Oakland County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The County has Pontiac as its seat and the County was created January 12, 1819. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1867, marriage and naturalization records from 1827.

History
The town of Rochester was formed at about the time Ann Arbor was formed in Washtenaw County, Michigan. It is north and west of Detroit. The Mack Family built the road that ran from Detroit to Pontiac and the road which split off that and went to Rochester.

Parent County
1819--Oakland County was created 12 January 1819 from Macomb County, Michigan. It was attached to Macomb County prior to organization 28 March 1820. County seat: Pontiac

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
Genesee •  Lapeer  •  Livingston  •  Macomb  •  Washtenaw  •  Wayne

Cemeteries

 * Irwin I. Cohn Michigan Jewish Cemetery Index - online index to more than 64,000 Jewish burials from the mid-1800’s to 1999.

Census
 State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Church Ward and Branch Records


 * Pontiac

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

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 Oakland 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 Oakland County.


 * - 1st Regiment, Michigan Cavalry, Company G

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
The Oakland County Clerk's office provides certified copies of Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates for these events that occurred in Oakland County. Birth Records prior to 1935 or Marriage/Death Records prior to 1942 are available in person or by mail only while other years can be requested online. Birth Records over 100 years old, all Marriage Records, and all Death Records are public information. Birth Records less than 100 years are available only to eligible persons.


 * 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

 * North Oakland Genealogical Society 825 Joslyn Rd. Lake Orion, MI 48362
 * Oakland County Genealogical Society PO Box 1094 Birmingham, MI 48012 Website
 * Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society 405 Oakland Ave. Pontiac, MI 48058 Website
 * Holly Historical Society 306 So. Saginaw St. Holly, MI 48442 Website

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


 * Bloomfield Hills Michigan Family History Center 37425 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 United States


 * Pontiac Michigan Family History Center 5464 Waterford Rd, Clarkston, MI 48346 United States


 * Rochester Michigan Family History Center 1618 Brewster Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48306 United States

Websites

 * 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.
 * Oakland County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)
 * Oakland County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)