Sonoma County, California Genealogy

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

Description
The county seat Santa Rosa and the county was created 1850. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Sonoma County Courthouse 3055 Cleveland Ave Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Phone: 707-521-6500 Sonoma County Website

County Recorder has birth, marriage, death and land records. County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1850.

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

 * Index to Sonoma County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Sonoma County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Census Records

 * 1850 Sonoma County Federal Census, 20 October 1850 (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1860 Laporte ,Township #1, Sonoma California Census (Genealogy Trails)

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
 * Santa Rosa

 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
 * 1812-1903 (*); United States. General Land Office. Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1847-1901 (*); Sonoma County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1856-1906 (*); Sonoma County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1857-1917 (*); Sonoma County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * 1858-1883 (*); Sonoma County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
 * Sonoma County Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Sonoma County Recorder's Website - deeds are indexed back through 1964 with originals available for purchase online
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * Index to Sonoma County History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * California Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

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

 * 1846-1900 Index to Militia Lists of Sonoma County, California, 1846-1900 (CAGenWeb Project)

 Civil War
 * Civil War Veterans Rosters, G.A.R. Posts, Sonoma County, California (USGenWeb Archives)

Regiments. Civil War service men in Sonoma County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this county:
 * - 2nd Regiment, California Infantry (Union), Company D

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

 World War II
 * Index to Sonoma County World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Sonoma 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
 * 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 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

Obituaries

 * Index to Sonoma County Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Sonoma County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Sonoma County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the Santa Rosa area as well as those of celebrities and VIP's.

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 ($)
 * 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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

Birth

 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Sonoma County Early Birth Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1800-2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1844-1860 Sonoma County, California Marriages (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * Western States Marriage Index at BYU-Idaho
 * Sonoma County Early Marriage Notices by year (Genealogy Trails)

Death

 * 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)

Divorce

 * 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

FamilySearch Centers

 * Cloverdale California FamilySearch Center
 * Concord California FamilySearch Center
 * Fairfield California FamilySearch Center
 * Highlands California FamilySearch Center
 * Napa California FamilySearch Center
 * San Rafael California FamilySearch Center
 * Santa Rosa California FamilySearch Center
 * Sonoma California FamilySearch Center
 * Vacaville California FamilySearch Center
 * Vallejo California FamilySearch Center
 * Napa Valley Genealogical & Biographical Society - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Sonoma County History And Genealogy Library 211 E Street Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Website

Societies

 * Sonoma County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 2273 Santa Rosa 95405 Website
 * Sonoma County Historical Society P.O. Box 1373 Santa Rosa 95402 Website
 * Sonoma Valley Historical Society P.O. Box 861 Sonoma 95476 Website

Websites

 * Sonoma County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Sonoma County, California Genealogy Trails
 * Sonoma 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.