California Genealogy Blog
Guides, tips, and resources for researching your California family history using birth records, vital records, and free online tools.
How to Start Researching Your California Family Tree
March 15, 2023A beginner's guide to tracing your California roots using birth records, census data, and free online resources.
Read more5 Common California Genealogy Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
May 10, 2023Avoid these common pitfalls that trip up both beginners and experienced genealogists when researching California birth records and family history.
Read moreCan't Find a California Birth Record? 8 Alternative Sources to Try
August 22, 2023When you can't find an ancestor's birth record in the California Birth Index, these 8 alternative sources can help you piece together the information you need.
Read moreCalifornia Birth Records Before 1905: Where to Find Them
November 8, 2023The California Birth Index starts at 1905, but births happened long before that. Here's where to find California birth records from the 1700s through 1904.
Read moreUnderstanding the California Birth Index: What Each Field Means
January 10, 2024A detailed guide to interpreting every field in a California Birth Index record, from mother's maiden name to county codes.
Read moreHow Death Certificates Can Help You Find Birth Information
April 3, 2024Death certificates are one of the best backdoor sources for birth details. Learn what birth information they contain, why it's sometimes wrong, and how to verify it.
Read moreFree California Genealogy Resources You Should Know About
June 5, 2024The best free websites, archives, and databases for researching California family history — no subscriptions required.
Read moreOrganizing Your California Family History Research: A Simple System
September 17, 2024A practical guide to keeping your California genealogy research organized — from filing birth records to tracking sources and avoiding duplicate work.
Read moreWhat Your Family's Old Papers Can Tell You About Their California Roots
February 12, 2025Before you search any database, check the boxes in the attic. Family papers — photos, postcards, obituaries, letters — hold genealogy clues you won't find online.
Read moreFinding Siblings and Family Connections Through Birth Records
November 18, 2025How to use the California Birth Index to discover siblings, half-siblings, and extended family connections you never knew existed.
Read moreThe Most Popular Baby Names in California, 1905-1995
December 11, 2025We analyzed all 24 million records in the California Birth Index to find the most popular baby names by decade — from Mary and John in 1905 to Jessica and Jose in 1995.
Read moreThe Most Common Mother's Maiden Names in the California Birth Index
January 8, 2026An analysis of 24 million birth records reveals how California's most common mother's maiden names shifted dramatically over the 20th century — and what it tells us about the state's changing demographics.
Read moreCalifornia Births by County: 90 Years of Population Shifts
January 22, 2026Where were California's 24 million babies born? County-by-county birth data from 1905-1995 reveals the rise of Southern California, the decline of San Francisco, and the suburban boom that reshaped the state.
Read more24 Million Records: What the California Birth Index Reveals About the State's History
February 5, 2026From 9,520 births in 1905 to 764,159 in 1992 — the California Birth Index is a statistical portrait of a century of explosive growth, war, migration, and cultural change.
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