Erie County Genealogy Records

Erie County genealogy records start in 1821 and cover one of the largest collections in Western New York. The county clerk in Buffalo has a dedicated Genealogy Room with land deeds, vital records, naturalization papers, and census data all in one spot. Buffalo kept its own birth and death records from 1881 to 1913, years before the state collected them. The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library holds state vital records microfiche indexes, and the Buffalo History Museum has an obituary index to Buffalo newspapers going back to 1811. With five qualifying cities and deep immigrant roots, Erie County is one of the richest genealogy research areas in the state.

Erie County Clerk Genealogy Room

The Erie County Clerk at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo, NY 14202 runs a Genealogy Room that is open to researchers. Call (716) 858-8868 for current hours. This is the main hub for Erie County genealogy work. The clerk holds land records from 1821 to the present, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. Erie County was formed from Niagara County in 1821.

What makes this office stand out is the Buffalo vital records. The clerk has Buffalo birth records from 1881 to 1913 and Buffalo death records from the same years. These pre-date the New York State Department of Health collection. If your ancestor was born or died in Buffalo during that period, these records might be the only source. Marriage records cover 1908 to 1935 as required under the Domestic Relations Law.

The Erie County Clerk genealogy page lists the full scope of records on site.

Naturalization records span 1827 to 1929. Census records include Federal census data from 1850 to 1940 and New York State Census records for 1855 through 1925. Land records are indexed by grantor and grantee, and naturalization records by petitioner name.

Buffalo and Erie County Public Library

The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library at 1 Lafayette Square in Buffalo, NY 14203 is one of the 11 official repositories for New York State Vital Records Index microfiche. The Grosvenor Room holds indexes to births from 1881 onward, marriages from 1881 onward, and deaths from 1880 onward for all of New York State outside New York City. You can use these indexes to find state file numbers and then order copies from the Department of Health.

The library also maintains census records, city directories from 1832 to 1913 (many digitized), newspapers on microfilm, and extensive genealogy collections for Western New York. Call (716) 858-8900 for the Grosvenor Room hours.

The library's website describes available collections and access rules for genealogy researchers.

City directories can pin down where an ancestor lived and what work they did, year by year. This makes them one of the most useful tools for Erie County research.

Buffalo History Museum Genealogy Collections

The Buffalo History Museum at 1 Museum Court, Buffalo, NY 14216 has a research library with genealogy resources that go beyond what the county clerk holds. Phone is (716) 873-9644. The museum keeps city directories, church records, cemetery records, censuses, ethnic histories, local histories, and published genealogies.

One standout resource is the obituary index to Buffalo newspapers from 1811 to 2001. If your ancestor lived in Buffalo at any point during that span, there is a good chance their death was noted in a local paper. The index tells you which paper and date so you can pull the full article on microfilm.

The museum website lists current hours and research access for visitors.

Church records and ethnic histories at the museum are especially useful for tracing immigrant families who settled in Buffalo's many ethnic neighborhoods.

Probate Records and the Erie County Historian

The Erie County Surrogate's Court at 25 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo has probate records from 1821 to the present. Wills, estate files, and guardianship records are all on file. Phone is (716) 845-7400. Under the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act, you can write to the court with the decedent's name and approximate date of death to get copies.

The Erie County Historian keeps family files, cemetery records, church records, and local history materials. This office can help you find sources that are not indexed online. If your ancestor is buried in a small Erie County cemetery, the historian may have burial records that no other source has.

Note: Colonial wills from before 1787 are at the New York State Archives, not at the county level.

State Archives and Erie County Genealogy

The New York State Archives holds vital records indexes covering Erie County. Birth indexes go through 1937. Death and marriage indexes are released after 50 years. The Buffalo library has copies of these microfiche indexes locally, so Erie County researchers do not need to travel to Albany.

The NYS Department of Health charges $22 for a three-year vital records search. Fees go up with wider search spans. Processing can take eight months. Under Public Health Law Sections 4173 and 4174, birth records open after 75 years if the person is known to be dead, and death records open after 50 years. For events in Buffalo before 1914, the DOH may not have the record. Check the Erie County Clerk's Buffalo vital records instead.

Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017 as a free download. This covers Erie County deaths with names, dates, ages, and state file numbers. The FamilySearch catalog lists additional microfilmed records for Erie County under "New York, Erie."

Cities in Erie County

Erie County includes several large cities and towns. Each has its own town clerk who may hold local records. These qualifying cities have their own genealogy resource pages.

Nearby Counties

Families moved freely across Western New York county lines. Check these nearby counties for more genealogy records.