Access Burien Genealogy Records
Burien genealogy research runs through King County, which holds all vital records, court filings, land records, and probate cases for this area. Burien was incorporated in 1993 from unincorporated King County, so records predating incorporation are entirely in the King County system. This guide covers the major record collections available online and in person, from early county auditor birth records in the 1890s through statewide vital registration and into the modern era.
Burien Overview
Pre-Incorporation Burien Records in King County
Burien was not a separate city until 1993. All genealogy records from the area before that date are held as King County records, not Burien municipal records. This includes births, marriages, deaths, land deeds, probate filings, and court cases from the late 1800s through 1992.
King County was created from Thurston County on December 22, 1852, and the county seat is Seattle. The County Auditor has birth and death records from 1891 to 1907 and marriage records from 1853. The County Clerk has divorce records from 1886 and probate records from 1891. For Burien-area families from the 19th century, all genealogy research begins with these King County collections.
The King County FamilySearch Wiki provides a useful overview of what records exist and where to find them. It notes research facilities including the King County Archives, Seattle Public Library, and King County Library System. For naturalization records, it lists King County Clerk Naturalization Records 1906-1920. For probate, it references Washington, King County Probate Records, 1854-1927 at FamilySearch.
Note: The King County Auditor's Office is located at 516 Third Ave., Room W-1033, Seattle, WA 98104, phone (206) 296-1655. The Superior Court Clerk's Office is at King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Ave., Room E609, Seattle, WA 98104-2386, phone (206) 296-9300.
King County Records at the Washington State Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives holds searchable collections from King County that cover the Burien area directly. These records are free to search at digitalarchives.wa.gov.
The King County Auditor, Birth Records, 1891-1907 collection contains 19,663 records. These are birth registers from the period before statewide registration began. Search by parents' names for the best results. The mother's last name in these records will be her maiden name. The collection was transcribed and proofread by members of the South King County Genealogical Society.
For marriages, the King County Marriage Records, 1855-2017 collection covers more than 160 years. The database is searchable by groom or bride name, year, and Soundex. Prior to December 6, 2012, the terms groom and bride are used; after that date, the database uses Person A and Person B. The Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch at (425) 564-3940 handles questions about this collection.
The Washington State Library Death Vital Records Guide at washstatelib.libguides.com notes that King County Auditor death records from 1891 to 1907 and Seattle-King County Health Department death records from 1891 to 1907 are held in the State Library's NW Microfilm collection. The City of Seattle death returns from 1881 to 1907 are also available there.
Burien Genealogy Sources Online
The City of Burien website provides access to the City Clerk's office for municipal records from 1993 forward. The clerk maintains city council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and public records requests under RCW 42.56.
While municipal records are not vital records, address histories and property documents from the clerk can help confirm where a family lived in Burien after incorporation.
The King County birth records collection at the Digital Archives is a key resource for Burien family research predating state registration. These records reflect births reported to the county auditor before statewide vital registration took over in 1907.
The Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives at (425) 564-3940 can assist with record searches that are not fully indexed in the digital systems.
The King County Marriage Records collection covering 1855 to 2017 includes marriages from the Burien area spanning both the unincorporated period and after cityhood. This is often the most-used collection for Burien genealogy.
The marriage records collection documents types beyond simple certificates, including prenuptial agreements and community property agreements, which can provide useful context for property research.
Vital Records After 1907 for Burien Families
Washington began statewide vital registration on July 1, 1907. From that date forward, birth and death records moved from the county auditor to the state. For Burien-area families with events after 1907, the Washington State Department of Health is the primary source.
Marriage records split differently. For marriages before January 1, 1968, contact the King County Auditor. For marriages from January 1, 1968 forward, contact the Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501. The Washington Genealogy vital records guide at washingtongenealogy.com/vital explains these cutoff dates clearly.
For Burien families with events in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, Walla Walla, or Whatcom counties before July 1, 1907, the guide also notes you should contact the local health department rather than the county auditor.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org maintains a Washington State Genealogy wiki with links to specific King County collections. The Washington Secretary of State genealogy page at sos.wa.gov offers links to statewide and county resources as well.
Land, School, and Other Records for Burien Area Families
Beyond vital records, the King County system holds a range of other genealogy-relevant collections. The King County FamilySearch wiki notes historical school district registers and censuses from 1890 to 1936, which can help trace children through their school years and confirm family addresses. These are sometimes the only records that list children by name from this period.
Land records are another major source. The King County Recorder's Office at 500 Fourth Ave., Room 311, Seattle, WA 98104 has marriage and deed records on microfilm and microfiche. The website at rootsweb.com (King County guide from RootsWeb) provides direct contact information for the main county offices holding genealogical records.
Military records for King County are also listed in the FamilySearch wiki. These can be useful for tracing male ancestors from the early to mid-20th century. Combined with probate records from 1891 forward and naturalization records from 1906 to 1920, researchers have a fairly complete toolkit for tracing King County families across multiple generations.
The Washington State Library genealogy guide at washstatelib.libguides.com/genealogy provides an overview of all available Washington state genealogy tools, which is a good place to start before diving into specific county collections for the Burien area.
King County Genealogy Records
Burien is in King County, and all genealogy records for the city and the surrounding unincorporated area are filed through the King County system. The county page has a full breakdown of collections, contacts, and research resources.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Burien and also file records through King County or adjacent counties.