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Virginia Research Tips and Strategies

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Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

The Virginia Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for Virginia. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.

Virginia Research Strategies

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Virginia

Finding Virginia Birth, Marriage or Death Records

Finding Virginia Records

Virginia Statewide Databases

Virginia Research Process

Virginia Research Tips

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Virginia:

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide registration: The statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1912 and compliance date is unknown.[1]
  • County registration: From 1853 to 1896, the state required the counties to record births and deaths. Registration of births and deaths was not required between 1896 and 14 June 1912, but the health departments of some cities kept birth and death records during that period.[2]
  • Access to records: See Virginia Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Virginia.


Substitute Records:

  • Secondary source: Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
  • Accuracy: Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
  • List of substitute records: See Virginia Substitute Records for more information.


Finding Parents:

  • Death records: Early county records, in addition to later death certificates after 1912, asked for the deceased's birth and parents' information. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
  • Obituaries: Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See Virginia Newspapers and Virginia Obituaries for more information.
  • Church records: Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See Virginia Church Records for more information.


Census Records:

  • Check all census years: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See Virginia Census Records for more information.
  • Clues to other records: There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
  • Finding families: Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.

Further Virginia Research

References

  1. ↑ Virginia Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1997, 33. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
  2. ↑ Virginia Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1997, 33. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
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