Ocean County, New Jersey Genealogy

Guide to Ocean County, New Jersey ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
Ocean County is located in the east central region of the state. It was created in 1850. Toms River is the county seat. The county was named for the Atlantic Ocean, which forms the eastern border of New Jersey.

County Courthouse
Ocean County Courthouse 118 Washington Street Toms River, NJ 08754 Phone: 732-504-0700 Ocean County Website

County Clerk has 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:

History Timeline

 * 1857, boundary with Burlington County clarified.
 * 1869, part of Plumsted twp. to Monmouth County.
 * 1891, received Little Egg Harbor twp. from Burlington County.
 * 1906, coastal boundary defined.
 * 1928, part of Howell twp. from Monmouth County.

Census Records

 * 1855 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * 1675-1970 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1708-1985 Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – ($), free to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry.com – $; 7,542,774 entries. This database is incomplete for all counties.
 * Contains the church records of:
 * Barnegat City: St. Peter's Chapel
 * Beach Haven: Holy Innocents Church
 * Beachwood: St. Paul Lutheran Church
 * Tuckerton: First Presbyterian Church

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

Local Histories

 * New Jersey Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1796-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1905-1944 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1582-1932 Island, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1656-1999 New Jersey Wills and Probate Records 1656-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1670-1760 Calendar of New Jersey Wills 1670-1760 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * 1670-1817 New Jersey Abstract of Wills 1670-1817 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * 1678-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only; Use the Surrogate's Docket Index 1700-1972 to obtain the Docket Number for the name. Then, use the Docket Number to locate the correct Estate file.

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

 * 1600-1990 New Jersey Vital Records, Historical Society of Pennsylvania at Findmypast — index & images ($)
 * 1660-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; ''Also at: Ancestry Index ($)
 * 1746-1795 New Jersey Baptisms 1746-1795 at Findmypast — index($)
 * 1901-1903 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Marriage

 * 1600s-1900s US Marriages, New Jersey at Findmypast — index($)
 * 1670-1965 New Jersey Marriage Records, 1670-1965 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1670-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1678-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1683-1802 New Jersey Marriage Records, 1683-1802 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1684-1895 New Jersey Compiled Marriage Records, 1684-1895 at Ancestry — index($)
 * 1901-1914 New Jersey Marriage License Index, 1901-1914 at MyHeritage — index($)
 * 1901-2016 New Jersey Marriage Index, 1901-2016 at Ancestry — index($);
 * 1901-2016 New Jersey Marriage Index, 1901-2016 at Findmypast - Browse index ($)
 * 1915-2016 New Jersey Marriage License Index, 1915-2016 at MyHeritage — index($)
 * For a complete list of all New Jersey Marriage databases

Death

 * 1600-1990 New Jersey Vital Records, Historical Society of Pennsylvania at Findmypast — index & images ($)
 * 1798-1971 New Jersey Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971 at Ancestry — index($)
 * 1848-1878 Death Records, May 1848 - May 1878 at New Jersey State Archives - index, $ for photocopies
 * 1878-1900 Death Records, June 1878 - December 1900 at New Jersey Department of State — index, $ for photocopies
 * 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1901-2017 The New Jersey Death Index at New Jersey Death Index — index; Also at: Ancestry index ($)
 * 1920-2017 New Jersey Death Index, 1920-1929, 1949-2017 at MyHeritage — index($)
 * For a complete list of all New Jersey Death databases

FamilySearch Centers

 * Cherry Hill New Jersey FamilySearch Center
 * Eatontown New Jersey FamilySearch Center
 * Toms River New Jersey FamilySearch Center
 * Vineland New Jersey FamilySearch Center
 * Gloucester County Historical Society - an affiliate library
 * Haddon Heights Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Monmouth County Library - Allentown - an affiliate library
 * Monmouth County Library - Howell - an affiliate library
 * Monmouth County Library - Oceanport - an affiliate library
 * Monmouth County Library - West Long Branch - an affiliate library

Societies
Ocean County Historical Society Museum 26 Hadley Ave PO Box 2191 Toms River, NJ 08753 Telephone: 732-341-1880 Website Historical Society Of Ocean Grove 53 Central Avenue Ocean Grove NJ Facebook

Websites

 * The Ocean County NJGenWeb Project, a member of The NJGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Ocean County NJ Genealogy


 * – 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.