Sanilac County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for a Wyandot (Huron) chief named Sanilac. The County is located in the east area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth records from 1860, death records from 1867, marriage records from 1849, and divorce and court records from 1854 Probate Court has probate records Register of Deeds has land records

Parent County
1822--Sanilac County was created 10 September 1822 from St. Clair County and unorganized territory. It was attached to Oakland, St. Clair, and Lapeer Counties prior to organization 31 December 1849. County seat: Sandusky

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Michigan county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Michigan County Boundary Maps" (1790-1897) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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:

Neighboring Counties
Huron •  Lapeer  •  St. Clair  •  Tuscola

Biographies

 * From "Biographical Sketches of Sanilac County's War Heroes," by John W. Graham May 1, 1919

Census
 Federal Census
 * 1840 Census: 1840 US Census


 * 1850 Censis: 1850 Census Index


 * 1880 Census: Michigan - Sanilac County is missing about 1,600 people.

State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Emigration and Immigration

 * [sites.rootsweb.com/~misanila/settlers/settlerslist.html Sanilac County's Early Settlers]
 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Genealogies

 * Sanilac County Family Sites

Maps

 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Sanilac County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment)that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Sanilac County.

Online Records
 * at FamilySearch — index
 * 1876-1945 - at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1784 – 1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1797 – 1973 at FamilySearch — images

Vital Records

 * How to order Michigan Vital Records

Birth

 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1902 - Michigan Birth Registrations, 1867-1902-- Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as name of child, birthdate and place, if still-born, illegitimate or twin, gender, race and record number.

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 - Michigan, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1820-1937 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1820-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1868-1925 - Michigan Marriage Registrations, 1868-1925 -- Free name indexes at FamilySearch. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, date of license, ages, race, residences, birthplaces, occupations and names of the fathers of the bride and groom.

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1897 - Michigan Death Registrations, 1867-1897 - Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as name of deceased, date and place of death, gender, color, marital status, age in years, months and days, disease or apparent cause of death, birthplace, names and occupations of parents, and the date the record was made.

Societies and Libraries
Sanilac County Genealogical Society PO Box 293 Sandusky, Michigan 48471 Website


 * List of Michigan Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Libraries

 * Sandusky District Library Genealogy Page

Websites

 * Sanilac County, MI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Sanilac County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Sanilac County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)