Virginia Research Tips and Strategies
Virginia Research Strategies
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Virginia
- Virginia Online Genealogy Records
- How to find Virginia Birth Records
- How to find Virginia Marriage Records
- How to find Virginia Death Records
Virginia Research Tips
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Virginia.
- Birth information: Statewide registration of births began in June 1912 in Virginia.The best substitute record for locating birth information is death records (the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other substitute records.
- Finding Parents: Statewide registration of deaths began in June 1912 in Virginia. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Virginia death records
- Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.
- Marriage Records. Coverage map showing FamilySearch county marriage holdings. FamilySearch Historical Records
Virginia Record Finder
This Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.
| 1. What you are looking for: | 2. Try these records first: | 3. Other useful records |
| Birth information | Birth records, Death records, Obituaries, Church records | Cemeteries, Naturalization and Citizenship, Bible records, Military records (pension) |
| Marriage information | Marriage records, Obituaries, Bible records | Church records, Probate records, Military records |
| Death information | Death Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries | Probate Records, Church Records, Bible Records |
| Parents | Birth records, Death records, Obituaries, Census, Church records | Biography, Genealogy |
| Maiden name | Marriage Records, Obituaries, Probate records | Church Records, Military Records (pension) |
| Immigration date | Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Census | Obituaries, Biography, History |
| Naturalization | Naturalization and Citizenship, Census, Court Records | Voting Registers, Biography, Periodicals |
| Physical description | Military Records, Naturalization and Citizenship (after 1906) | Biography, History |
Further Virginia Research
For more research on Virginia, including research at the county level, visit the Virginia page on the Research Wiki.
Search all of the Virginia record collections at FamilySearch.