Wisconsin, Births - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection consists of an index to selected birth records indexed by FamilySearch and various church and vital records for the years 1852 to 1933. Depending on the locality and time period the collection may also include other records such as baptismal records, register of members of the congregation, marriage registers and death registers.

Some of the records are in written in German Gothic script. For help reading these records see the wiki articles:


 * German Word List
 * Deciphering German Script (Kurrentschrift)

Record Content
The index contains the following information:


 * Name of child
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Parent's names and residences
 * Film number

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know:


 * Name of the child
 * Identifying information such as the birth date and place or the parents' names

Search the Collection
To search by index: Fill in the requested information on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about those in the list to what you already know about your own ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

To browse by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "_____________" ⇒Select the appropriate "_____________" ⇒Select the appropriate "_____________" which takes you to the images.

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

With either search keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * Use the child’s birth year and place to find his family in census, church, and land records.
 * Use the county code and the certificate number to obtain a copy of the original birth certificate from the county.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur.

=== Unable to Find Your Ancestor?


 * Check for variant spellings of the names.
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. In addition local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.
 * Search the records of nearby localities (or military units, counties, parishes, etc.).

Related Websites
Wisconsin Birth Records Directory

Related Wiki Articles
Wisconsin Vital Records

Citations for This Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation: