Washtenaw County was formed in 1826 from Wayne and Oakland Counties and at the time contained a portion of Livingston, Eaton and Jackson Counties with Ann Arbor as the county seat. There are many legends concerning the name Washtenaw. Some people think it was the name of an Indian who lived near the mouth of the river.
Other people think it was the Potawatami word for large stream or river. Emerson Greenman, a former curator of the museum of anthropology at the University of Michigan, wrote that Washtenaw derived from the Algonquin and meant 'Far Country' with Detroit as the Point of reference.
Be sure to see the Books page for a list of books specific to Washtenaw County. Materials covering a slightly broader scope appear below.
- History of Michigan by Charles Moore
- The Red Book of Michigan: A Civil, Military and Biographical History by Charles Lanman
- The History Of Detroit And Michigan Or A Chronological Cyclopaedia Of The Past And Present Including A Full Record Of Territorial Days In Michigan And The Annals Of Wayne County by Silas Farmer
- Early History of Michigan by Stephen D Bingham
- The Underground Railroad in Ann Arbor
- A History of the German Settlers in Washetnaw County 1830 to 1930 by Dale R. Herter and Terry Stollsteimer
(Appendix: Names and Origins of Washtenaw German Pioneer Names)
- eWashtenaw County History (with FAQs)
- National Register of Historical Places - MICHIGAN, Washtenaw County A complete listing of Places of Historical Interest in Washtenaw.
- Historical Sites
- Washtenaw County Historical Society
- Making of Ann Arbor
- USGenWeb® Penny Postcards from Washtenaw
- The diary entries of John Geddes, an early settler of Washtenaw County, MI. Click on the Birth, Death and Marriage extractions from the John Geddes Diaries, an early settler of Washtenaw County, MI. Submitted by Timothy Kreh.
- The early history of the Fuller family as written in 1901 by, James Harland Fuller. Submitted by Mary Lou Hamilton Rogers
- An historical account of Washtenaw Co., MI written before 1889, by Jehiel Hull BAKER Submitted by Daniel Fay
- These Pioneer articles represent reports of historical interest from County, Town and District Pioneer Societies. These notes were complied yearly and yield interesting stories of Michigan’s early years.
- Washtenaw County Historic Sites of Interest
- Washtenaw County graduates from a listing of 1881-1918 Alumni that attended Plymouth High School, in neighboring Wayne County, MI
- Chronological history of Ypsilanti, MI
Washtenaw County Court Information
- Washtenaw County Clerk
101 East Huron Street, P.O. Box 8645
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Phone: 734-994-2501
Fax: 734-994-1690
Genealogy Research Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Comments: Appointments are required. Staff assistance may be limited. Space allows for two genealogists searching same records at one time. No children are allowed. If staff needs to search index (1970-present), we will do so as timely as possible.
Births: 1867 to present. Birth records are available only to the individual named on the birth record (registrant), the parents of the registrant, a legal guardian of the registrant, a legal representative of the registrant or an heir of the registrant. Those records at least 110 years old are available to the public. An heir is defined as any relative of a deceased individual. Heirs must supply the date and place of death of the registrant when requesting a copy. This policy is in accordance with MCL 333-2882.
Deaths: 1867 to present. Indexes from 1970 to present searched only by staff with written request.
Marriages: 1833 to present. Indexes from 1970 to present searched only by staff with written request.
Divorce: 1838 to present. Records with Court Services Division at same address.
Naturalization: Available at Michiganology
Web: https://www.washtenaw.org/262/Clerk-Register-of-Deeds
- Judge of Probate, Estate Division
Washtenaw County Courthouse
P. O. Box 8645
Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645
Street address:
101 E. Huron
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(at the corner of Main Street)
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