Marin County, California Genealogy

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

Description
Marin County was named for "Marin", great chief of the tribe Licatiut". The county seat is San Rafael and the county was created February 18, 1850. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Marin County Courthouse 3501 Civic Center Drive San Rafael, CA 94903 Phone: 415-444-7000 Marin County Website

County Recorder has birth and death records from 1863, marriage records from 1856, land records from 1852. County Clerk has divorce and court records from 1900 and probate records from 1880.

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

 * Marin County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Surname Index, Marin County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Index to Marin County Biographies (CAGenWeb Project)

Census Records

 * 1850, 1870 Index to Marin County Census Transcriptions (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
 * San Rafael

 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
 * Original Mexican Land Grants from Mexico in Marin between 1834 and 1846 CAGenWeb Project)

Local Histories

 * Marin County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * A Brief History of Marin County (CAGenWeb Project)

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
 Civil War
 * 1883 Marin County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1886 Gen. McDowell Post No. 90, G. A. R. 1886 Civil War - Rosters (USGenWeb Archives)

World War I
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

 World War II
 * Index to Marin County World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1946 Marin County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

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

 * Index to Marin County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Marin County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Marin County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Corte Madera, and Tiburon areas.

Voting Records

 * 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 ($)

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

 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Birth

 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1874-1954 Some Marin County Birth Notices, 1874-1954 (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
 * 1863-1951 Some Marin County Marriage Notices, 1863-1951 (Genealogy Trails)

Death

 * 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Marin County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Corte Madera, and Tiburon areas.

Divorce

 * 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * Marin County Divorce Index (Genealogy Trails)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Oakland California FamilySearch Center
 * San Rafael California FamilySearch Center
 * Sonoma California FamilySearch Center
 * Vallejo California FamilySearch Center
 * California Genealogical Society Library - an affiliate library

Societies
Marin County Genealogical Society Phone: 415-479-2200 220 North San Pedro Rd San Rafael, CA 94903 Website

Websites

 * Marin County CAGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Marin County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Marin 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

 * Marin Research Guide at California State Library