Texas, U.S., Birth Index, 1903-1997

This database is an index to over 15 million births recorded in Texas between 1903 and 1997. Information contained in this index includes:

• Child's full name
• Sex
• Birth date
• Birth county

Some records also include:

• Names of both parents
• Birth certificate number

In some cases, where the names of the parents are provided, the parents' names were recorded incorrectly. Occasionally the mother's name was recorded in the father's place and the father's name was recorded in the mother's place. Therefore, you may need to switch which fields you put the parents' names in, in order to produce results.

Modern birth records are extremely valuable, but many researchers, learning birth information from home sources, fail to obtain birth certificates. This reluctance is most unfortunate and can result in an inaccurate or incomplete family genealogy. Use the information in this index to request a copy of the birth certificate. The original record will typically include additional information that is not found in the index. For information on how to order a copy of a birth certificate, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website.

Modern birth records contain much more information than earlier records. Although birth certificates vary from state to state, most of them share much information in common.

Probated or delayed birth registrations were sometimes submitted to the respective county court. These were then forwarded to the State Bureau of Vital Statistics. Microfilm indexes to delayed birth records include Texas residents born elsewhere, many of whom were seeking Social Security registration. The bureau ended delayed birth registration in 1959.

Birth records will generally contain the following information: Child--name, birthplace, date of birth, sex, hospital, time of birth; Father--name, race, birthplace, age, occupation; Mother--name, race, birthplace, age, occupation, residence. Sometimes you will also learn term of residence in the community, term of pregnancy, marital status, number of other living children, number of other deceased children, number of children born dead.

On the images of the index, counties are listed with a code. For reference, the following table is provided with each county and its code.