Listed record inventories
Selected holdings and indexes for Milwaukee County, checked against the repository descriptions linked below. Date spans may contain gaps; an index is not a complete set of original records.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds.General birth index [microform], 1823-1932. · Milwaukee Micro Series 71823-1932.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Register of births [microform], 1854-1911. · Milwaukee Micro Series 81854-1911.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Index of deaths [microform], 1872-1916. · Milwaukee Micro Series 101872-1916.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Register of deaths [microform], 1852-1912. · Milwaukee Micro Series 111852-1912.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Certificates of marriage [microform], 1836-1876. · Milwaukee Series 391836-1876.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Index of marriages [microform], 1830-1918. · Milwaukee Micro Series 121830-1918.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Register of marriages [microform], 1836-1911. · Milwaukee Micro Series 131836-1911.
Cemeteries and burial
Court records
- Wisconsin. Circuit Court (Milwaukee County). Judgement and order books, 1842-1940. · Milwaukee Series 451842-1940.
- Wisconsin. Circuit Court (Milwaukee County). Cases appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, ca. 1913-1984. · Milwaukee Series 461913-1984.
- Wisconsin. Municipal Court (Milwaukee County). Criminal case files, 1930-1938. · Milwaukee Series 471930-1938.
- Wisconsin. Circuit Court (Milwaukee County). Index of lis pendens, 1857-1902. · Milwaukee Micro Series 201857-1902.
- Wisconsin. Circuit Court (Milwaukee County). Lis Pendens, 1857-1886. · Milwaukee Micro Series 211857-1886.
Deeds and land
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Court ordered name changes, 1871-1977. · Milwaukee Micro Series 91871-1977.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Deeds, 1835-1886. · Milwaukee Micro Series 161835-1886.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Grantee index to deeds, 1835-1907. · Milwaukee Micro Series 141835-1907.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Grantee index to mortgages, 1836-1901. · Milwaukee Micro Series 181836-1901.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Grantor index to deeds, 1839-1900. · Milwaukee Micro Series 151839-1900.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Register of Deeds. Grantor index to mortgages, 1836-1876. · Milwaukee Micro Series 171836-1876.
Wills and estates
Tax records
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Treasurer. Tax returns and record of sales, 1901. · Milwaukee Series 161901.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Treasurer. Tax rolls, 1868-1955, 1960, 1965, 1970. · Milwaukee Series 141868-1955, 1960, 1965, 1970.
- Milwaukee County (Wis.). Treasurer. Tax sale books, 1837-ca. 1867, 1888-1904. · Milwaukee Series 151837-ca. 1867, 1888-1904.
- Milwaukee (Milwaukee County, Wis.: Town). Clerk. Assessment rolls, 1846-1850. · Milwaukee Series 341846-1850.
See the repository's descriptions and search options
Repository access note: Selected Archival Resources in Wisconsin catalog descriptions and University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee genealogy holdings. The statewide search returned repeated pages during this review, so only distinct verified results and the UWM guide were used. Coverage is limited to the listed counties. Historic catalog titles may use outdated terminology. Consult the holding repository for restrictions and current availability.
Sources: the catalogs and repository descriptions linked on the entries above. Selected inventories do not establish complete coverage of every record type or online access to original documents. Read the repository access note for source dates and limitations.
Where to find the records
- Find Milwaukee County's official website
We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the register of deeds, the register in probate, the clerk of the circuit court and the Wisconsin Historical Society.
- The register of deeds
Deeds and other land records, and births, marriages and deaths registered in the county.
- The register in probate
Wills and estates.
- The clerk of the circuit court
Divorces, naturalizations and court cases.
- The Wisconsin Historical Society
In Madison and its Area Research Centers: older county records, state censuses and newspapers.
- Wisconsin Historical Society Library & Archivesfree
The state's historical society in Madison, with county records at its Area Research Centers, newspapers and genealogy indexes.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Wisconsin, Milwaukee" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Brown County, Iowa County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Brown County, Iowa County
Later formed partly from Milwaukee County: Dane County, Dodge County, Jefferson County, Portage County, Racine County, Rock County, Walworth County, Washington County, Waukesha County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1834, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Wisconsin's county registers of deeds recorded births, marriages and deaths well before statewide registration began in 1907. Older county records are held at the Wisconsin Historical Society's Area Research Centers.