privacy restrictions, the images associated with these indexes are unavailable at this time.

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

Marriage
 * The name of the bride and groom
 * Age
 * Birth year
 * Birthplace
 * Parents’ names
 * Marriage date
 * Marriage place
 * Marital status
 * Race
 * Previous spouse
 * Title
 * DGS number
 * File number
 * Page/Volume/Entry/Certificate number

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the bride or groom
 * The approximate date of marriage
 * The place where the marriage took place

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 Next?
If these are indexes, the original records may contain additional information than was not indexed, or the information might have been indexed incorrectly. You may want to search for the original record at the California Archives.

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

 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find other vital records such as birth, baptism, or death
 * Use the information found in the record to find family members in census records
 * Search for other family members in the marriage index

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

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * 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 California.
 * California Guided Research
 * California Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

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.