Genealogy in Butler County
Butler County genealogy records cover more than two centuries of family history in western Pennsylvania. The county was formed in 1800 from part of Allegheny County, and official records begin from that year. The courthouse in Butler holds wills, land deeds, marriage licenses, and early vital records. The Butler County Historical Society provides a separate archive with family histories, cemetery records, and newspaper collections. Researchers looking for ancestors in Butler County have access to a rich set of local resources, supplemented by online archives and state-level collections.
Butler County Genealogy Quick Facts
Butler County Genealogy Records Overview
Butler County was formed from part of Allegheny County on March 12, 1800. The county seat is Butler, where the government center and courthouse are located. Wills and probate records date from 1800. Land records from the Recorder of Deeds begin in 1800. Marriage licenses are held from 1885 to the present. Birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are available at the Register of Wills. The county has not experienced major courthouse disasters, so records are largely complete.
The USGenWeb Archives at usgwarchives.net holds free online records for Butler County. These include cemetery transcriptions for rural townships, military records from the Revolutionary War through modern times, will abstracts, church records, and family histories contributed by researchers. Census records from 1800 to 1940 are also included. This online archive is a good starting point before visiting the courthouse or historical society in person.
Butler County sits in western Pennsylvania, between Allegheny County to the south and Lawrence, Mercer, and Venango Counties to the north and west. Many families in the county came from Allegheny County or neighboring areas in the early 1800s. Understanding the geography helps researchers know where to look for records when ancestors moved across county lines.
Butler County Register of Wills and Recorder
The Butler County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds are housed at the Government Center at 124 W Diamond Street, Butler, PA 16001. The Register of Wills office handles marriage licenses, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, wills, and probate files. The phone number for the Register of Wills is (724) 284-5148. The Recorder of Deeds office can be reached at (724) 284-5237.
Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff can assist with in-person record searches and provide copies of documents. Mail requests are accepted. Researchers should include the full name being searched, approximate dates, and the type of record when submitting a request by mail. Certified copies require additional fees beyond the standard copy rate. For genealogical searches, the more information provided upfront, the more efficiently staff can assist.
| Register of Wills |
Butler County Government Center 124 W Diamond Street Butler, PA 16001 Phone: (724) 284-5148 |
|---|---|
| Recorder of Deeds |
Butler County Government Center 124 W Diamond Street Butler, PA 16001 Phone: (724) 284-5237 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Butler County Historical Society
The Butler County Historical Society is located at 123 W Diamond Street, Butler, PA 16001, just steps from the courthouse. The phone number is (724) 283-8116. The society's research library holds family histories, photographs, manuscripts, cemetery records, school records, and yearbooks. Newspaper archives on microfilm cover many decades of Butler County history. Special collections include military records and local business archives.
Museum exhibits tell the story of Butler County from its formation through the industrial era. Research assistance is available from staff and volunteers who know the collections well. Membership provides access to the newsletter and research discounts. The society publishes local history materials and provides guidance on Butler County ancestry research. Hours vary, so researchers should check the website or call before visiting.
Cemetery records for Butler County are among the society's most useful resources. Many rural cemeteries have been transcribed and indexed. Church records for various denominations are also held. These records fill in the gaps before civil registration began in 1893.
Note: The Butler County Historical Society's hours and research fees may change. Contact the society directly at (724) 283-8116 or visit butlerhistory.com for current information before your visit.
Birth, Death, and Marriage Records in Butler County
Butler County vital records held at the courthouse cover 1893 to 1905 for births and deaths. Marriage licenses from 1885 to the present are kept at the Register of Wills. These local records are available for public review or by mail request. For births and deaths from 1906 forward, researchers must contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Pennsylvania's 35 P.S. Section 450.801 established statewide vital records registration in 1906. Certified copies of birth and death certificates from 1906 onward cost $20 each. They can be ordered online, by mail to the Division of Vital Records in New Castle, or in person at a state branch office. Birth certificates are sealed for 105 years. Death certificates can be requested by qualifying family members with documentation of their relationship to the deceased.
Church records are essential for Butler County research before 1893. The county's early settlers came from Allegheny County and adjacent areas. Presbyterian, Methodist, and German Reformed congregations maintained their own registers of births, baptisms, marriages, and burials. The Butler County Historical Society holds some of these church record transcriptions.
Land and Probate Records in Butler County
Land records in Butler County begin in 1800 at the Recorder of Deeds. Deeds, mortgages, and property transfers are recorded here. Searching the grantor and grantee indexes by name allows researchers to track property ownership across generations. Early land transactions often identify family relationships and can confirm connections between individuals with the same surname.
Probate records at the Butler County Register of Wills include wills, estate inventories, letters of administration, and guardian records from 1800. These records are public under 65 P.S. Section 67.101. Will abstracts contributed to the USGenWeb Archives can help researchers identify records worth requesting from the courthouse. Estate inventories are particularly valuable because they describe household goods and real property, giving a picture of how ancestors lived.
Orphans' court records at the courthouse also document guardianship matters, which often arise in estate cases involving minor children. These records can confirm family relationships and reveal details not found in wills alone. The PA Courts Orphans Court website has guidance on accessing probate-related court records statewide.
Pennsylvania Archives and Butler County Research
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds collections covering all 67 counties, including Butler. Military records, naturalization records, and land warrant applications are among the key resources at the state level. Butler County families who served in the Civil War or later conflicts may have records at both the state archives and through the National Archives. Naturalization records can be especially useful for tracing immigrant families to their home countries.
FamilySearch and Ancestry.com offer digitized Pennsylvania records that cover Butler County. Census records, vital records indexes, and probate abstracts are searchable through both platforms. The State Library of Pennsylvania provides genealogy research guides that cover western Pennsylvania counties including Butler. Together, these statewide and national resources supplement the local collections held in Butler.
Cities in Butler County
Butler County includes the city of Butler and communities such as Cranberry Township, Slippery Rock, and Zelienople. For a complete list of Pennsylvania cities with genealogy pages, visit our cities directory.
Nearby Counties
Butler County borders several western Pennsylvania counties. Records near county lines may be held in more than one county. Search these neighboring offices when ancestors lived close to a boundary.