Niagara County, New York Genealogy

∣ Societies and Family History Resources ∣ Government Records ∣ Genealogy Links ∣ Publications ∣ Census Records ∣
∣ Court, Probate, Land and Tax Records ∣ Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records ∣
∣ Cemeteries & Graveyards ∣ Church & Bible Records ∣ County History ∣ Military Records ∣ Schools & Directories ∣

Niagara County, New York family history and genealogy research page. Uncover links to record collections, history, and genealogy information to help you you track your own Niagara Co., ancestors. Begin by building a Free Family Tree.

Niagara County

Niagara County was created on March 11, 1818 from Genesee County. This particular county was named for an Iroquoian word perhaps meaning "a neck" between two bodies of water, "thunder of waters", or "bisected bottom land".

The Niagara County Seat can be found in Lockport and in addition the county government website is www.niagaracounty.com/

Regions neighboring Niagara County include Orleans County (east), Genesee County (southeast), Erie County (south), Province of Ontario (west), Lake Ontario (north).

Cities and Towns to be found in Niagara County consists of Barker (village), Cambria (town), Gasport, Hartland (town), Lewiston (village), Lewiston (town), Lockport (town), Lockport (city), Middleport (village), Newfane (town), Niagara Falls (city), Niagara (town), North Tonawanda (city), Olcott, Pendleton (town), Porter (town), Ransomville, Rapids, Royalton (town), Somerset (town), South Lockport, Wheatfield (town), Wilson (village), Wilson (town), Youngstown (village).

Niagara County does have Federal Census Schedules to help in looking into your family tree. United states federal Population Schedules are present for 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940. Niagara Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Niagara Co. Industry and Agriculture is available for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Niagara Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be obtained for 1890. You can get free downloadable and also printable census forms that can help with your research.

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Niagara County Societies and Family History Resources

A list of Niagara County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also New York Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.

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Niagara County Courthouse and Government Records

Researchers frequently overlook the significance of Niagara County court, probate, and land documents as a resource of family history and genealogy details. Buried away in New York courthouses and archives just about everywhere could be the aspirations and worries of the many New York men and women.

The possibilities are excellent that your particular ancestors and forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of factors of their lives in the Niagara County court records. Even if your forebears is not discussed in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her appearing in court records.

Please make sure to contact the clerk's office to verify hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics prior to visiting or inquiring information because of occasionally changing contact details. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The files are readily available to interested parties, barring confidential issues. A good number of staff will help people in locating the resources, however it is up to the person to carry out the research.

The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Niagara county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county. Records for the period 1813—21 are in Buffalo, which was the county seat of Niagara until Erie was created; earlier records were destroyed when the British burned the Buffalo courthouse in 1813.

  • Niagara County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
    • Address: 175 Hawley Street, Lockport, New York 14094-2740
    • Also contact local Town Clerks. They are responsible for vast amounts of local information from deeds, property transfers, and genealogical materials. Research on place and road names, the history of property transfers and much more are available through your Town Clerk. They are a tremendous resources.
  • Niagara County Clerk  is the keeper of most civil and criminal trial court records for Supreme Court and County Court, naturalizations, marriages (1908–35), censuses (Some county clerks' offices hold duplicate copies of some of the State censuses taken periodically between 1825 and 1925 and copies of the federal census), as well as deeds and mortgages.
    • Phone: (716) 439-7025
    • Land Records: 1821 (Land conveyances, deeds and mortgages are recorded in the county clerks' offices or in the New York City Register's Office. Recording of deeds became mandatory statewide in 1840. Before that many deeds were not recorded)
    • Court Records: 1821
    • Naturalization Records: State court naturalization records remain in custody of the county clerks. Older court naturalization records have been transferred to the National Archives--Northeast Region.
  • Niagara County Surrogate Court Clerk maintain records of wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, orders and decrees, and appointments of guardians; and filed papers, including original wills, petitions for probate (gives date of death and lists next of kin), performance bonds, property inventories (seldom found after ca. 1900), administrator's or executor's accountings, etc. Surrogate's Courts create comprehensive indexes to records and files.
    • Phone: (716) 439-7130
    • Probate Records: 1821 (each county generally has records dating back to the establishment of the county or 1787, whichever was later. Record keeping was systematized by an 1830 statute)
  • Niagara County Treasurer is responsible for the collection of taxes.
  • Niagara County Historian maintains archival holdings for virtually every facet of the county’s history. In New York State, every municipality (town, city, village, county) must have an appointed historian. Most of the towns have their own historians as well and each can be contacted. The County Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area.
    • Address: 139 Niagara Street, Lockport NY 14094-2740
    • Phone: 716-439-7324
  • New York Department of Health has copies of birth records after 1881 and death records after 1880, copies of marriage since 1881 (A marriage license may also sometimes be found in the office of the town or city clerk who issued the license) and a Divorce records since 1847 (Is handled in the supreme court for the county in which the divorce was heard. Divorce files, however, are sealed for one hundred years). There is a fee for each copy requested. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
New York Historical Records - Databases include New York Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; New York Birth, Marriage & Death Records; New York Voter Lists & Census Records; New York Immigration & Emigration Records; New York Obituary Records; New York Military Records; New York Family Tree Records; New York Pictures; New York Stories, Memories & Histories; New York Directories & Member Lists and much more....
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Niagara County Genealogy Links

The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources relevant to Niagara County. Most of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is simply a listing that has been compiled or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another. Feel free to suggest your own favorite Niagara County genealogy or family history related sites.

Niagara Co. NY Books, Newspapers & Publications

Niagara Co. NY Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Niagara Co. NY Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

Niagara Co. NY Census Records

Niagara Co. NY Cemeteries & Graveyards

Niagara Co. NY Church & Bible Records

Niagara Co. NY Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Niagara Co. NY General and History Websites

Niagara Co. NY Immigration & Naturalization

Niagara Co. NY Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Niagara Co. NY Military Records

Niagara Co. NY Schools & Directories

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