Find Genealogy Records in Kitsap County

Kitsap County genealogy research draws on records held by the County Auditor, the County Clerk, the Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch, and the Kitsap Regional Library. Birth records go back to 1891, marriage records to 1860, and probate and adoption records as far as 1861. This guide covers where to find Kitsap County genealogy collections, how to search online databases, and which local organizations can help when records are not yet digitized.

Kitsap County Vital Records and Archives

Kitsap County was created from King County on January 16, 1857, originally named Slaughter County and renamed Kitsap on July 13, 1857. It was named for Chief Kitsap, a leader of the Suquamish people. The county is located in the west-central area of Washington State, sitting on the Kitsap Peninsula between Puget Sound and Hood Canal.

The County Auditor holds birth records from 1891 to 1907, death records from 1892 to 1907, and marriage records from 1892. The Kitsap Regional Library notes that the Auditor also holds death records prior to July 1, 1907 and marriage records prior to January 1, 1968. The County Clerk holds divorce and court records from 1888, probate and adoption records from 1861, and land records from 1857. The Kitsap County Courthouse is at 614 Division Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366, phone 360-337-7109.

The Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch serves Kitsap County researchers. They can be reached at (425) 564-3940 or by email at psbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. For post-1907 vital records, contact the Washington State Department of Health.

Kitsap County Records in the Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives hosts two major Kitsap County genealogy collections. Both are free to search and include indexed entries and scanned images of the original records.

The Kitsap County Auditor birth records, 1891-1907 contain 1,042 entries. These registers record births reported to the County Auditor's Office between 1891 and 1907, with a few records outside that range. The collection also includes some birth returns that were filed in the register. It was indexed by Perry Prescott, Bert Pedersen, Mary Anne Marriett, Doreen Donald, Marilou Wesley, Helen Lewis, and Martha Richards. The images seen online were created from microfilm because the original records no longer exist. When searching, use the mother's maiden name as the last name search field. The database allows searching by mother, father, or child name, with Soundex and gender filters available.

Lead-in: The Kitsap County birth records database at the Digital Archives holds 1,042 indexed entries created from microfilm of the original county auditor register.

The original records no longer exist in physical form, so this digital collection is the primary access point for Kitsap County birth data from the auditor period.

The Kitsap County marriage records, 1860-2014 hold 153,158 entries. This is one of the largest local marriage databases in the state. The collection includes marriage returns from 1900 to 1910 and marriage certificates from 1860 to 2014. Document types include standard marriages, marriage applications, community property agreements, antenuptial agreements, and related filings. Prior to December 6, 2012, records use the terms Groom and Bride; after that date, Person A and Person B are used. The collection was indexed and imaged by Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch staff, Eastern Washington Genealogy Society volunteers, and Eastern Washington University student interns.

Lead-in: The Kitsap County marriage records collection in the Digital Archives covers 1860 through 2014 and contains 153,158 records across multiple document types.

The marriage database includes a Soundex search option, which is helpful for surnames with common spelling variations found in historical records.

Kitsap County Naturalization and Court Records

Kitsap County has naturalization records listed in the FamilySearch wiki, covering 1906-1910 and 1929-1955. These records were filed with the Kitsap County Clerk in Superior Court. Naturalization filings typically include birthplace, date of arrival, age, and names of witnesses. For immigrant ancestors who settled in the Kitsap area, these records can fill gaps left by other record types.

The FamilySearch wiki for Kitsap County also lists a Marriage License Register covering 1868 to 1890 and Marriage License Application Affidavits from 1905 to 1986. These are separate from the standard marriage certificate collections and can provide additional detail about the parties involved. Recorded Land Records from 1987 to 2014 and land records going back to 1857 at the Clerk's office round out the main collections.

For the Washington State Library's microfilm holdings related to Kitsap County, the guide identifies the Auditor register of births covering November 12, 1891 through June 23, 1907, and the register of deaths covering February 20, 1892 through May 16, 1907. Check the Washington State Library death vital records guide to confirm what is held on microfilm and how to request it through interlibrary loan.

Note: The FamilySearch wiki for Kitsap County, Washington Genealogy is a reliable starting point that lists all known online collections, date ranges, and contact information for the county's main record-holding offices.

Kitsap Regional Library Genealogy Resources

The Kitsap Regional Library genealogy program is a strong local resource for family history researchers. The library helps patrons find obituaries where the place of death is within Kitsap County, locate genealogy items within the county's collections, and access subscription databases not otherwise available to the public.

Ancestry.com is available at Kitsap Regional Library branches and can only be accessed on-site. The Genealogy Center at the Sylvan Way branch is the home for the Puget Sound Genealogical Society's extensive genealogical collection. FamilySearch is also accessible at the Sylvan Way branch, with some photo access limited to in-library use. Fold3, which covers U.S. history and military records, is another available resource.

The microfilm collection is located at the Sylvan Way and Bainbridge Island branches. Researchers can view microfilmed copies of local newspapers, census records, and other historical materials. The library works in partnership with the Puget Sound Genealogical Society to build and maintain genealogy holdings relevant to Kitsap County research.

Lead-in: The Kitsap Regional Library genealogy page outlines all available resources including Ancestry.com access, the Puget Sound Genealogical Society collection, and the microfilm archives at Sylvan Way and Bainbridge Island branches.

The library's genealogy resources are available to all Kitsap County residents and can be accessed in person at the Sylvan Way branch or through the library's online catalog.

Land Records and Additional Genealogy Sources

Land records in Kitsap County go back to 1857 at the County Clerk's office. The FamilySearch wiki lists Kitsap County Auditor, Recorded Land Records from 1987 to 2014 in the Digital Archives. Land records can show when an ancestor arrived in the county, where they settled, and how property passed within a family. Deeds, surveys, and plats can serve as anchors in a timeline when other record types are scarce.

The FamilySearch wiki also lists Recorded Agreements and Contracts from 1987 to 2006 and 2014 as well as Plats and Surveys from 1997 and 2014 in the Washington State Archives collections. These are more specialized records but can be valuable for researchers tracing property through multiple generations in Kitsap County.

For the FamilySearch wiki overview of Kitsap County, visit familysearch.org/en/wiki/Kitsap_County,_Washington_Genealogy. The wiki provides a full listing of known record sets, the agencies that hold them, and links to online databases where available. It is updated periodically as new collections are digitized and made available.

Cities in Kitsap County

Kitsap County includes several communities. The county seat of Port Orchard and the city of Bremerton are the largest population centers. Genealogy records for residents of these communities are held at the county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Kitsap County. If your ancestors lived near a county line or moved between counties, check records in neighboring jurisdictions as well.