Find Edison Genealogy Records
Edison Township is located in Middlesex County in central New Jersey. Named after the inventor Thomas Edison, the township is home to over 100,000 residents and has a diverse population with roots spanning many countries. The Office of Vital Records at the Health Department handles birth, death, and marriage records for events in Edison. The Edison Public Library provides additional genealogy research support. Whether you need a recent vital record or want to trace ancestors who lived in Edison decades ago, the township and county both offer records and resources for genealogy research.
Edison Quick Facts
Edison Vital Records for Genealogy
The Edison Township Office of Vital Records is at 100 Municipal Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Health Department, Edison, NJ 08817. The office keeps birth, marriage, and death records for events that occurred in Edison. Hours vary by day. Mondays the office is open from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Tuesday through Thursday hours are 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Fridays the office is open from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Each certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate costs $25. Marriage licenses and civil union licenses are $28. Corrections to vital records cost $50. The office accepts cash, money orders, and credit cards but does not take personal checks. For genealogy researchers, these Edison records provide key facts like dates, locations, and names of parents and spouses that connect one generation to the next.
Marriage license appointments in Edison must be made by emailing vitalrecords@edisonnj.gov. Appointments are available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only. There is a 72-hour mandatory waiting period after getting a marriage license, and the license is valid for 30 days. While this applies to current licenses, historical marriage records in Edison are a core part of genealogy work, linking families through documented unions.
Note: Edison vital records follow the same state restrictions as all New Jersey municipalities, so only authorized individuals can obtain certified copies.
Edison Public Library Genealogy
The Edison Public Library supports genealogy research through its reference collections and database access. Public libraries in New Jersey often provide free in-library access to Ancestry Library Edition, which includes census records, vital record indexes, immigration documents, and military files. These tools let you search for Edison ancestors without paying for a personal subscription.
Libraries are also a good place to find city directories, local histories, and community publications that mention Edison families. Census microfilm and newspaper archives can reveal household details, occupations, and neighbors. If your ancestor lived in Edison during a census year, the library may have the tools to find that record. Ask the reference desk about genealogy materials and databases available at the Edison library.
Edison Township Government Records
The Edison Township government website provides information about all township departments and services. For genealogy purposes, the site links to the Health Department's vital records section and offers contact details for other offices that may hold records of interest. Property records, meeting minutes, and other municipal documents can sometimes yield genealogy clues that are not found in vital records.
Edison was originally called Raritan Township before being renamed in 1954 in honor of Thomas Edison. If you are researching family who lived in the area before 1954, look for records under the name Raritan Township. This is a common sticking point for Edison genealogy researchers who search only under the current name and miss older records filed under the earlier name.
Township tax records, building permits, and property assessment files can show where ancestors lived and what they owned. These records are not traditional genealogy sources, but they can confirm addresses and dates that support findings from vital records and census data.
Middlesex County Genealogy Records
Edison is part of Middlesex County. The Middlesex County Clerk's Office is at the County Administration Building, 4th Floor, 75 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Phone is 732-745-3827. The clerk handles recording of deeds, mortgages, and liens, business trade names, military discharge records, and historical records including newspapers and archival microfilm. An online land records search portal is available with public access terminals. For Edison genealogy, county land records can document property transactions by your ancestors going back many decades.
The Middlesex County Surrogate's Office is at 75 Bayard Street, P.O. Box 790, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. Phone is (732) 745-3055 for general inquiries and (732) 745-3310 for records. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM, with in-person requests by appointment only. They offer a public online portal for searching their index of estates by last name, first name, docket number, or death date. This search is free and can help you find probate records tied to Edison families.
- Edison vital records office for birth, death, and marriage certificates
- Edison Public Library for database access and reference materials
- Middlesex County Clerk for land records and historical archives
- Middlesex County Surrogate for wills, estates, and probate files
- New Jersey State Archives for pre-1923 birth and pre-1948 marriage records
Note: The Middlesex County Surrogate charges $10 per estate search and $3 per page for copies of probate records.
State Resources for Edison Family Research
The New Jersey State Archives in Trenton has over 37,000 cubic feet of records and 32,000 reels of microfilm. Their vital record holdings include births from 1848 to 1923, marriages from 1848 to 1948, and deaths from 1848 to 1963. These records are free to view in person. The archives also hold colonial land records, military records, naturalization files, and probate records going back to the 1600s. Some of these may touch on families who lived in what is now Edison.
The New Jersey Department of Health maintains vital records from 1925 onward. Certified copies are $25 each. Online ordering is available through VitalChek. The New Jersey State Library has about 18,000 genealogy items and provides in-library access to Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest. The Genealogical Society of New Jersey and the NJ GenWeb Project offer additional support and community-sourced records for Edison genealogy research.
Remember that Edison was called Raritan Township until 1954. When searching state archives and online databases, try both names. Records for families who lived in the area before the name change will be filed under Raritan Township, not Edison. This simple step can open up records that might otherwise stay hidden in your Edison genealogy search.
Middlesex County Genealogy Records
Edison is in Middlesex County. The county clerk, surrogate, and library system all hold genealogy records that cover Edison and surrounding communities. For a full overview of Middlesex County genealogy resources and offices, visit the county page.