Genealogy Research Toolbox
Kentucky Genealogy and Ancestry Research
This page will provide you with information that will help you in your genealogy and ancestry research for the state of Kentucky. It includes a timeline for the state, when the state began recording vital records, what US and State census records are available, a map of the counties in the state and link to page showing when counties were formed, and links to a variety of genealogy and ancestry resources for the state of Kentucky.
Kentucky History Timeline
This is a short timeline. See links below for more detailed timelines.
1750 – The Cumberland Gap is discovered by Dr. Thomas Walker.
1774 – Harrodsburg is established as the first permanent British settlement.
1774 – Lord Dunmore of Virginia defeats the Shawnee in Dunmore’s War.
1775 – Daniel Boone establishes the town of Boonesborough and widens the Wilderness Trail from Virginia.
1780 – The city of Louisville is established.
1792 – Kentucky becomes the 15th state.
1861 – Kentucky decides to side with Union in the Civil War after trying to remain neutral.
1875 – The first Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs.
1904 to 1908 – The Black Patch Tobacco Wars take place in Kentucky.
1937 – The Ohio River floods causing extensive damage.
Kentucky Vital Records
Although compliance was never complete, birth and death records for Kentucky begin as early as 1852 when statewide registration was first enacted. The requirement continued for only ten years. Some births and deaths were recorded (1874-1879, 1892-1910), but observance remained sporadic.
A few larger cities maintained separate birth and death records prior to 1911, but these too are incomplete. Louisville (1898-1911), Covington (1890-1911), Newport (1890-1911), and Lexington (1906-11) are four cities with registered births in their respective city health departments.
Kentucky’s state legislature granted divorces from 1792 through 1849. Between 1849 and 1958, divorces were usually recorded by the circuit courts in the respective counties.
Birth and death registration was enacted statewide on 1 January 1911 and generally adhered to by 1920.
Kentucky marriage records usually begin about the time of the Kentucky marriage records usually begin about the time of the respective county’s establishment or within a few years of that date. (see Kentucky County Resources for dates). Some counties have marriage records for dates prior to organization. Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties have marriage records as early as 1785. The respective county clerk has jurisdiction over marriage records. Beginning in 1958 statewide registration was required. Originals are filed in the counties and duplicates are available at the Office of Vital Statistics. The Office of Vital Statistics maintains an index to marriage records from 1958.
Kentucky’s state legislature granted divorces from 1792 through 1849. Between 1849 and 1958, divorces were usually recorded by the circuit courts in the respective counties.
You can find a variety of collection in the links below.
Kentucky Census Records
Federal Population Schedules
- Indexed’1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930
- Soundex’1880, 1900, 1910 (Miracode), 1920
Ancestry.com has digitized images of the entire U.S. Federal Census Schedules 1790-1940 and created searchable indexes for the images. This collection can be accessed at U.S. Federal Census Collection. Along with the entire U.S. Federal Census collection, Ancestry.com has a collection of indexes for Kentucky (Kentucky Census, 1810-1890). Online Census records can also be found at FamilySearch.org under their Wiki at United States census Online Genealogy Records. FamilySearch Online resources can be found at Kentucky Census.
Industry and Agriculture Schedules
- 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
Mortality Schedules
- 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
Slave Schedules
- 1850, 1860
Union Veterans Schedules
- 1890 (part)
Kentucky Counties

At Kentucky County Resources (from Red Book third edition 2004) you’ll find the counties, when they were formed, the parent county(ies), and when Birth, Marriage Death, Land, Probate and Court records began for each county.
Kentucky Genealogy and Ancestry Research Links
Kentucky Family History Research
written by Wendy Bebout Elliott, Ph.D., FUGA, for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
https://wiki.rootsweb.com/wiki/index.php/Kentucky_Family_History_Research
Ancestry.com vital record collections for Kentucky (membership may be required)
- Kentucky Birth Records, 1847-1911
- Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999
- Kentucky Marriages, 1797-1865
- Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850
- Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900
- Kentucky Marriage Records, 1852-1914
- Kentucky Marriage Index, 1973-1999
- Kentucky Marriage Records
- Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1965
- Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000
FamilySearch.org collections available online for free (membership required but it’s free).
- Kentucky, Births and Christenings, 1839-1960
- Kentucky, Marriages, 1785-1979
- Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954
- Kentucky, Deaths and Burials, 1843-1970
- Kentucky, Death Records, 1911-1965
Kentucky Census – FamilySearh.org
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Kentucky_Census
US Census Online Genelaogy Records – FamilySearch.org
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States_Census_Online_Genealogy_Records
Kentucky Genealogical Society
https://kygs.org/
Kentucky Vital Records – FamilySearch.org
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Kentucky_Vital_Records
GenealogyBuff.com – Library of Files – Kentucky genealogy Data
http://www.genealogybuff.com/ky/
LDS Genealogy – Kentucky Genealogy
https://ldsgenealogy.com/KY/
Kentucky Historical Society
https://history.ky.gov/
Kentucky Genealogy Trails
http://genealogytrails.com/ken/
Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness – State of Kentucky Records Guide
https://raogk.org/kentucky/
Kentucky GenWeb
http://www.kygenweb.net/
AccessGenealogy – Kentucky Genealogy
https://accessgenealogy.com/kentucky-genealogy
GenealogySpot – Kentucky
http://www.genealogyspot.com/state/ky.htm
Kentucky State History Timeline Links
eReference Desk – Kentucky History Timeline
https://www.ereferencedesk.com/resources/state-history-timeline/kentucky.html
Timeline of Kentucky history – Wickipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Kentucky_history
Kentucky State History – Ducksters
https://www.ducksters.com/geography/us_states/kentucky_history.php
Sources
- Kentucky Family History Research, originally written by Wendy Bebout Elliott, Ph.D., FUGA, for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
https://wiki.rootsweb.com/wiki/index.php/Kentucky_Family_History_Research (Accessed 10 December 2020). - Attibute: Kentucky Counties Map. This map was created by William Dollarhide and was published in Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, third edition 2004. Sources. https://wiki.rootsweb.com/wiki/index.php/Map_of_Kentucky (Accessed 10 Dec 2020).
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