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Michigan Genealogy

Michigan Genealogy Facts

Indian tribes were living in the Michigan region when the first European, Étienne Brulé of France, arrived in 1618. Other French explorers, including Jacques Marquette, Louis Joliet, and Sieur de la Salle, followed, and the first permanent settlement was established in 1668 at Sault Ste. Marie. France was ousted from the territory by Great Britain in 1763, following the French and Indian Wars. After the Revolutionary War, the U.S. acquired most of the region, which remained the scene of constant conflict between the British and U.S. forces and their respective Indian allies through the War of 1812.

  • Michigan was organized as territory on Jan. 11, 1805
  • Michigan entered the union as the 26th state on Jan. 26, 1837 .
  • Michigan has 83 Counties.
  • Michigan’s capital is Lansing and the official state website is michigan.gov/.
  • Michigan is bordered by Wisconsin (west), Ohio (south), Indiana (south), Minnesota (across Lake Superior)
  • Michigan has a land area of 96,810 square miles making it the 11th largest state.
  • Michigan’s 2010 population was 9,883,640.
  • Michigan  largest cities (2010) are Detroit, 713,777; Grand Rapids, 188,040; Warren, 134,056; Sterling Heights, 129,699; Lansing (Capital), 114,297; Ann Arbor, 113,934; Flint, 102,434; Dearborn, 98,153; Livonia, 96,942; Clinton Township, 96,796.
  • Michigan’s name is from an Algonquian Chippewa Indian word "meicigama" that means "big sea wate".
  • Michigan’s nickname is the Wolverine State .
  • Michigan State Motto is "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circum spice" which means If you are seeking a amenable (pleasant) peninsula, look around you.

Michigan County Genealogy

Michigan records at the county level are the responsibility of different offices – office of the county clerk: birth, death, and marriage; register of deeds: land records; office of the probate judge: probate files; and circuit court office or office of the county clerk: circuit court records.

Select a County Below

COUNTY PAGES UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Michigan has counties that no longer exist. They were established by the state, provincial, or territorial government. Most of these counties were created and disbanded in the 19th century; county boundaries have changed little since 1900 in the vast majority of states. These counties need to be looked at when doing genealogy research. Pay close attention where the courthouse records went to if the county was abolished or combined with another county.

  • Aischum County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Lake County in 8 March 1843
  • Anamickee County: Formed in 1 April 1840 and renamed Alpena County in 8 March 1843
  • Bleeker County: Formed in 1861 and renamed Menominee County in 19 March 1863
  • Brown County: Formed in 26 Oct 1818, became part of the Wisconsin Terr. in December 7th, 1836. Now in Wisconsin
  • Charlevoix(old) County: Formed in 1840 as Keskkauko County and renamed Charlevoix County in 1843. Merged with Emmet Co in 1853
  • Cheonoquet County: Formed in 1 April 1840 and renamed Montmorency County in 8 March 1843)
  • Crawford(old) County: Formed in 1818 from unorganized land, became part of the Wisconsin Terr in 1836. Now in Wisconsin
  • Des Moines County: Formed in 1834 from unorganized land, became part of the Wisconsin Terr in 1836. Now in Iowa
  • Dubuque County: Formed in 1834 from unorganized land, became part of the Wisconsin Terr in 1836. Now in Iowa
  • Iowa County: Formed in 1830 from Crawford County, became part of the Wisconsin Territory. in 1836. Now in Wisconsin
  • Isle Royale County: Formed in 1875 from Keweenaw County and attached to Houghton Co in 1885, abolished in 1897 and became part of Keweenaw Co
  • Kanotin County: Formed in 1 Feb 1840 from unorganized land and renamed Iosco County in 1843
  • Kautawaubet County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Wexford County in 8 March 1843.
  • Kayakee County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County, Saginaw Co and unorganized land; renamed Clare County in 8 March 1843
  • Kautawaubet County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Charlevoix County in 1843
  • Isle Royale County: Formed in 1875 from Keweenaw County and attached to Houghton County in 1885; abolished in 1897and became part of Keweenaw County
  • Negwegon County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and unorganized land; renamed Alcona County in 1843
  • Notipekago County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and Ottawa County; renamed Mason County in 1843
  • Meegisee County: Formed in 1840 and renamed Antrim County in 1843
  • Mikenauk County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and Unorganized Land renamed Roscommon County in 8 March 1843.
  • Manitou County: Formed in 13 Feb 1855 from Emmet and Leelanau Counties. In 1861 the county government was disorganized and Manitou was attached to Mackinac County. In 1865 it was attached to Leelanau County, then again attached to Mackinac County in 1869. Finally in 1895 Manitou was abolished and was absorbed by Charlevoix and Leelanau Counties
  • Meegisee County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Antrim County in 8 March 1843
  • Michilimackinac County: Formed in 26 Oct 1818 from Wayne County and renamed Mackinac County in 8 March 1843
  • Milwaukee County: Formed in 1834 from Brown County and became part of the Wisconsin Territory in 1836; now in Wisconsin
  • Negwegon County: aka Neewago; Formed in 1 April 1840 from Unorganized Land and renamed Alcona County in 8 March 1843
  • Notipekago County: aka Nontipekago; Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Mason County in 8 March 1843
  • Okkuddo County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Otsego County in 1843
  • Omeena County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and abolished in 1853; became part of Grand Traverse County in 1843
  • Okkuddo County: aka Okkudo; Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Otsego County in 8 March 1843
  • Omeena County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and abolished in 1853; became part of Grand Traverse County in 1853
  • Reshkauko County: Organized 1 April 1840 and renamed Charlevoix County 8 March 1843
  • Shawono County: aka Shawano and Shawona; Formed in 26 oct 1818 from Mackinac County and renamed Crawford County in 8 March 1843
  • Tonedagana County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Emmet County in 8 March 1843
  • Unwattin County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Osceola County in 8 March 1843; Some records in Ottawa County
  • Wabassee County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Kalkaska County in 8 March 1843
  • Washington County: Formed in 1867 from Marquette County but declared unconstitutional
  • Wyandiot County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and abolished in 1853; became part of Cheboygan County in 1853

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Michigan Genealogy Links

See Michigan County Genealogy for County Links. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some are have free access some require a payment. This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to submit your own favorite genealogy or family history related sites.

Michigan State History

Michigan, state in the East North Central United States. It is unique among the states because it consists of two peninsulas completely separated by water and bordering on four of the five Great Lakes. Between Lakes Michigan and Huron lie the Straits of Mackinac, which separate Michigan’s two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula is bounded on the east by Lakes Huron, Saint Clair, and Erie and by the Detroit and Saint Clair rivers, all of which separate the state from the Canadian province of Ontario. This peninsula is bounded on the south by Ohio and Indiana, on the west by Lake Michigan, and on the north by Lakes Michigan and Huron and by the Straits of Mackinac. The Upper Peninsula is bordered on the east by the Saint Marys River, on the south by the Straits of Mackinac and Lakes Huron and Michigan, on the west by Wisconsin, and on the north by Lake Superior. Lansing is the capital of Michigan. Detroit is the largest city.

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