Search Niagara County Genealogy

Niagara County genealogy records begin in 1808 when the county split from Genesee County. Lockport is the county seat and where the clerk, surrogate's court, and historian are all based. The county sits on the Canadian border along the Niagara River, and many families here have ties to both sides. The county clerk, the county historian, the Niagara County Historical Society, and the surrogate's court each hold different record sets that can help trace your family lines through this part of western New York.

Niagara County Clerk Records

The Niagara County Clerk at 175 Hawley Street, Lockport, NY 14094 maintains land records from 1808 to the present. Court records from the same year include Supreme Court and County Court filings. The office also holds marriage records from 1908 to 1935, naturalization records, and New York State Census records for 1825 through 1925. Call (716) 439-7025 for help.

Land deeds are indexed by grantor and grantee name. Court records are sorted by case parties. Naturalization records can be searched by the petitioner's name. Staff will point you to the right index but they will not do your research. Copy fees apply for all documents. Bring a photo ID and plan to visit in person, since most older records are not online.

Niagara County Historian Genealogy

The Niagara County Historian at 139 Niagara Street, Lockport, NY 14094 holds a rich set of genealogy resources. The collection includes obituaries from the 1840s to the present, a marriage records index for 1908 to 1928, an index of wills before 1800, and naturalization records from 1833 to 1954. City directories go back to 1856. The office also keeps veterans' files, church records, and family scrapbooks.

The obituary collection alone is a strong tool for Niagara County genealogy. Obituaries often list parents, siblings, spouses, and children. The naturalization records span more than a century and can help trace immigrant ancestors who settled in the Niagara Falls area and the surrounding towns. Call (716) 439-7324 for hours and access details.

Note: The historian can guide your research but cannot do extended searches for you.

Niagara County Historical Society

The Niagara County Historical Society at 215 Niagara Street, Lockport, NY 14094 has genealogy collections that go beyond the county itself. Their holdings include cemetery records, census records, published genealogies, and materials on other New York counties, Pennsylvania, New England, and even Ontario, Canada. Phone (716) 434-7433 for visit details.

The Canadian connection makes the historical society especially useful for families with roots on both sides of the border, which is common in this part of New York.

The society's library has reference materials that cover the broader western New York region. If your family moved between Niagara, Erie, or Orleans counties, you can often find cross-references here. Membership may be needed for full access to the collections.

Vital Records in Niagara County

Vital records in Niagara County follow the standard New York rules. Before 1914, town and city clerks within the county kept their own birth, death, and marriage records. The NYS Department of Health has statewide indexes from around 1880 to 1881, but early compliance was spotty. Some records from the first few decades may be missing.

Under Public Health Law Sections 4173 and 4174, genealogy copies of birth records open after 75 years if the person is dead. Death records are available after 50 years. Marriage records need 50 years and proof that both spouses have died. The state charges $22 for a three-year search. Processing can take eight months or more. Contacting the local town clerk is usually faster for records they hold.

Niagara County Probate Records

The Niagara County Surrogate's Court at 175 Hawley Street, Lockport, NY 14094 keeps probate records from 1808 to the present. Files include wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, and estate inventories. Adoption records are sealed. Call (716) 439-7130 for fees.

Under the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act, each county in New York handles its own probate. Send a written request by mail with the name and date of death of the deceased. Email requests are not accepted. For early wills before 1808, check the Genesee County Surrogate's Court since Niagara was part of Genesee at that time. Colonial-era probate records are at the New York State Archives and many are digitized on Ancestry.com for free to New York residents.

Census and Land Records for Niagara County

New York State Census records for Niagara County are available for 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. These state census records fill gaps between the federal counts. From 1865 on, the census includes names, ages, birthplaces, and occupations. You can find copies at the county clerk's office and through FamilySearch.

Land records at the Niagara County Clerk go back to 1808. Deeds, mortgages, and liens are indexed by grantor and grantee. Land records can name family members and neighbors, making them a solid secondary source for Niagara County genealogy when vital records fall short. Under the Estates, Powers and Trust Law, property transfers at death follow specific rules in New York, and estate deeds can help confirm family connections.

The New York State Archives in Albany also holds military records from the War of 1812 through World War I that may cover Niagara County residents. Under Arts and Cultural Affairs Law Section 57.05, the archives collects official records from every county in the state.

Nearby Counties

Counties near Niagara County with their own genealogy record collections.