Virginia Genealogy

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Overview of Virginia records

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Overview of Virginia Genealogy Records

• History: Virginia was first settled in 1607 and became a state in 1788. Virginia was part of the Confederacy during the Civil War in 1861-1865. The northwestern part of the original state became the state of West Virginia in 1863. Virginia has both counties and independent cities that are not part of a county.
• Counties now in West Virginia: The following counties that were once part of Virginia are now in West Virginia: Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming.
• County changes: The following counties have had changes over time: Alexandria County (not City of Alexandria) was part of the District of Columbia from 1791-1847 and then came back to Virginia as Arlington County, Elizabeth City County consolidated with the Town of Phoebus in 1952 into the City of Hampton, Nansemond County became the independent city of Nansemond in 1972, Norfolk County consolidated with the City of South Norfolk to form the independent City of Chesapeake in 1963, Princess Anne County was consolidated with the independent City of Virginia Beach in 1963, Warwick County became the independent City of Warwick in 1952 and consolidated with the City of Newport News in 1958, the City of Bedford reverted to become an incorporated town in Bedford County in 2013, the City of Clifton Forge reverted to become an incorporated town in Alleghany County in 2001, the City of Manchester consolidated with the independent city of Richmond in 1910, the City of South Boston reverted to become an incorporated town in Halifax County in 1995, and the City of South Norfolk extended boundaries to include Norfolk County and changed the name to City of Chesapeake in 1963.
• Birth records: Birth records were kept by the government in Virginia from 1853 to 1896, and then starting again in 1912 when state registration began with complete records by 1917. Copies of birth records from 1853-1896 and 1912 to the present can be obtained from the Virginia Department of Health.
• Marriage records: A few marriage records were kept in Virginia before 1853. In 1853 a state law required marriage records to be kept from then on. Copies of marriage records from 1853 to the present can be obtained from the Virginia Department of Health or from the clerk of the court of the county or independent city where the marriage occurred.
• Death records: Death records were kept by the government in Virginia from 1853 to 1896, and then starting again in 1912 when state registration began with complete records by 1917. Copies of death records from 1853-1896 and 1912 to the present can be obtained from the Virginia Department of Health.
• Divorce records: Divorce records from 1918 to the present can be obtained from the Virginia Department of Health.
• Census records: The first federal census available for Virginia is 1790. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1790, 1800 (partial), 1810 (partial), 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950.
• County records: Court, land, probate, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• Other records: Many cities and towns had newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, city directories, and other records that can be located on the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
• All records: Online indexes and images of many of the above records can be found by using the links on this site.