Ohio Genealogy

by Becky Garrison ~ Last Updated:

From the Iroquoian word, Ohio means Good River. It is the first place in the Northwest Territory which was administered as a state. The state is considered to be abundant in heritage and records. According to surveys, Ohio is a place where agencies and institutions are open with its records for research. With this regard, Ohio is a good place for genealogic researches.

To gather pertinent records in order to give you a framework to work on, you need supporting papers or documents. Ohio provides you with such locations to gather such documents.

Fundamental Records

When your ancestors were born and deceased starting in 1867, then you can find information of them from the Probate Court in Ohio. During the early twentieth century, specifically 1908 until now, all records of births and deaths can be found at any local offices or in the local health department. Death records are also kept in The Ohio Historical Society.

For marriage documents, one can go to the Probate Court or the Department Health of Ohio to find such information.

Land and Tax Records

The County Recorder's Office in Ohio keeps documents pertaining to land issues such as surveys, deeds and mortgages. On the other hand, the County Auditor's Office is the home for tax records. You may also check with the LDS Family History Library for more information on tax documents.

Census and Probate Records

In public indexes, you will find census documentations from 1820 to 1920. Other census matters can be searched at the Common Pleas Court.

During the middle years of the nineteenth century, probate materials were located in the Common Pleas Court in Ohio. These days, you can find such information in the Probate Court.

Other documents which can be found in the Common Pleas Court are papers concerning legal matters such as citizenship, divorce, and manumission. Documents on various law cases are also obtainable in the said agency.

Education-related Records

Your ancestors in Ohio can be traced through their records in the institutions they have attended. If the institution is no longer operating, then such records can be asked from the Board of Education, County Auditor or the County Commissioners.

The records of Ohio's first schools (School for the Deaf and The Ohio State School) can be obtained at the Ohio Historical Society.

Armed Forces' Records

The Ohio Historical Society houses the documents regarding armed forces in Ohio from the 1812 war to the First World War. Alternatively, you can seek information about Ohio's armed forces in the county courthouse.

Aside from the above-mentioned agencies and institutions for you to find more about your family lineage, Ohio still offers more to further complete your genealogy study.

One important institution to conduct a genealogy study in Ohio is the Ohio Network of American History Research Centers or the ONAHRC. The said center is the umbrella organization for other archive sections and libraries.

An organization was also established to help genealogists in their quest; this is the Ohio Genealogical Society. You can find ample and relevant information regarding genealogy in Ohio.

You can visit the above-mentioned places in Ohio to locate records you wish to obtain. Alternatively, the internet is also a relevant tool for you to learn more about the said agencies and institutions.

Ohio Genealogy In The News


 Genealogy program set for Fairfield Women next week - Journal-News

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:24:00 GMT

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield Women Club will present a genealogy lesson at its next meeting on Thursday, March 11. The program, “Genealogy-Discovering Your Roots,” will be presented by Patrick Crippen, a trustee with the Ohio Genealogical Society ...


 Detailed Barrow genealogical record given to museum - Delta County Independent

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:56:00 GMT

Beulah (listed as Bulah Irene in the genealogy) wrote a “History of the Barrow Family.” The Barrows came from Richland County, Ohio in 1882 to Crested Butte, which was considered by the Barrows as a rough and tumble mining town. Since her ...


 NBC roots around in celebrities’ histories - Dayton Daily News

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:14:00 GMT

One of the few things less interesting to me than knowing what my great-great-grandfather may have been is knowing what some celebrity’s great-great-grandfather may have been. But NBC is betting that millions of viewers will be on their edge of ...


 Sarah Jessica Parker's family tree in Cincinnati - Cincinnati.com

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:56:00 GMT

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker admits she didn't know much about her mother's Cincinnati German roots before appearing on NBC's new genealogy show, "Who Do You Think You Are?" (8 p.m. Friday). "My mother was born and raised in Cincinnati's German ...


 Avon branch to have Family Night March 18 - Cleveland Plain Dealer

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:47:00 GMT

Bay Village Branch, 502 Cahoon Road, (440) 871-6392. • The Thursday Evening Book Discussion Group meets 7:30 p.m. through August and will featuring books by authors who have won the Anisfield-Wolf book prize. • Bit o’ the Irish, 2 p.m. Saturday ...