Lauderdale County
Mississippi Genealogy & History Network

Welcome to Lauderdale County MSGHN

Welcome to the Lauderdale County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network website providing free information to genealogical and historical researchers.

To share your Lauderdale County, Mississippi genealogy or history information, send an email to msghn@outlook.com - we will be pleased to include it here. If you have information to share for other Mississippi Counties, visit the Mississippi Genealogy & History Network state website and choose the appropriate county.

About Lauderdale County, Mississippi...

Formed under Second Constitution (1832-1869) - December 23, 1833 Lauderdale County, an original county of the Choctaw Cession of 1830, was the third of the sixteen counties created by the act of December 23, 1833.

Lauderdale County, as recited in the establishing act, was named "in memory of Col. James Lauderdale, who fell in battle at New Orleans". James Lauderdale, of Tennessee, a member of John Coffee's mounted brigade, was wounded in the battle of Talladega during the Creek Wars and was killed in the night attack on the British below New Orleans on December 23, 1814. The counties of Lauderdale in Alabama and Tennessee also were named for him.

Marion undoubtedly was named for General Francis Marion, for whom Marion County had been named in 1811. The earliest county seat was located at Marion until 1866. In 1866 to 1870, the county seat was located at Marion Station. Marion Station derived its name from the town of Marion. In 1870, the county seat was moved to Meridian, and so remains.

Meridian had its beginnings in a rivalry between two railroad men, whose respective choices for the name of the town were Ragsdale City and Sowashee. The name Meridian eventually emerged as a compromise choice.

Meridian is not on or near any meridian, and it is said that the founders thought the name meant something else, such as "junction", "midpoint" or "central location", but it is more likely that they chose the word for its meaning of "zenith", the highest point reached by a star. A county seat in Texas also is named Meridian.

Neigboring counties are Kemper County (north), Sumter County, Alabama (east), Choctaw County, Alabama (southeast), Clarke County (south), and Newton County (west). Communities in the county include the county seat of Meridian as well as Marion, Collinsville, Lauderdale, Meridian Station, Nellieburg, Toomsuba, Alamucha, Bailey, Daleville, Kewanee, Point, Russell, Savoy, Topton, Whynot, and Zero.

Lauderdale County, Mississippi Records

Lauderdale County MSGHN has many records here on our website. Marriage Records, Cemetery listings, tombstone photos, census records, and more. Look at the Lauderdale County Data links for a list of available data.

Birth Records - The Mississippi Department of Health maintains records of births after November 1, 1912 on file. This was the year Mississippi began keeping official birth records. You can obtain official copies of birth certificates by mail by using this birth record application on their website. If you just have to order by internet or phone, or use a credit card, you can use VitalCheck, a third party records company recognized by the Mississippi Dept. of Health. Since there are no official birth records before November 1, 1912 for births prior to that date you will need to determine birth information from census records, bible records, baptismal records, cemetery tombstones, etc.

Death Records - The Mississippi Department of Health maintains births recorded after November 1, 1912 on file. This was the year Mississippi began keeping official death records. You can obtain official copies of death certificates by mail by using this death record application on their website. If you just have to order by internet or phone, or use a credit card, you can use VitalCheck, a third party records company recognized by the Mississippi Dept. of Health. Since there are no official death records before November 1, 1912 for deaths prior to that date you will need to determine death information from census records, bible records, funeral home records, cemetery tombstones, etc.

Marriage Records - We have thousands of Lauderdale County marriage records here on our website. These dates will assist you greatly in obtaining a copy of the original marriage license. The Mississippi Department of Health can provide you with this for marriages that took place between January 1, 1926 to June 30, 1938, and for January 1, 1942 to present by mail by using this marriage record application on their website. If you just have to order by internet or phone, or use a credit card, you can use VitalCheck, a third party records company recognized by the Mississippi Dept. of Health.

All existing Lauderdale County marriage records for any date not listed above (and for the dates listed above for that matter) may be obtained from the Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk's office.

Divorce Records - Prior to 1859, divorce proceedings were introduced as private bills in the Mississippi State Legislature. References to these can be found in the books Index of Mississippi Session Acts 1817 - 1865 and Index to the Laws of the Mississippi Territory. These books can be found at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History as well as many other genealogy repositories and libraries across the state. After 1859, Lauderdale County divorce proceedings were filed in the Lauderdale County Chancery Clerk's office.