Find Bergen County Genealogy

Bergen County is the most populous county in New Jersey. It sits in the northeast corner of the state, just west of the Hudson River. The county seat is Hackensack. Genealogy records in Bergen County go back to 1683, when it was one of the first four counties formed in East Jersey. Researchers can search birth, death, marriage, land, probate, and naturalization records at several Bergen County offices. This guide shows where to look and how to access these genealogy files.

Bergen County Clerk Records

The Bergen County Clerk's Office is the place to start for many types of genealogy records. Bergen County was created on March 7, 1683, making it one of the oldest counties in New Jersey. The Clerk holds marriage records from 1795 to 1879. Divorce records begin in 1955. Court records and naturalization files dating from 1779 to 1929 are on hand as well. These naturalization records are a gold mine for tracing immigrant ancestors who settled in Bergen County.

Land records go back to 1766. Mortgages start from 1785. The office also handles deed recording, passport services, notary commissions, trade name filings, and election services. The Bergen County official website moved to a new URL and is the best place to check for current hours and online services.

If your ancestor owned land or ran a business in Bergen County before the American Revolution, the Clerk's land records are where you will find proof. These files help confirm family connections when paired with church records and census data.

Bergen County Probate Genealogy

The Bergen County Surrogate's Court is at the Bergen County Justice Center, Two Bergen County Plaza, Fifth Floor, Suite 5000, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Michael R. Dressler serves as Surrogate. Phone is (201) 336-6700. Probate records in Bergen County date back to 1698, nearly 330 years of estate files for genealogy research.

The court handles wills, estate administration, guardianships, and adoptions. Remote probate is available by mail, email, or other tools. The office has helped many Bergen County residents complete the process without an in-person visit since April 2020. A booklet called "How to Probate a Last Will & Testament in the Bergen County Surrogate's Court" is offered in English, Korean, and Spanish. To file, you need the original will sent by tracked mail, a certified death certificate, fiduciary details, names of next of kin, and two forms of ID.

For records searches, email bersurrrecords@bergencountynj.gov. Wills and inventories from Bergen County are also on microfilm at the New Jersey State Archives for dates up to about 1900. The State Archives holds over 37,000 cubic feet of paper records and 32,000 reels of microfilm that span all New Jersey counties.

Note: Send original wills only by FedEx, UPS, or certified mail with tracking to ensure safe delivery to the Bergen County Surrogate's Court.

Bergen County Library Resources

The Bergen County Cooperative Library System links dozens of member libraries across the county. The system offers eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, and a wide set of online databases. A shared catalog lets you search across all member libraries at once. JerseyClicks databases cover business, literature, current events, and other topics useful for genealogy context.

Local library branches may hold Bergen County history collections, old maps, city directories, and newspaper microfilm. These items help fill gaps in official records. Newspaper archives are especially useful for finding death notices, marriage announcements, and community news tied to your Bergen County ancestors.

Searching Bergen County Genealogy Online

Several online tools hold Bergen County genealogy records. Ancestry.com has New Jersey vital records from 1660 onward, census data through 1950, and wills and probate files from 1656 to 1999. A subscription is needed for full access, but many libraries offer the Library Edition for free on-site use.

FamilySearch provides free access to New Jersey births and christenings from 1660 to 1980, marriages from 1670 to 1985, and death records from 1798 to 1971. The site also has probate records from 1678 to 1980 and naturalization records from 1796 to 1991. The Genealogical Society of New Jersey produces a Bergen County locality guide with updated records access details. Their collections are housed at the Alexander Library on the Rutgers campus.

The Reclaim the Records project put about 445,000 New Jersey vital record indices online at the Internet Archive for free. These indices cover births, marriages, and deaths from the early 1900s. They can point you to the exact record you need from the State Archives. Under N.J. Rev. Stat. 26:8-24, the State registrar keeps a full alphabetical index of all vital records, which supports these online search efforts.

Note: Not all FamilySearch records have been indexed, so browse the catalog listings for Bergen County to see the full range of available files.

Bergen County Family History Tips

Bergen County has deep roots. Dutch settlers arrived in the 1600s. The county's early records reflect this heritage. Church records from Dutch Reformed congregations are among the oldest genealogy sources in the state. Many of these church records have been published or microfilmed.

Here are steps to guide your Bergen County genealogy search:

• Start with what you know and work backward one generation at a time
• Check the Surrogate's probate records from 1698 for wills that name family members
• Use the Clerk's naturalization records from 1779 to 1929 for immigrant ancestors
• Search land records from 1766 to trace property transfers between family members
• Visit the NJ GenWeb Project for free cemetery transcriptions and query boards

The Library of Congress New Jersey research guide explains that colonial marriage bonds from 1666 to 1799 are searchable online through the State Archives. This database is free and covers all of New Jersey, including Bergen County. Manumission records required by law after 1786 are also held at the State Archives and can reveal details about enslaved people in Bergen County.

Cities in Bergen County

Bergen County has 70 municipalities, the most of any county in New Jersey. Hackensack, Fort Lee, Paramus, Teaneck, and Englewood are among the largest. All genealogy records for these towns are filed through Bergen County offices in Hackensack.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bergen County. Families who lived near the edges of Bergen County may have records filed in an adjacent county. Always check the exact town of residence to confirm where genealogy records are held.