How to Find a Person's Grave

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Visiting the grave of someone who's passed away can be a great way to pay your respects and get closure, or just to learn more about a historical figure. However, if you don't know exactly where the person was buried, it might seem hard to find the gravesite. Luckily, as long as you have just a little information about the person, there are a number of ways you can find out where someone is buried.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Searching Individual Headstones

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  1. If you know the cemetery where someone is buried but you're not sure exactly which plot is theirs, take a trip to the graveyard. Plan to go early in the day, in case it takes you a while to find the exact location. [1]
    • Since you'll be walking around outside, bring along a bottle of water, and apply sunscreen before you leave the house. If you're going in the summertime, you'll need to reapply the sunscreen if you'll be outside for more than 2 hours.
    • Depending on the time of year and where you're going, it may be a good idea to bring bug spray.
  2. Some cemeteries have websites with a map of all of the graves on their grounds, while others will have maps available on site. If you can find a map, it could save you a lot of walking while you search for an individual grave.
    • Some of these maps will list individual graves, while others might include only family plots. Some may even be just a basic grid outline of the cemetery, but even that can help you streamline your search.
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  3. If you don't know the general location of the grave, it's best to start in one corner of the cemetery and walk along the pathway from one end to the other. That way, you don't end up accidentally looking in the same areas you've already been.
    • It may be helpful to bring a piece of paper and a pencil and draw a rough diagram of the cemetery to help you keep track of the plots you already looked at.
    • If it's a very large cemetery, you may need to have someone else start at the other side or break your visit into multiple days.
  4. The cemetery sexton is the person in charge of overseeing the grounds. In addition to performing general maintenance in the cemetery, the sexton also keeps records of all of the burials. They should be able to tell you the exact location of the gravesite. [2]
    • You might also be able to speak to the clergy who oversaw the services. Even if they don't have a record, they may remember the general area in which the person is buried.
  5. Some cemeteries are owned by the funeral home itself. If that's the case, you can contact the director of the funeral home to find out the location of the grave. [3]
    • Often in this situation, the funeral home will be located on the grounds of the cemetery.
  6. In a cemetery, you'll often see last names grouped together. If you see another grave with the same family name as the person you're looking for, you may be getting close. [4]
    • This is because families often buy multiple graves at the same time so they can be laid to rest together. These groupings are called family plots.
  7. Just because you find a gravesite with the same name as the person you're looking for, it doesn't necessarily mean you've found them. Check the information on the headstone to see if the birth and death dates match up to verify it's the right grave.
    • If you don't know the person's exact date of birth or when they died, at least try to estimate when they would have lived.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Checking Death Records

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  1. When you're searching records, you'll need to have the first, middle, and last name of the person, whenever possible. You're likely to have more luck if you also know their date of birth, when and where they died, and the names of their immediate family members. [5]
    • Since some combinations of first and last names are more common, having the person's middle name will help narrow down your search significantly.
    • If you're not sure of the person's full name, their date of birth, or when they died, try looking in family bibles, baptismal records, or obituaries.
    • You may be able to find the person's death certificate by contacting their local county clerk's office. However, if the person died before the 1930s, they may not have a death certificate.
  2. If you'd like to know the location of your ancestor's burial site but you don't know where to start looking, a genealogy database can help. Even if you can't find the exact location of their grave, you may be able to discover where the person lived and died, which can help you narrow down where they're probably buried. [6]
  3. Once you know the area where the person is buried, you may be able to find their grave online at a virtual cemetery website or headstone database. Even if the cemetery itself doesn't maintain an independent website, a database may include a photograph of their headstone and it's location in the cemetery. [7]
  4. There are specific sites dedicated to preserving the locations of servicemen and women who have passed away, whether they died in the line of duty or after their service had ended. If the person you're searching for served in the military in some way, check these sites for more information. [8]
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  • Question
    My uncle was given a pauper's funeral by Liverpool City Council in 1977. There is no name on the burial plot and I believe there is more than one person in the grave. How can I find the plot?
    Community Answer
    Your uncle was buried with a metal number disc. Your City Council should have a record of the place, date, and time you uncle was interred.
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  • Question
    Can a cemetery charge a fee to tell you where a grave is?
    Community Answer
    No, they'll ask for when the person died and/or when they were buried. Sometimes they might ask your relation to the deceased.
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  • Question
    I have the friend's name, where they lived, when and where they died, but no obituary to note interment. Is this enough?
    Community Answer
    Unless the person is from a very big town and has an exceedingly common name, this should be sufficient. Many people never have obituaries written about them.
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      Tips

      • Check with the cemetery before you leave flowers or other tokens. Some cemeteries only allow cut flowers, some prohibit ribbons or balloons, and others don't have any regulations about the types of items you can leave.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/planning-a-cemetery-visit-important-dos-and-donts-to-read-before-you-go/
      2. ↑ https://careertrend.com/info-8083938-duties-sexton.html
      3. ↑ http://www.nfda.org/news/statistics
      4. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/fashion/04genb.html
      5. ↑ https://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/find-a-gravesite/
      6. ↑ https://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/find-a-gravesite/
      7. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/tips-sleuthing-cemeteries-ancestors/
      8. ↑ https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Find-a-Grave

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To find a person’s grave, check online or in the cemetery entrance for a map of the graves. Failing that, locate the sexton, who might be able to help you find the grave. If neither of those work, start in one corner and read the gravestones in a pattern to make the most of your time. To find the grave of an ancestor, try checking genealogy databases like Ancestry for the location of their grave. Even if their exact plot isn’t listed, you might find out where and when they died. For more tips, including how to find the graves of veterans, read on!

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