Search New Jersey Genealogy Records
New Jersey genealogy records span more than 350 years of family history. The state holds birth, marriage, death, land, and probate records from as far back as 1664. You can search these records at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, through county clerk offices, and at local historical societies across all 21 counties. Many collections are now available online through free and paid databases. Whether you are tracing your first ancestor or building on years of research, New Jersey offers one of the most complete sets of genealogy records in the nation. Start your search below.
New Jersey Genealogy Quick Facts
New Jersey State Archives
The New Jersey State Archives is the main hub for genealogy research in the state. It sits at 225 West State Street in Trenton. The Archives holds over 37,000 cubic feet of paper records and more than 32,000 reels of microfilm. These records date from the founding of New Jersey as a British colony in 1664 up to the present day. The collections are open to the public free of charge.
The Archives Search Room has microfilm copies of vital records. Birth records cover 1848 through 1923. Marriage records go from 1848 to 1948. Death records span 1848 to 1963. You can view all of these on site at no cost. Searchable online databases include the Index to Marriage Records from 1666 to 1799 and the Index to Death Records from 1848 to 1900. The Archives also holds Colonial Marriage Bonds and Licenses from 1666 to 1799 in a searchable database.
The Archives search tools page provides access to these databases from home. You can look up names and dates before visiting in person.
Beyond vital records, the Archives maintains land records, probate files, military records, and naturalization documents for New Jersey genealogy research. Estate records include wills and inventories from 1670 to 1952. County Surrogates' Office records are on microfilm up to 1900 for most counties. The Archives also holds records relating to slaves and children of slaves. County clerks were required by law to record slave manumissions starting in 1786 under early New Jersey statutes. The Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery in 1804 required recording births of children of slave mothers. Tax ratables from 1773 to 1822 help trace early property ownership in New Jersey.
Note: The Archives is open to the public free of charge, but there are fees for photocopies and reprographic services.
NJ Vital Records for Genealogy
The New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry maintains more recent vital records. This office holds birth records starting at 1925, marriage records from 1951, and death records from 1951 forward. It is located at 140 East Front Street in Trenton. The toll-free phone number is 877-622-7549.
Genealogical records from this office have specific age limits. Births must be more than 80 years old. Marriages need to be over 50 years old. Deaths must be at least 40 years old. Under N.J. Rev. Stat. § 26:8-24, the State registrar maintains a comprehensive index of all vital records arranged by name. The fee is $25 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. For genealogical searches, each additional year costs $1.
Walk-in hours are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Mail requests take 10 to 12 weeks to process. For records older than 100 years, the Department directs you to the State Archives.
Genealogy Collections at NJ Libraries
The New Jersey State Library has about 18,000 items in its genealogy collection. This includes 6,000 family histories covering families from New Jersey and nearby states. The library also holds 1,000 New Jersey city directories. These are helpful for tracking ancestors between census years. The collection is at 185 West State Street in Trenton.
The library provides electronic subscriptions to Ancestry.com Library Edition, HeritageQuest, and NewsBank. Members of the public may use these at the State Street location in Trenton. It also has hand-written and published lineage charts. A large New Jersey newspaper collection is available, and historic digitized newspapers can be found through the New Jersey Digital Newspaper Project. The genealogy collection does not circulate. You must use it on site.
The NJ State Library catalog lets you search holdings from home before visiting in person.
Online New Jersey Genealogy Databases
Several databases offer New Jersey genealogy records online. Ancestry.com has New Jersey birth, marriage, and death records from 1711 to 1878 with index and images. The site includes 1.6 million birth and christening records from 1660 to 1931. Over 300,000 marriage records cover 1670 to 1965. All federal census years for New Jersey from 1790 to 1950 are also on Ancestry. A subscription is required, but many New Jersey libraries offer the Library Edition for free in-library use.
FamilySearch offers free access to millions of New Jersey genealogy records. Collections include births and christenings from 1660 to 1980, marriages from 1670 to 1980, and deaths from 1798 to 1971. New Jersey state census records for 1855, 1865, 1895, and 1915 are available with images. Probate records from 1678 to 1980 and naturalization records from 1796 to 1991 are also on the site. You need a free account to search.
Reclaim The Records acquired microfilmed indices to about 445,000 New Jersey vital records. These include birth, marriage, and death indices from the early 1900s. All files are free on the Internet Archive with no restrictions. This was the first time post-1900 vital records from New Jersey became publicly available online.
Note: Not all FamilySearch records have been indexed, so browse the catalog listings for each county to find the full range of available records.
Historical Societies in New Jersey
The New Jersey Historical Society sits at 52 Park Place in Newark. The library holds about 1,200 family files with unpublished material on New Jersey families. A collection of published family histories is in closed stacks. The New Jersey Biographical Card Index has 75,000 entries. Church records include baptismal, marriage, and burial records from many denominations. The manuscript collection has 1,700 groups across 3,200 linear feet. Museum admission is $4 per person. Library admission is $7.
The Genealogical Society of New Jersey was founded in 1925. It publishes the quarterly Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey. Its collections are housed at the Alexander Library on the Rutgers New Brunswick campus. The Society offers cemetery transcriptions, state census guides, and locality guides for individual counties. A listing of professional genealogists is available for those who need research help.
Each of the 21 counties in New Jersey also has local historical societies. Many hold records not found in state collections. These include Bible records, cemetery transcriptions, church records, and local newspaper archives useful for genealogy research.
Federal Records for NJ Genealogy
The Library of Congress New Jersey Research Guide provides a timeline showing that colonial records to 1848 appear in published vital records. Statewide registration began in 1848. The guide covers adoption records, records relating to enslaved persons, and published vital records in genealogical publications. Ancestry Library Edition is available on site at the Library of Congress.
The National Archives at New York City holds federal records from agencies and courts in New Jersey. This includes census records, military records, naturalization records, and immigration records. The facility is at One Bowling Green, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10004. The research room is open to the public with a valid photo ID. Staff can help you find records for New Jersey genealogy research.
Free Genealogy Resources Online
The NJ GenWeb Project is part of the USGenWeb Project. It offers free genealogy websites for every county in New Jersey. Each county page has local records, histories, query boards, and cemetery transcriptions. Volunteers post transcriptions of wills, deeds, and court records. The project is fully non-commercial.
The New Jersey Digital Highway focuses on history and culture. It has digital collections from museums, libraries, and archives across the state. Materials from Rutgers University Special Collections and the New Jersey Historical Society are accessible through the site. The platform includes pages on researching and documenting family history in New Jersey.
Many New Jersey genealogy resources are available at no cost. Free databases, volunteer transcriptions, and public library access to paid services give researchers of all budgets a way to trace their family roots. County and city libraries often offer Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest for in-library use.
New Jersey Vital Records Law
New Jersey law governs who can access vital records and how they are maintained. Under N.J. Rev. Stat. § 26:8-24, the State registrar has general supervision over all vital records registration statewide. The registrar must prepare and maintain a comprehensive, continuous index of all vital records. Birth records are filed by the child's name. Death records are indexed by the decedent's name. Marriages are filed under the surnames of both parties.
New Jersey vital records are not public records. Access is limited to the subject, immediate family, legal representatives, or those with a court order. Proof of relationship is required for certified copies. For genealogical research, records must meet age requirements before they become available. These restrictions are important for anyone doing New Jersey genealogy research to understand before requesting records.
Note: For genealogical search fees, N.J. Rev. Stat. § 26:8-64 sets the cost at $25 plus $1 for each additional year searched.
Additional NJ Research Tools
New Jersey genealogy research often extends beyond vital records. Land records at county clerk offices can trace property ownership across generations. Many counties have records going back to the late 1600s. Probate records at county surrogate courts reveal family relationships through wills and estate inventories. Military records at the State Archives cover the Colonial era through modern conflicts. Naturalization records help trace immigrant ancestors who settled in New Jersey.
Key record types for New Jersey genealogy include:
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates from state and local offices
- Census records from federal and New Jersey state censuses
- Land deeds and mortgage records at county clerks
- Wills and probate files at county surrogate courts
- Church baptism, marriage, and burial records
- Naturalization and immigration documents
- Military service and pension records
Each county clerk and surrogate office has different record start dates. Contact the specific office before visiting. Many now offer online search portals for land records and estate indices across New Jersey.
Browse New Jersey Genealogy by County
Each county in New Jersey maintains its own genealogy records through the county clerk, surrogate, and local historical societies. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for genealogy records in that area.
Genealogy Records in Major NJ Cities
Many New Jersey cities have their own vital records offices and local history collections. Select a city below to find genealogy resources specific to that area.