Find Charleston County Obituaries
Charleston County obituary records represent the most extensive collection in South Carolina. The county was created in 1769 and contains records dating to the 1670s. Charleston serves as the county seat. The Charleston County Public Library's South Carolina Room provides premier genealogy resources. Charleston City death records from 1821 predate statewide registration by nearly a century. The Post and Courier newspaper has published obituaries since 1803.
Charleston County Quick Facts
Charleston County Public Library South Carolina Room
The South Carolina Room at the Charleston County Public Library is the premier location for Charleston genealogy research. Located on the 2nd floor of the Main Library at 68 Calhoun Street, this collection houses books, maps, manuscripts, and images covering local history. The mission is to collect, preserve, and make accessible materials focusing on South Carolina history and genealogy.
The South Carolina Room provides limited research services. Staff will check up to three names in the Charleston County Will Books from 1671 to 1868. They will also check up to three names in the Charleston Death Card File from 1819 to 1926. Obituary requests must include a date of death. Staff will check newspapers for up to seven days following the death date.
Contact the South Carolina Room at scroom@ccpl.org or call 843-805-6956. Written requests by mail, email, or fax are preferred. Requests are limited to two per patron per month. Visit ccpl.org for more information about services.
Charleston City Death Records 1821-1926
Charleston maintained death records long before statewide registration began in 1915. The Charleston City Death Records collection spans 1821 to 1926. These records are available on microfilm at the Charleston County Public Library. Digital images are accessible through FamilySearch.
The Charleston Archive on the library's second floor contains these historic records. The weekly record of deaths and interments within Charleston covers 1819 to 1926. This collection includes the Record of Burials at Magnolia Cemetery from 1836 to 1931. City of Charleston Death Certificates from 1866 to 1914 are also available.
Visit ccpl.org for information about these collections. FamilySearch provides online access to the Charleston City Death Records collection. These records may include name, sex, color, age, date of death, place of death, and cause of death. The collection is fully searchable with images available.
Note: These pre-1915 records are unique to Charleston and provide valuable genealogy information.
Post and Courier Obituary Archives
The Post and Courier is Charleston's daily newspaper. The paper has published continuously since 1803 under various names. Current obituaries are available on the newspaper's website. Historical archives are preserved at the Charleston County Public Library.
The Post and Courier maintains an online obituary section at postandcourier.com. Recent death notices can be searched by name. The newspaper serves Charleston County and the South Carolina Lowcountry. Historical archives include the Charleston Courier and Charleston News and Courier.
The newspaper is the primary source for Charleston obituaries from the 19th century to present. Historical archives are available through the newspaper's website. The Charleston County Public Library also maintains newspaper archives. Newspaper archive services provide additional access to historical issues.
South Carolina Historical Society Resources
The South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston maintains extensive genealogy resources. Their collection includes unpublished resources such as genealogy vertical files. These files contain newspaper clippings, lineage charts, obituaries, and research notes. Manuscript collections include unique documents like letters, diaries, and scrapbooks.
The society holds the Charleston Death Register from 1821 to 1927 on microfilm. Genealogy charts in the SCHS Collection can be accessed online. Charleston Church Records include membership rolls and records of births, deaths, and marriages. Parish Registers contain records from colonial times.
Visit schistory.org for more information about collections. The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research index is available for consultation. The society's research library is open to the public. Staff can assist researchers with locating obituary records.
Charleston County Probate Court Records
The Charleston County Probate Court maintains wills and estates from the 1670s to present. These are among the oldest probate records in the United States. The court holds marriage licenses from the colonial period to present. Probate records help establish family relationships across generations.
Estate records document property transfers and list heirs. Colonial-era wills provide insight into early Charleston families. These documents confirm death dates and relationships. The Probate Court provides unique resources for genealogy research.
Visit the Charleston County Probate Court for record access. The court is located at 100 Broad Street, Suite 469. Phone 843-958-5180 for information. Some colonial records may require special handling.
Charleston County Obituary Records Online
Multiple online databases contain Charleston County obituary records. FamilySearch provides the Charleston City Death Records collection from 1821 to 1926. This collection contains over 100 years of death records with images. The records are fully searchable and free to access.
Ancestry.com offers comprehensive databases for Charleston County. The South Carolina Death Records collection spans 1821 to 1972. These records include Charleston City death records from 1821 to 1914. The database contains over 1.5 million records with images.
FamilySearch Wiki provides detailed guidance on Charleston County research. The wiki page lists available record types and repositories. Researchers can find tips for using colonial and modern resources. Visit the FamilySearch Wiki for more information.
South Carolina State Resources for Charleston County
The South Carolina Department of Public Health maintains death certificates from 1915. These official records provide standardized death information. Charleston records from before 1915 are available through local archives. Older certificates are available as public records after fifty years.
The South Carolina State Library provides vital records research guides. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History preserves historical records. The Archives maintains death certificates over fifty years old. These records are available for public research.
The Charleston County Register of Deeds maintains land records from the colonial period. Property transfers sometimes follow deaths and estate settlements. These records provide indirect evidence of death dates. The Register of Deeds office can be accessed online.
Nearby Counties
Charleston County borders several South Carolina counties. Berkeley County was created from Charleston County in 1882. Researchers should check neighboring counties for related obituary records. The Lowcountry region has interconnected family histories.