Find Tillman County Genealogy Records
Tillman County genealogy records cover families in southwest Oklahoma near the Texas border. The county seat is Frederick, and most records go back to 1907 when the county was formed from Comanche and Kiowa lands. You can search marriage certificates, court cases, probate files, and land deeds at the courthouse or through online tools. Military discharge records are also on file here, which can be helpful for tracing ancestors who served. If your family had roots in the Comanche or Kiowa nations, the records in Tillman County may connect to tribal enrollment files and allotment documents from the early 1900s.
Tillman County Overview
Tillman County Clerk Office
The Tillman County Clerk is at 201 N. 10th Street in Frederick. The phone number is (580) 335-3421. This office keeps land records, military discharge papers, and other county documents. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Land records go back to 1907.
The Court Clerk handles marriage, divorce, probate, and court records for Tillman County. Kevin Stevens serves as Court Clerk. His office mailing address is PO Box 116, Frederick, OK 73542, and the phone is (580) 335-3421. Marriage records start from 1907. Divorce records start from 1907 as well. Probate records begin at statehood. Military records are also available through the Court Clerk, including discharge papers and service records that families filed for safekeeping. Written requests are required for mail orders. Copies cost $0.25 per page, and certified copies add $1.00 per page.
| County Clerk | 201 N. 10th Street, Frederick, OK 73542 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (580) 335-3421 |
| Court Clerk | PO Box 116, Frederick, OK 73542 |
| Court Clerk Phone | (580) 335-3421 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
How to Search Tillman County Genealogy
The Oklahoma State Courts Network is the main free tool for looking up Tillman County court cases. Select "Tillman" from the county list. You can search by party name, case number, date range, and case type. The system covers records from the mid-1990s to the present. It shows docket entries, party names, and the current status of each case.
FamilySearch has microfilmed some Tillman County probate records that are useful for genealogy. You can access these through a local FamilySearch center or check online if digitized versions are available. The OK2Explore index from the Oklahoma State Department of Health lets you search for birth and death entries at no cost. This can help you confirm dates before ordering certified copies.
Land records for Tillman County may be available through OKCountyRecords.com for more recent documents. Older land records need to be searched at the County Clerk in Frederick. The Bureau of Land Management website has federal land patents showing original allotments and homestead entries in the county.
Note: OSCN records for Tillman County start in the mid-1990s, so earlier court cases must be searched at the courthouse in Frederick.
Tillman County Research Resources
Tillman County was formed from Comanche and Kiowa lands at statehood. Many early families here had ties to Native American communities in southwest Oklahoma. The Dawes Rolls at the Oklahoma Historical Society can help if your ancestors had Comanche or Kiowa connections. The rolls list names, ages, blood quantum, and family relationships for members of the tribes enrolled between 1898 and 1914.
The OKGenWeb project for Tillman County at okgenweb.net has volunteer-compiled data. Here is what the site looks like.
The OKGenWeb page includes census data, cemetery listings, and other historical information compiled by volunteers. It is free to use and can be a helpful supplement to courthouse records.
The Frederick Public Library and the Grandfield Public Library both hold local history resources that may help with Tillman County genealogy. The Oklahoma Historical Society Research Center in Oklahoma City has census records, land files, and free access to Ancestry Library Edition. The Gateway to Oklahoma History offers digitized newspapers that sometimes include Frederick and Grandfield publications. The Oklahoma Genealogical Society publishes quarterlies with Oklahoma family research that can help with broader context.
What Tillman County Records Show
Marriage records from the Tillman County Court Clerk include both names, ages, birthplaces, and parents' names. These start in 1907 and run to the present. Divorce records also begin in 1907 and contain the names of both spouses, grounds for the case, and any property or custody terms set by the court.
Probate files are strong genealogy sources in Tillman County. They list the deceased person's name, date of death, all known heirs, estate inventories, and how assets were divided. Wills, guardianship cases, and estate administrations are all part of the record set. These files often name family members not found anywhere else in county records.
Military records add another layer to Tillman County genealogy. Discharge papers and service records that families filed with the Court Clerk can tell you where an ancestor served, their rank, and dates of service. Land records from 1907 show property transactions across the county. Under Oklahoma's Open Records Act, Title 51 Sections 24A.1 through 24A.33, the public can inspect most government documents. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page more.
Tillman County Vital Records
Birth and death records are at the state level. The Oklahoma State Department of Health at 1000 NE 10th Street in Oklahoma City keeps all certificates. Statewide registration began in 1908. Under Title 63 Section 1-323 of Oklahoma law, birth records are restricted for 125 years and death records for 50 years.
Marriage and divorce records are public in Oklahoma. There is no waiting period. Contact the Tillman County Court Clerk with the names and approximate dates to order copies. The National Archives at Fort Worth has Bureau of Indian Affairs records and school records from the Indian Territory period that may cover Tillman County families with Native American heritage.
Cities in Tillman County
Tillman County includes Frederick, the county seat, along with Grandfield, Tipton, Davidson, and Hollister. All genealogy records for these towns are filed at the Tillman County Clerk offices in Frederick. No cities in Tillman County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page, but the county offices can help with records for all communities in the area.
Nearby Counties
Families in southwest Oklahoma moved freely between counties for land and work. Check these nearby counties if you cannot find what you need in Tillman County records.