New York City Genealogy

New York City holds one of the largest collections of genealogy records in the United States. Five boroughs spread across five counties make up the city, and each has its own set of vital records, court files, and historical archives. The Municipal Archives alone has more than 13 million birth, death, and marriage records. Researchers tracing family lines through New York City can find documents going back to the 1790s in some cases, with strong coverage from the mid-1800s forward. Whether your ancestors came through Ellis Island or lived in Brooklyn for generations, the city's archives are a deep well for genealogy work.

NYC Municipal Archives Genealogy Records

The NYC Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street, Room 103, New York, NY 10007 is the main hub for New York City genealogy. The Historical Vital Records project has digitized about 77% of the 13.3 million records in the collection. Manhattan records go back the furthest. Birth records start in July 1847, with a gap until July 1853. Death records date to 1795, with some scattered years in the early 1800s and then solid runs from 1812 onward through 1948. Marriage records begin in June 1847.

Brooklyn records include births from 1898 to 1909, deaths from 1847 through 1948 (with a gap from 1853 to 1857), and marriages from 1866 to 1949. The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island all have records starting from 1898 when they joined the city. An important note for genealogy: about 25% of all births before 1910 were never reported. So a missing record does not always mean the person was not born there.

The NYC Historical Vital Records digital portal lets you browse and search more than 10 million birth, death, and marriage records from 1855 to 1949. You can look up names, find certificate numbers, and then order copies. In-person research needs an appointment. Phone 311 or (212) 639-9675 from outside the city. Email research@records.nyc.gov for general questions or familyhistory@records.nyc.gov for family history help.

New York City Genealogy Collections

The NYC Municipal Archives portal gives online access to millions of digitized vital records for all five boroughs of New York City.

This digital collection keeps growing as more records get scanned and indexed. Once you find a certificate number in the online index, you can order a copy through VitalChek or visit in person by appointment. Records outside privacy windows are available as historical or genealogy copies.

New York City vital records follow a different path than the rest of the state. The NYS Department of Health does not hold NYC birth, death, or marriage records at all. Under Public Health Law Sections 4173 and 4174, the city manages its own system. For births from 1910 to the present and deaths from 1949 forward, you go through the NYC Department of Health at 125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 133. Birth certificates cost $15 each, and you can only order them for deceased relatives. Death certificates are also $15. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Marriage Records in New York City

NYC marriage records have a complex history. The NYC City Clerk Marriage Bureau keeps marriage applications and licenses from 1930 to the present, plus license indexes from 1908 onward. Records from 1930 to 1995 can only be picked up at the Manhattan office at 141 Worth Street. Records from 1996 forward are available at any City Clerk's office.

Marriage records more than 50 years old are open to the public. Newer ones need proof that you meet specific criteria. For the period 1908 to 1937, at least two separate sets of marriage records were kept. The Department of Health had marriage certificates from 1866 to 1937. The City Clerk kept a different "license" series from 1908 to 1949. The license file has three parts: an affidavit from the couple, the license from the Clerk, and the ceremony certificate. A big plus for genealogy is that the City Clerk's license series lists the country of birth for parents of both the bride and groom. It also lists the bride's job. This info does not show up on the Health Department certificates. Short certificates for domestic use cost $15. Extended ones for foreign use run $35.

New York City Genealogy by Borough

Each borough maps to a county, and each county has its own clerk and surrogate's court with records useful for genealogy. Manhattan is New York County. Brooklyn is Kings County. The Bronx is Bronx County. Queens is Queens County. Staten Island is Richmond County. When searching for land deeds, probate files, or court records, you need to know which county to check.

The surrogate's courts handle wills and estate matters under the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act. For colonial-era probate records from 1665 to 1815, the New York State Archives has the originals. Many are digitized and free to New York residents through Ancestry.com New York. For post-1787 wills, contact the surrogate's court in the right county. Send a written request with the name and date of death. Email requests are not accepted.

Libraries for New York City Genealogy

The New York Public Library's Milstein Division at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 476 Fifth Avenue, keeps local history and genealogy collections. These include manuscripts, newspapers, maps, and photographs for all of New York City. Materials must stay in the building.

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society at 36 West 44th Street has family papers, manuscripts, and a research library focused on New York State and City genealogy. They can be reached at (212) 755-8532. The society is one of the oldest genealogy groups in the country and holds published genealogies you won't find elsewhere.

For those tracing ancestors through immigration, the National Archives at New York City at One Bowling Green also has New York State vital records index microfiche. The FamilySearch platform has free New York census records, church records, and probate files from many counties, though the collections vary in how much has been indexed.

Note: New York State Census records for the five boroughs are available for various years between 1825 and 1925, filling gaps between federal census years.

State Records for NYC Genealogy

While the NYS Department of Health does not hold NYC vital records, there is one exception. For the period 1881 through 1897, the state does have birth records for Queens and Richmond (Staten Island) boroughs. This matters if your ancestor was born in those areas before they fully joined the city system.

The New York State Archives in Albany holds over 200 million documents. Military records from the War of 1812 through World War I cover soldiers from all five boroughs. Land records at the state level document colonial grants and patents that touch Manhattan and the outer boroughs. The Reclaim The Records organization won a court case in May 2025 to release the full NYS Death Index from 1880 to 2017, which has over 10 million records now free to search and download.

New York City County Pages

Each borough of New York City corresponds to a county with its own genealogy records and county clerk office.

Nearby Cities

Other cities and towns near New York City with genealogy resources.