Yonkers, New York Genealogy

Yonkers genealogy records carry a critical distinction that sets the city apart from most other places in New York State. The New York State Department of Health does not hold Yonkers vital records for births, deaths, or marriages before January 1, 1914. Those pre-1914 records are only at the Yonkers City Clerk's office. This makes the city clerk the sole source for over three decades of vital records that researchers often assume the state has. Westchester County adds land records from the 1680s, probate files from 1683, and naturalization papers. The Yonkers Public Library and local church records round out a deep and layered set of sources for family research in the city.

Yonkers City Clerk Vital Records

The Yonkers City Clerk maintains birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage records. The most important fact for genealogists: all vital records before January 1, 1914 are maintained locally by the city clerk. The New York State Department of Health does not have them. This is true for births, deaths, and marriages alike. Yonkers is one of only three cities in New York (along with Albany and Buffalo) where this exception applies.

If you are looking for a Yonkers birth, death, or marriage from the 1880s through 1913, the city clerk is your only option. Do not waste time or money sending a request to the state. Contact the city clerk directly.

The office is at City Hall, 40 South Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701. Phone is (914) 377-6020. You can visit in person during business hours or send a mail request. Include the full name, date or approximate date, record type, and a note that the request is for genealogy purposes. From 1914 forward, records are also on file with the state, so you have a choice of where to send your request for those later years.

Yonkers Church Records for Genealogy

Church records in Yonkers go back decades before civil registration began. These are among the most valuable sources for pre-1881 Yonkers genealogy. St. John's Episcopal Church has baptism records from 1820 to 1826, marriage records from 1820 to 1840, and death records from 1820 to 1826. The First Reformed Church has an index to members, baptisms, marriages, and deaths from 1843 to 1924.

The First Presbyterian Church has records from 1852 to 1899, with microfilm at the Presbyterian Historical Society. The Methodist Episcopal Church has baptism, marriage, and membership records from 1858 to 1979 on microfilm. For Yonkers families in the early to mid-1800s, before the state required civil registration, these church registers are often the only written record of births, marriages, and deaths.

Church records can also fill gaps in the civil record. Even after 1881, not every event was registered with the city. A baptism recorded at a church might be the only documentation of a birth that the city clerk never received.

Yonkers City Historian

The Yonkers City Historian maintains historical research materials and works on preservation of city history. The office is at City Hall, 40 South Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701. Phone is (914) 377-6020. The historian can point you toward local sources and provide context about Yonkers neighborhoods, institutions, and community life that official records miss.

Yonkers Public Library Local History

The Yonkers Public Library system has local history collections that support genealogical research. Newspapers, city directories, photographs, and community records sit in the collection. City directories are helpful for placing ancestors at specific addresses and tracking their occupations across different years.

Newspapers on microfilm can turn up obituaries, wedding announcements, and other notices that never made it into official records. For Yonkers families in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the local press covered social events extensively, and those columns can add rich detail to a family history.

Westchester County Records for Yonkers Genealogy

The Westchester County Clerk in White Plains holds land records from the 1680s to the present, court records, naturalization records, and military discharges. Marriage records cover 1908 to 1935 at the county level. The office is at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY 10601. Phone is (914) 995-3080.

The Westchester County Surrogate's Court has probate records from 1683 to the present. Wills and estate files often name children, grandchildren, and in-laws that no other document mentions. The court is at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY 10601. Phone is (914) 995-3081.

The Westchester County Historical Society in Elmsford maintains family files, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and cemetery records covering all of Westchester County, including Yonkers. The society is at 2199 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. Phone is (914) 592-4323. For broader Yonkers genealogy in Westchester County, these White Plains offices are about a 20-minute drive from Yonkers.

State Resources for Yonkers Genealogy

The New York State Archives holds vital records indexes covering Yonkers and Westchester County. Birth indexes go through 1937. Death and marriage indexes open after 50 years. Remember: even if you find a pre-1914 Yonkers entry in the state index, you must get the actual record from the Yonkers City Clerk, not the state.

The NYS Department of Health charges $22 for a three-year search. Processing takes eight months or more. For records from 1914 forward, you can choose between the city clerk and the state. For anything before 1914, go to the city clerk. Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017 for free download, including Yonkers deaths.

Nearby Cities for Genealogy

Westchester County families moved between Yonkers, the Bronx, and other nearby cities often. These places may hold records for your Yonkers ancestors.