Elizabeth Genealogy Record Search
Elizabeth is the county seat of Union County and one of the oldest cities in New Jersey. It was first settled in 1664, making it one of the earliest English settlements in the state. For genealogy researchers, this long history means records go back centuries. The city clerk holds vital statistics records at City Hall. The Elizabeth Public Library has local history and genealogy collections. Union County offices in Elizabeth maintain land records, probate files, and military discharge records. Searching for family records in Elizabeth connects you to a deep well of local, county, and state genealogy resources.
Elizabeth Quick Facts
Elizabeth Vital Records and Genealogy
The Elizabeth City Clerk handles vital statistics at 2 Broad Street, Room 115, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. You can reach the office at 908-820-4082 for Union County vital statistics questions. Birth, marriage, and death records for events in Elizabeth are available here. These records are the starting point for most Elizabeth genealogy research.
New Jersey law restricts access to vital records. They are not public. You must be the person named on the record, a close family member, a legal representative, or hold a court order to get a certified copy. Valid photo ID and proof of relationship are required at the counter. The standard fee for certified copies in New Jersey is $25 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
For older Elizabeth genealogy records, the New Jersey State Archives holds birth records from 1848 to 1923, marriage records from 1848 to 1948, and death records from 1848 to 1963 on microfilm. These older records are open to the public. The Department of Health in Trenton has records from 1925 onward.
Note: Elizabeth was once the capital of New Jersey, so some of the earliest colonial records for the state touch on events that happened here.
Elizabeth Public Library Genealogy
The Elizabeth Public Library at 11 South Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202 has a local history and genealogy section. Phone is 908-354-6060. The library holds archives of the Elizabeth Daily Journal and online exhibits related to the city's past. These newspaper archives are a strong tool for Elizabeth genealogy. Obituaries, birth announcements, marriage notices, and news stories can fill in family details that vital records alone cannot provide.
Local libraries often hold city directories, census microfilm, and community publications that are not available anywhere else. The Elizabeth Public Library is a good place to look for these materials. City directories list residents by name and address, and they were published more often than census records. This makes them useful for tracking Elizabeth families who moved within the city or changed occupations over time.
Elizabeth has been a gateway city for immigrants for over three centuries. Many families from Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean settled here. Church records, school records, and community organization files can help trace these families when government records fall short. The library can point you toward these local sources for Elizabeth genealogy research.
Union County Genealogy Records
Elizabeth serves as the seat of Union County. County offices are located right in the city. The Union County Clerk's Office is at Courthouse, Room 115, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Phone is 908-527-4787. The clerk holds land records from 1857 and military discharge records from 1941. Land records are useful for genealogy because they show when ancestors bought, sold, or inherited property. Military discharge records can confirm service dates and personal details for veterans in your family.
The Union County Surrogate's Office handles wills, estate administration, and guardianship records. They have an Elizabeth office at 2 Broad Street, Old Annex, Second Floor, Elizabeth, NJ 07207, and a Westfield office at 300 North Avenue East, Westfield, NJ 07090. Phone is 908-527-4280. Both locations operate by appointment only. Wills and estate files are among the most valuable genealogy records because they often list children, spouses, and other relatives by name.
The Union County Libraries system can also support your Elizabeth genealogy research with access to databases and reference materials across multiple branch locations.
Elizabeth Historical Sites and Records
Boxwood Hall State Historic Site at 1073 East Jersey Street in Elizabeth is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Phone is 908-282-7617. Also known as the Boudinot Mansion, this site connects to the early history of Elizabeth and New Jersey. While Boxwood Hall is not a genealogy records office, it provides historical context for the era when your earliest Elizabeth ancestors may have lived.
Elizabeth's history as a colonial capital and early industrial center means records exist in many places. The New Jersey State Archives holds colonial marriage bonds from 1666 to 1799, naturalization records, and early land records. These collections cover all of New Jersey but include many entries tied to Elizabeth and Union County. The New Jersey State Library has 6,000 family histories and 1,000 city directories that may include Elizabeth families.
- Elizabeth City Clerk for local vital records
- Union County Clerk for land and military records
- Union County Surrogate for wills and estate files
- Elizabeth Public Library for newspaper archives and local history
- New Jersey State Archives for colonial and early state records
Note: Union County was formed in 1857 from Essex County, so Elizabeth genealogy records before that year may be found in Essex County files.
Online Elizabeth Genealogy Resources
Several online tools can help with Elizabeth genealogy research. Ancestry.com offers New Jersey census records, vital record indexes, and immigration data. The NJ GenWeb Project has volunteer-run pages for Union County with transcribed records and local research guides. The Genealogical Society of New Jersey offers publications and research support for all New Jersey family historians.
Online databases work best when combined with local records. A census entry from Ancestry might give you a household address in Elizabeth. Then a city directory at the library can confirm who else lived at that address. A probate record at the surrogate's office might name the same people as heirs. Each source strengthens the others. Elizabeth genealogy research is most effective when you layer online and in-person sources together.
Union County Genealogy Overview
Elizabeth is part of Union County. Many genealogy records for Elizabeth residents are held at county offices located in the city itself. For a complete guide to Union County genealogy resources, record offices, and helpful links, visit the county page.