Created April 1, 1820 and organized January 21, 1828 from the southern portion of Wood County — named for John Hancock · county seat Findlay. Repository addresses, online record links, and a free printable record checklist below.
Short episodes that walk through Hancock County's records, one record type at a time.
Formation · Settlers & Migration · Probate · Land · Tax · Churches · Newspapers · Where to Look
Watch on YouTube308 Dorney Plaza, Findlay, OH 45840 · (419) 424-7079
Wills, estates, guardianships, marriage records, adoptions, and name changes.
300 S. Main St., Room 23, Findlay, OH 45840 · (419) 424-7091
Deeds, land records, mortgages, and plats.
300 S. Main Street, Findlay, OH 45840 · (419) 424-7037
co.hancock.oh.us/241/Clerk-of-Courts
Divorces, civil suits (including partition suits that divide land among heirs), and Common Pleas journals. Before 1852, this court also handled wills and estates.
300 S. Main Street, Findlay, OH 45840 · (419) 424-7015
Current tax lists and property transfer records. Early tax duplicates are on FamilySearch and at the Ohio History Connection.
206 Broadway, Findlay, OH 45840
Local History/Genealogy collection with government, church, and school records; ~175 years of local newspapers on microfilm and a digitized newspaper archive.
Do not confuse with hcplibrary.org — that's the Hancock County Public Library in Greenfield, Indiana, a different state.
PO Box 672, Findlay, OH 45839
Chapter of OGS since 1979; active contact channel is currently Facebook (facebook.com/hccogs) rather than a standalone site — confirm current activity before visiting.
422 W. Sandusky St., Findlay, OH 45840 · (419) 423-4433
hancockhistoricalmuseum.org · Wed–Fri 10–4, Sun 1–4
A different organization from the genealogical society above. Offers a dedicated research service through its Services page.
2225 Keith Parkway, Findlay, OH 45840 · (419) 424-7105
hancockph.com/birth-and-death-records
Certified Hancock County death certificates 1909–present. Older records: Ohio History Connection or the Probate Court.
Find A Grave — Hancock County and OhioGravestones.org — Hancock County.
Not sure which office has what? See Which County Office Holds What.
Many Hancock County record books are filmed and free to view at FamilySearch (free account required).
In Full-Text Search, add Hancock County, Ohio as the place to find names inside handwritten deeds, wills, and court books. How to use it.
Hancock County was formed in 1820 from Logan County. For records made before then, search the parent county:
Most of Hancock County's land was federal Congress Lands, surveyed in townships and sections and first sold through U.S. land offices. The first buyer of each tract received a federal patent.
Titles that covered Hancock County, historic and current, with where to search each one. Not every historic title has been digitized — several survive only on microfilm.
| Title | Years | Where to Search |
|---|---|---|
| Findlay Courier | 1836–present | Chronicling America (early volumes); current at thecourier.com; historical runs on OldNews.com |
| The Hancock Jeffersonian | 1854–1870 | Chronicling America |
| The Findlay Jeffersonian | 1870–1881 | Chronicling America; Newspapers.com |
| The Morning Republican | 1888–1932 | Chronicling America |
| The Courier (Findlay) | 1976–current | thecourier.com — older backfiles via Ohio Memory or NewspaperArchive |
Fill in what you're looking for, print it, and take it with you to the courthouse or library.
Brick Walls & Buckeyes
brickwallsbuckeyes.com · Hancock County, Ohio
Addresses and links last checked October 2026.
County guides, record walkthroughs, and brick wall breakthroughs. Subscribe on YouTube and tap the bell so new episodes find you.
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