California Genealogy Resources
Updated
From Spanish missions and the Gold Rush to the Dust Bowl migration and beyond, California records reflect families who arrived from everywhere. These resources will help you find yours.
- California became a state in 1850. Before that, records are in Spanish and Mexican mission and government archives.
- Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1905. Earlier records, where they exist, are with the county recorder.
- California took its own state census in 1852, which helps bridge the gap after the 1850 federal census.
Start with the big two
FamilySearch
The largest free genealogy site in the world, run as a nonprofit by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A free account is all you need.
- Billions of names in historical records, many with images of the originals
- One shared, free Family Tree that relatives can build together
- The Research Wiki: how-to guides for every state and country
- Free help at thousands of FamilySearch Centers and the library in Salt Lake City
Ancestry
The biggest subscription site, with billions of records, helpful “hints,” and the largest consumer DNA database (AncestryDNA).
- Building a family tree is free; searching most records needs a subscription or free trial
- Strong U.S. census, military, immigration and newspaper collections
- Also owns Newspapers.com, Fold3 and Find a Grave
- Many public libraries offer Ancestry Library Edition free on site
State resources
FamilySearch Research Wiki: California
The best free overview of California records: what exists, which years, and where to find each one online or in person.
California State Archives
State government records, including prison registers, National Guard rosters and court records.
California Vital Records
Order birth, death and marriage certificates from the state, or from the county where the event happened.
California State Library
The California History Room and genealogy collections, including newspapers, directories and indexes.
California Digital Newspaper Collection
Millions of pages of California newspapers from 1846 onward, free to search.
Online Archive of California
Finding aids and digitized photos and documents from libraries and archives across the state.
Many Californians came from somewhere else. If your family arrived in the 1930s, the 1940 census lists where each person lived in 1935, which can point you to the state they left.
Looking for another state? See Genealogy Resources by State.