Lake County, Florida Genealogy
Guide to Lake County, Florida ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 Vital Records
- 2.29 Voter Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County is named for the many lakes contained within its borders. The County is located in the Central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Lake County Courthouse
315 W Main St; PO 7800
Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: 352-742-4100
Lake County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, divorce, court and land records from 1887, Probate records from 1893 and adoption records
County Health Department has death records.[3]
Lake County, Florida Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1899 | 1887 | 1915 | 1887 | 1887 | 1893 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
Cities | ||
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Unorganized territories | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
- 1562 - a French Huguenot colony was established in the present site of Astor on the St Johns River. The entire colony was wiped out by the Spanish, in 1566. In 1763 James Spalding established a trading post at Astor.
- During the Revolutionary War, all of Florida belonged to the British. A few white hunters and traders lived in Lake County, along with runaway slaves and freedmen.
- 1782 - Spain re-occupied Florida and began rewarding large tracts of land. Settlers built forts throughout the county to protect them from the Indians. At that time Lake County was known as Mosquito County. In 1823, at the Treaty of Moultrie Creek, the Seminoles were ordered to live on a reservation, most of which was in Lake County.
- 1862 - most white males between 18 and 35 were forced into involuntary service to the Confederacy.
- 13 May 1887 - Lake County was created from Orange County. It was named “Lake County” because it contains over 1400 lakes. It was carved from Orange and Sumter counties.
- 1889 - the courthouse was dedicated. It was known as the “Pioneer Building”.
- During World War II, Lake County was the site of a Prison of War camp. It is now primarily an agricultural and retirement community.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web site may have additional information on Lake County cemeteries.
- Interment.net Florida cemetery records
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1890 | 8,034 | — |
1900 | 7,467 | −7.1% |
1910 | 9,509 | 27.3% |
1920 | 12,744 | 34.0% |
1930 | 23,161 | 81.7% |
1940 | 27,255 | 17.7% |
1950 | 36,340 | 33.3% |
1960 | 57,383 | 57.9% |
1970 | 69,305 | 20.8% |
1980 | 104,870 | 51.3% |
1990 | 152,104 | 45.0% |
2000 | 210,528 | 38.4% |
2010 | 297,052 | 41.1% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
For tips on accessing census records online, see: Florida Census.
- 1783 - Spanish Census USGenWeb
- 1821 - Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
- 1823 - Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
- 1880 - Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos USGenWeb
- 1885 Florida State Population Census includes sex, age, relationship, occupation, place of birth of each family member and parents. Also census for agriculture, manufacture and mortality. - How to Use this Collection
- Federal Census Information from National Archives USGenWeb
- State Census Information from Florida State Archives USGenWeb
- Census of Pensioners Revolutionary Military Service USGenWeb
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Florida denominations, view the Florida Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- USGenWeb African American Griots Project
- Afrigeneas - African Genealogy
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Florida Land and Property for additional information about early Florida land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for most counties. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Florida Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- 1821-1997 - Maps of Florida
- 1870 - Gray's Atlas Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
- 1882 - Rand McNally Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
- Exploring Florida, FCIT Maps University of South Florida
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Lake County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
- Florida State Military Files USGenWeb
- Florida state pension records from various wars Pension Transcriptions USGenWeb
Civil War
- 1861-1865 - Florida Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 - Florida Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1885-1955 - Florida Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Lake County Applications for Florida Old Confederate Home (Genealogy Trails)
World War I
- 1917-1918 - Lake County Civilian Draft Registration (USGenWeb Archives)
- 1917-1920 - Florida, World War I Navy Card Roster, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War II
- 1940-1945 - Florida, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Lake County World War II Army Enlistees, Names Aaron - Conrad (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lake County World War II Army Enlistees, Names Cook - Harrisone (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lake County World War II Army Enlistees, Names Hart - Maynor (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lake County World War II Army Enlistees, Names McCall - Roache (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lake County World War II Army Enlistees, Names Roberts - Warren (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lake County World War II Army Enlistees, Names Washburn - Zellman (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lake County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
Korean War
- Lake County Korean War Casualty List (Genealogy Trails)
- Florida Casualties in the Korean Conflict distantcousin.com
Vietnam War
- Lake County Vietnam War Casualty List (Genealogy Trails)
- Distantcousin.com Florida Casualties in the Vietnam War
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Early Florida Newspapers at the Florida State Library USGenWeb
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- USGenWeb Obituaries Project Obituary transcriptions from Florida counties
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Indexes and Records
- 1784 – 1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1810 – 1974 - Ancestry.com $ Florida Wills and Probate Records 1810-1974
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Florida Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida State Archives, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1880-1935 - Florida, Births and Christenings, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1802-1998 - Florida, United States Marriages at FindMyPast $
- 1822-1875 and 1927 - 2001 - Florida, Marriage Index, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1957 - Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1993 - Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1837-1974 - Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Marriages, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1877-1939 - Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1877-1998 - Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1900-1921 - Florida, Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1927-2001 - Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001 at Ancestry $
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Divorces, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Voter Records[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1868 Web: Florida, U.S., Voter Registration Rolls, 1867-1868 at Ancestry - index ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Lake County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Lake County. For state-wide library facilities, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Lake County Library System
418 W Alfred St., Suite C
Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: 352-742-6204
main website
- Lake County Florida has a library system that supports 16 different locations. Please go to the main website to find locations.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Lake County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Florida Societies.
Lake County Historical Society
PO Box 7800
Tavares, FL 32778
Lake County Kinseekers Genealogical Society
11745 Rancho Drive
Leesburg, Florida 34788
Facebook Website
Pastfinders Genealogical Society of South Lake County
Cooper Memorial Library
2525 Oakley Seaver Dr
Clermont, FL 34711
Facebook Website
Florida Historical Society
435 Brevard Ave.
Cocoa FL 32922
Phone: 321-690-1971
Website
Florida State Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 940927
Maitland, FL 32794-0927
Phone: 407-494-3747
Website
The Villages Genealogical Society
2063 Duval Court
The Villages, FL 32162
Telephone 352-750-4004
Fax: 352-753-6372
E-mail:info@vgsfl.org
Website
Leesburg Genealogical Society
204 N. Fifth St.
Leesburg, FL 32748
Random Acts of Kindness List of Florida Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical Genealogical Societies
Websites[edit | edit source]
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- Kinseekers Genealogical Society
- Lake County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Lake County, FLGenWeb Project, Inc.
- Lake County, FLGenWeb Project
- Lake County, Florida, USGenWeb Archives
- Lake County, Florida Genealogy Trails
- Lake County FL Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lake County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia 04/25/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lake County, Florida," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed 26 January 2019.