West Virginia Research Tips and Strategies

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Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

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

West Virginia Research Strategies[edit | edit source]

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

Finding West Virginia Birth, Marriage or Death Records[edit | edit source]

Finding West Virginia Records[edit | edit source]

West Virginia Statewide Databases[edit | edit source]

West Virginia Research Process[edit | edit source]

West Virginia Research Tips[edit | edit source]

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

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide registration: Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1917 and was generally complied with by 1925.[1]
  • County registration: County birth and death records date from 1853 to the present for most counties. [2]
  • Access to records: See West Virginia Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in West 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 West Virginia Substitute Records for more information.


Finding Parents:

  • Death records: In 1917, the state required recording the deceased's birth and parent 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 West Virginia Newspapers and West 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 West 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 West 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 West Virginia Research[edit | edit source]


References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ West Virginia Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1997, 22. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
  2. ↑ West Virginia Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1997, 22. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
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