Google ancestor naturalization records

How to Google naturalization records for ancestry research.

Naturalization is the legal procedure by which an alien becomes a citizen of a state or country. Records of naturalization were not required to be reported to the United States government until the Basic Naturalization Act of 1906. Naturalization forms became standardized and were sent to the US Bureau of Immigration (later the Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS]). Before that, federal, state, and local courts could naturalize citizens. The records are kept by each court or, in some cases, sent to be stored elsewhere. Immigrants often filed their first application for naturalization as soon as they came off the boat or other places on their journey to their final destination.

Google Ancestor Naturalization Records
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The formalized process required that prospective citizens file a declaration of intention that they renounced allegiance to foreign sovereignties. Following a waiting period of five years, an immigrant could then petition a federal court for formal citizenship.

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What You Will find in Naturalization Records

There were three steps to the naturalization process, which are detailed below.

Declarations of Intention (or First Papers)

Soon after arriving in the United States, the first papers were usually completed. Women, children and other groups were exempt in the early years.

Information required on the Declaration of Intention forms changed over time.

  • Before September 1906, minimal information was required from the applicant. You will find the following information: name of the person requesting citizenship, year and country of birth, port of entry, month and
  • After September 1906, more information was required of the applicant, which included: name, age, occupation, personal description, place and date of birth, current address, country of emigration, name of the vessel, last foreign residence, name of a foreign sovereign, port of entry, month and year of entry into the United States, signature, and date of request.
  • Beginning in the late 1920s, the applicant was asked questions about other family members.

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Petition (Second or Final Papers)

When a person who had declared their intention to become citizens had met the residency requirements, they were allowed to submit their formal Naturalization petitions to the court.

The information provided on the Naturalization petitions dramatically varied from one court to another.

  • Before September 1906, information included: the petitioner’s name, address, occupation, date and country of birth, and port and date of arrival in the United States.
  • After September 1906, more and more information was required with subsequent versions. Information could include: the petitioner’s name, residence, occupation, date and place of birth, race, date and place of Declaration of Intention, marital status, name of spouse, date and place of marriage, date and place of spouse’s birth, date and place where spouse entered the United States (if applicable), and residence of a spouse. You will also find names, dates of birth, and place of residence of children; last foreign residence; port of emigration; port and date of entry; petitioner’s name at the time of arrival; the name of the vessel or other conveyance; the name of a foreign sovereign, length of time, dates, and places of residency in the United States; signature; and date of the document. Also included in the petition is a place for signed and dated affidavits of two witnesses, Certificate of Arrival file number, and Declaration of Intention file number.
  •  After 1930, the Petition for Naturalization often includes a photograph of the petitioner.

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Certificates of Naturalization

Certificates of naturalization are limited in the information they contain. Usually, they include the name of the individual, the name of the court, and the date of issue. These certificates were issued upon completion of all citizenship requirements. They may also include address, birthplace or nationality, the country from which they emigrated, birth date or age, personal description, marital status, name of spouse, age (or birth date) and address of spouse, information about children (including names, ages, and addresses), and date of the document.

Certificate of Citizenship

This document granted the individual United States citizenship.

Oath of Allegiance

This document was used solely for the immigrant to renounce allegiance to a foreign country and declare allegiance to the United States. This document includes the petitioner’s signature and the date of the document.

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Where to Naturalization Records

Begin by looking for naturalization records in the courts of the county or city where the immigrant lived. Look first for the petition (second papers) because they are usually easier to find in courts near where the immigrant eventually settled. After 1906, the declaration can be filed with the petition as the immigrant was required to submit a copy when he submitted the petition. Online resources include ncestry.com, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Also, check regional branches of the National Archives.

Google Ancestor Naturalization Records

The following are sample search queries you can use to find online databases for naturalization records:

  • Naturalization Records
  • “Naturalization Petitions” “California”
  • “Naturalization Records” “Massachusetts”
  • “Naturalization Index” “Arkansas”
  • “Naturalization Papers” “Ohio”
  • “Naturalization Records OR Index OR Petitions OR Papers” “Pennsylvania”

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Google Other Ancestor Records

The following is an overview of the common 18 types of ancestor records that I have found constantly valuable in my historical and genealogy research and hundreds of other resources I have learned to research and use through the years. When I mastered researching these resources, I could quickly expand my research to other records to help me connect the pieces of my genealogy puzzle.

Google Ancestor Records
Cemetery Records Census Records Church Records
Civil Vital Records Directory Records Family Histories
Histories and Biographies Land Records Maps
Message Boards, Mailing Lists, and Wiki’s Military Records Naturalization Records
Newspaper Records Photographs Probate Records
Publications and Periodicals Ship Passenger Lists Writings of Ancestors

In my profile of each resource, I have included what you will find, how to use the resource, and research insights for each resource. I would encourage you to use this section as a starting point from which you can search out and find other genealogical tutorials, and guides that help to provide deeper insights.  The common websites that researchers first think of are Ancestry, Archives, FamilySearch, FindMyPast and MyHeritage.

The following are other articles you may enjoy to help you Google your ancestry.

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