California, Alameda County, Land Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains images of indexes and deed records that are located at the Clerk-Recorder Offices in Oakland. Land records are primarily used to learn where an individual lived and when he or she lived there. They often reveal other family information, such as the name of a spouse, heir, other relatives, or neighbors. They may also include information about previous residences, occupations, military service, citizenship, and so forth. Most of the states in the United States are public domain states, which means the federal government controls the land. In state-land states, however, the state government appropriates all land within its borders.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The records generally include:
 * The name of buyer
 * The name of seller
 * The name of the spouse, heirs, other relatives, or neighbors
 * The place of residence at time of purchase
 * Occupation
 * Transaction dates
 * Amounts of monies exchanged, paid or assessed

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of you ancestor
 * The approximate date and place of the land transaction

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the County
 * 2) Select the Record Type, Volume, and Date Range to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the information found in the record to find additional land and property records that might have more information
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in the census records
 * Search for vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of California.
 * California Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.


 * Collection Citation: "California, Alameda County, Land Records, 1853-1920." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2018. Citing Clerk-Recorder Offices. Administration Building, Oakland.

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