Lee Family History, Genealogy & Ancestry

The Lee Family

33,520 Lee records from public death, burial and census records and the old county histories, in all 12 Midwestern states we cover. Every name is a real person in the public record, and we follow set rules to leave living people out (how).

33,520Records in our database

1797Earliest birth

4Documented families

5Biographies

See the Lee family trees →2,206 Lee families pieced together from public birth and death records, county histories and old newspapers

At a glance

33,520 Lee records in our database

From public death, burial and census records across 12 Midwestern states. We follow set rules to leave living people out (how). Tap a state or a decade to narrow the list of ancestors below.

Where

fewer more

When they were born

Most records: Missouri (6,971 of 33,520)
Most common birth decade: the 1910s
Earliest birth in the database: Zartha Lee, born 1814, Iowa
Earliest in the county histories: John Lee, born 1797

Most common first names

Robert1,063 John744 Mary664 William651 James640 Charles498 George358 Helen285 Margaret278 Dorothy277 Richard259 Ruth238

Documented families

Lee families we have traced

Written from county histories and public records, every fact cited. We follow set rules to leave living people out (how).

Family histories, generation by generation (2)

The Lee family of Henry CountyIowaStarts: John Lee (b. 1797)Most recent: Jonathan Lee (b. 1839)The Lee family of Jackson CountyMinnesotaStarts: John Lee and Hannah (Spink) Lee (b. 1829)Most recent: Martin H. Lee (b. 1863)

Family records from county histories (2)

James LeeLee County, IowaStarts: James Lee, from MarylandMost recent: James Amos Lee, Berzella Lee, Thomas Lee John Lee b. 1820Portage County, OhioStarts: George Lee, from PennsylvaniaMost recent: John S. Lee, Helen A. Lee, Park B. Lee

The earliest Lees in the county histories

R. Moses LeeBorn 1787, Genesee countyPutnam County, Ohio John C. LeeBorn 1793Child of Zebulon P. LeeMarion County, Ohio John LeeBorn 1797, Franklin CountyHenry County, Iowa Rachel LeeBorn 1801Montgomery County, Ohio James M. LeeBorn 1814, Greene countyChild of Moses Lee and Roby (Branch) LeePutnam County, Ohio Adison LeeBorn 1819Union County, Ohio

Family trees from the public record

2,206 Lee families: parents, brothers and sistersFrom state birth and death indexes, county histories and old newspapers, most recent deaths first

In old newspapers

100 Lee death notices, 1837 to 1925Obituaries and funeral notices from Midwest papers scanned by the Library of Congress, with the original pages

In the county history family index

84 Lee people in 59 countiesBirth years, birthplaces, parents and spouses, from the old county histories

Biographies from the county histories (5)

John LeeBorn 1797 · Henry County, Iowa Thomas B. LeeBorn 1835 · Henry County, Iowa Jonathan LeeBorn 1839 · Henry County, Iowa Henry H. LeeBorn 1861 · Jackson County, Minnesota Martin H. LeeBorn 1863 · Jackson County, Minnesota

Done-for-you research

Trace your documented Lee family

Found your Lee? We trace your family back as far as the records go and write it up as a family history book, every source cited. No DNA test and no sales call: we take a free first look, then email you a plan and a flat price before you spend a dollar.

Common questions

Lee genealogy: FAQ

Where does the Lee surname come from?

English topographic name from Old English 'leah': a woodland clearing or meadow.

Where were Lee ancestors recorded?

Our database holds 33,520 Lee records from all 12 Midwestern states. The most are in Missouri (6,971), then Ohio (4,501) and Illinois (4,476).

How far back does the Lee family tree go?

The earliest Lee birth in our database is 1814: Zartha Lee, Iowa. The old county histories name John Lee, born 1797. We have pieced together 2,206 Lee family trees from public birth and death records.

Are living Lee family members listed here?

Not knowingly. We follow set rules to leave living people out of our public pages. If you find a living relative listed here, email us and we will take the record down.

Is this my Lee family?

Maybe. Many people share a name, so treat any match as a possible match until the dates and places line up with what you know about your family. Every person here links to their own page with the details, and we can trace your line for you.