Jefferson County, Wisconsin Genealogy
Jefferson County, Wisconsin genealogy and family history research page. Identify links to record collections, history, and genealogy information to aid you trace your personal Jefferson Co., ancestors. Begin by creating a Free Family Tree.

Jefferson County was founded on December 7, 1836 from Milwaukee County (Organized in February 1839). The county was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), President of the United States (1801-1809) .
The Jefferson County Seat can be found in Jefferson and the county government website is www.jeffersoncountywi.gov
Bordering Counties in Jefferson County include Dodge County (north), Waukesha County (east), Walworth County (southeast), Rock County (southwest), Dane County (west).
Populated Places in Jefferson County are Cities which consist of Fort Atkinson, Lake Mills, Waterloo, Watertown, Whitewater; Towns consist of Aztalan, Cold Spring, Concord, Farmington, Hebron, Ixonia, Jefferson, Koshkonong, Lake Mills, Milford, Oakland, Palmyra, Sullivan, Sumner; Villages consist of Cambridge, Johnson Creek, Palmyra, Sullivan.
Jefferson County does have Federal Census Schedules to assist in finding out about your family tree. United states federal Population Schedules are available for 1840 (as Wisconsin Territory), 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940. Jefferson Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Jefferson Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Jefferson Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. One can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research.
Jefferson County Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Wisconsin Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Wisconsin State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Bark River Woods Historical Society, W4080 St Rd 106, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-9681; Phone: 920-563-4773
- Concord Historical Society, PO Box 402, Sullivan, WI 53178; Phone: 414-593-8099
- Dodge/ Jefferson County Genealogical Society, PO Box 91, Watertown, WI 53094
- Fort Atkinson Historical Society, 407 Merchants Ave, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538; Phone: 920-563-7769
- Jefferson Historical Society, 305 S Main, Jefferson, WI 53549; Phone: 920-674-2455
- Johnson Creek Historical Society, PO Box 113, Johnson Creek, WI 53038
- Lake Mills/Aztalan Historical Society, PO Box 122, Lake Mills, WI 53551; Phone: 920-648-8575
- Palmyra Historical Society, 226 W Main St, Palmyra, WI 53156; Phone: 414-495-4245
- Waterloo Area Historical Society, PO Box 52, Waterloo, WI 53594; Phone: 920-478-2328
- Watertown Historical Society, 701 S Tenth St, Watertown, WI 53094-4833; Phone: 920-261-0275
- Area Research Center - University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Harold Andersen Library, 800 West Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190; Phone: 262/472-5520
- Jefferson County, Wisconsin Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Jefferson County
- Jefferson County, Wisconsin Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com) read and post messages with other genealogy researchers for Jefferson County
- USGenWeb Archives for Jefferson County (usgwarchives.net)
- Wisconsin Genealogy Index (wisconsinhistory.org) Search for pre-1907 Vital Records, as well as for 150,000 Wisconsin Name Index (WNI) records, including biographical sketches, obituaries, and newspaper articles published before 2000.
- See Also Wisconsin Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links
Jefferson County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often fail to notice the importance of Jefferson County court, probate, and land files as a source of family history and genealogy details. Buried away in Wisconsin courthouses and archives everywhere are often the dreams and frustrations of countless Wisconsin residents.
The chances are excellent that your forefathers have left a in-depth record of at least some elements of their lives in the Jefferson County court records. Even if your ancestors is not discussed in a Court case, contemplate all of the other methods that could have lead to her or him to appear in court records.
Make sure you get in touch with the clerk's department to identify hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics in advance of visiting or asking for information because of in some cases changing contact information. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The files are readily available to interested parties, barring private issues. A good number of workers will assist persons in obtaining the materials, however it's up to the particular person to undertake the researching.
The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Jefferson county. The date listed for each category of record is usually the earliest registration filed. The earliest date does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually registered.
It has been estimated that less than 50 percent of the vital records, for example, were prepared and submitted for permanent filing prior to 1907. Land deeds, probate, and court records generally begin in Wisconsin with the organization of the county. Prior to that date, check the County or Counties it was created from. Some counties formed from other counties transcribed their portion of property deeds to be kept with the new county deed records.
- Jefferson County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 320 South Main Street, Jefferson, WI 53549; Phone: 920.674.7144
- County was attached to Milwaukee County for county and judicial purposes from 1836–39. Some early records may be found there.
- Jefferson County Register of Deeds purpose is to provide official record keeping for Records or files land record documents authorized by law, such as deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, certified survey maps, plats and Federal Tax liens. Files and indexes Birth, Death and Marriage records, Military Discharges, and issues certified copies upon request.
- Phone: 920-674-7235
- Birth Records: 1852
- Marriage Records: 1844
- Death Records: 1856
- Land Records: 1838
- Jefferson County Register in Probate Office has the responsibility to maintain and update files regarding probate of estates, guardianships, protective placements, adoptions and mental commitments. This is a statutory office with the position of Register in Probate filled by judicial appointment.
- Phone: 920-674-7245
- Probate Records: 1846
- Jefferson County Clerk of Court Office is required to maintain a record of all documents filed with the courts, keep a record of all court proceedings, and collect various fines and forfeitures ordered by the court and specified by statute.
- Phone: (920) 674-7150
- Court Records: 1842
- Jefferson County Treasurers Office collects all real estate taxes including postponed and delinquent, all county revenues in addition to the research and issue tax deed applications. Our department is the holder of tax records and assessed values.
- Wisconsin Office of Vital Records has copies of Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Records reported since 1907. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Wisconsin for current fees and application process.
Wisconsin Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....
Jefferson County Genealogy Links
The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources associated to Jefferson County. Many of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is just a listing which has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to provide your own most liked Jefferson County genealogy or family history related sites.
Jefferson Co. WI Books, Newspapers & Publications
Jefferson Co. WI Birth, Marriage & Death Records
Jefferson Co. WI Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
Jefferson Co. WI Census Records
Jefferson Co. WI Cemeteries & Graveyards
Jefferson Co. WI Church & Bible Records
Jefferson Co. WI Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
Jefferson Co. WI General and History Websites
Jefferson Co. WI Immigration & Naturalization
Jefferson Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
Jefferson Co. WI Military Records
Jefferson Co. WI Schools & Directories