Find Effingham County Genealogy

Effingham County genealogy records reach all the way back to 1777, making this one of Georgia's original counties. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Springfield hold marriage licenses, wills, estate papers, land deeds, and court records spanning nearly 250 years of history. Effingham County was settled by German-speaking Salzburger colonists in the 1730s, and the county has deep roots that connect to the earliest days of the Georgia colony. If your ancestors were among those early settlers or came later, the courthouse in Springfield is where your search begins.

Effingham County Probate Court Genealogy

The Effingham County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses go back to 1777. The court also keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses in Effingham County.

Having records from 1777 is exceptional. Most Georgia counties were formed much later. The colonial-era records in Effingham County can connect you to some of the earliest European settlers in the state. The Salzburger community that founded the town of Ebenezer left records in both English and German. Some of those church and community records survive in archives and can supplement what you find at the courthouse.

You can visit the courthouse in Springfield to search records. Staff can help guide your search. The court also takes mail requests. Send a written request with the names and dates you need, along with the search fee.

The Georgia Probate Courts Directory lists contact details for all 159 county probate courts.

This directory helps you find the right office for Effingham County and any neighboring counties you may need to check.

Note: Colonial-era records may be fragile or on microfilm at the Georgia Archives. Call ahead to find out what is available at the courthouse itself.

Effingham County Court Records for Genealogy

The Effingham County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1777 to the present. Land deeds from the colonial period are especially valuable for genealogy. They show who owned what land and when they bought or sold it. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Georgia are open to the public.

Divorce records from the Superior Court often name children, list property, and give ages or birth dates. Tax digests from the late 1700s and early 1800s can show who was living in Effingham County before census records were taken. The earliest federal census for Georgia is 1820 (the 1790, 1800, and 1810 censuses were destroyed), so land and tax records fill critical gaps.

The Headright land grant system was used in early Georgia. If your ancestors received land through a headright grant in Effingham County, those records are at the Georgia Archives. The Virtual Vault has some of these digitized.

Vital Records for Effingham County Genealogy

Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. The Effingham County vital records office in Springfield issues birth and death certificates from 1919 forward. Birth certificates cost $25. Death certificates are the same price. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted to close family members.

For records before 1919, church records are especially important in Effingham County. The Salzburger congregations kept detailed baptism, marriage, and burial records. Some of these records have been published and are available at libraries and archives. The Georgia Archives has microfilmed many early Effingham County records. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 and marriage records from 1754 to 1960 at no cost.

Note: The Georgia Virtual Vault has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online for free, which can help with early 20th century Effingham County genealogy.

Effingham County Genealogy Research Tips

Start with what you know and work backward. Census records are a key tool. Federal census data for Effingham County is available from 1820 onward (the earlier Georgia censuses were destroyed). The 1850 census was the first to list every person by name. Pre-1850 censuses only name the head of household.

Pre-1900 Effingham County records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. The Georgia Archives is at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free access to Ancestry.com and Fold3 is available in the search room.

The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old newspapers with obituaries, legal notices, and family announcements. The Digital Library of Georgia also has records that may include Effingham County materials.

• Check cemetery records, especially old Salzburger burial grounds
• Search church records for baptisms and marriages
• Look at Family Bible records on microfilm at the Georgia Archives
• Review estate records when birth or death dates are unknown
• Use colonial land grant records at the Georgia Archives

Effingham County is one of Georgia's original eight counties, so its borders have changed many times since 1777. Parts of Effingham were used to create other counties over the decades. Check the "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" resource at the Virtual Vault to track where your ancestors would have been counted. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees from public agencies are capped at 10 cents per page.

Cities in Effingham County

Effingham County includes Springfield, Rincon, and Guyton. All genealogy records for these communities are maintained at the Effingham County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Springfield.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Effingham County. Families in the Savannah metro area often had connections across county lines.