New York County Genealogy
New York County genealogy records cover Manhattan and stretch back to the Dutch colonial period of the 1600s. As one of the original twelve counties formed in 1683, this is where some of the oldest records in all of New York State can be found. The NYC Municipal Archives, the surrogate's court, the New York Public Library, and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society all hold major collections. Manhattan was the gateway for millions of immigrants, making New York County genealogy research both rich and complex.
New York County Genealogy Overview
NYC Municipal Archives Manhattan Records
The NYC Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street, Room 103, New York, NY 10007 is the main source for Manhattan vital records. Birth records cover July 1847 to 1848 and then July 1853 to 1909. Death records go from 1795, with gaps, through 1948. Marriage records span June 1847 to 1848 and July 1853 to 1949. The collection also includes records for the western Bronx from 1874 to 1897 and the eastern Bronx from 1895 to 1897, since those areas were part of New York County before the Bronx split off.
Indexes are available online at the Historical Vital Records search portal. You can search by name, date, and certificate number. PDF copies of digitized records can be ordered online, by mail, or in person by appointment. Phone (212) 639-9675 for details on fees and access. Credit cards are accepted for online orders.
This is different from upstate New York. The NYS Department of Health does not have New York City vital records. For Manhattan births, deaths, and marriages, the Municipal Archives is the place to go for historical records. More recent records are at the NYC Department of Health.
New York County Genealogy Collections
The NYC Municipal Archives holds millions of vital records, photographs, and government documents covering Manhattan from the colonial era through the twentieth century.
Online indexes make it possible to search many of these records from home before requesting copies.
New York County Probate Records
The New York County Surrogate's Court at 31 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007 has probate records from 1683 to the present. That makes it one of the oldest continuous probate collections in the United States. Files include wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, estate inventories, and guardianship records. Adoption records are sealed.
Under the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act, each county handles its own estate settlements. Send a written request by mail with the name and date of death of the deceased. The court does not accept email requests. Call (646) 386-4000 for current fees. The New York State Archives also holds New York County wills and probates from 1787 to 1879, and probated wills from 1787 to 1829. These have been digitized and are free for New York residents through Ancestry.com.
Colonial wills from 1665 to 1787 are at the State Archives as well. Most of these testators lived in New York City, Long Island, Staten Island, or Westchester. The digitized versions on Ancestry.com cover wills from 1665 to 1738.
New York Public Library Genealogy
The Irma and Paul Milstein Division of the New York Public Library at 476 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018 is one of the top genealogy research centers in the country. The division covers local history and genealogy for all of New York City, with deep collections of manuscripts, newspapers, maps, and photographs.
Materials must be used on site. Staff can help you plan your research but will not conduct searches for you. The library is free to visit.
The Milstein Division has city directories, immigration records, and published family histories that span far beyond Manhattan. If you are tracing immigrant ancestors who came through New York, this library is an essential stop for your genealogy work. It connects well with the Municipal Archives and the Surrogate's Court, all within walking distance of each other.
Genealogical Society Resources
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society at 36 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036 has one of the largest private genealogy collections in the state. Their library holds family papers, manuscripts, published genealogies, and a research library that covers New York State and City. Phone (212) 755-8532 for membership and access details.
Membership gives you access to their online databases and in-person collections. The society also publishes the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, which has been in print since 1870.
State Records for New York County Genealogy
The New York State Archives in Albany has colonial manuscripts that cover New Netherland Council minutes, Dutch colonial patents, and British colonial administration records. Many of these touch on Manhattan residents. Under Arts and Cultural Affairs Law Section 57.05, the archives preserves official records from every era of New York's past.
New York State Census records for New York County are available for several years between 1825 and 1925, though not all years survived. These fill gaps between federal census counts and can list birthplace, occupation, and household details. The FamilySearch website has many of these census records digitized for free use. Land records at the state level include colonial patents, Indian treaties, and state land sales that may cover Manhattan properties. The NYS Archives land records page has more details.
Note: Because New York City vital records are separate from the state system, always start your Manhattan search at the Municipal Archives rather than the state Department of Health.
Cities in New York County
New York County is coextensive with the Borough of Manhattan in New York City.
Nearby Counties
Counties near New York County with their own genealogy record collections.