Virginia Beach Genealogy Records

Virginia Beach offers genealogy researchers access to circuit court records, a strong public library collection, and databases covering both the city's modern period and Princess Anne County records that predate the city's creation in 1963. The Virginia Beach Public Library and the Circuit Court Clerk are the two main sources for family history research in this independent city.

Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk

The Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk is the primary keeper of official genealogy records for the city. The clerk's office holds land records, deed books, marriage licenses, wills, probate files, and civil court orders for the city's independent period, which began on January 1, 1963. For records before that date, researchers must look to Princess Anne County.

The Circuit Court Clerk maintains land records that trace property ownership across the city's history. Marriage licenses issued through the clerk's office document city marriages from 1963 onward. Wills and estate files show how property was distributed and can reveal family relationships not captured elsewhere. The clerk's office is the authoritative source for genealogy records within the city's jurisdictional period.

The Virginia Courts online system provides access to more recent case information for Virginia Beach. The court's electronic access system allows researchers to look up civil and criminal case records by name. For older genealogy records going back to the city's founding or into the Princess Anne County period, in-person access at the courthouse is necessary.

The Virginia Department of Health holds statewide vital records from 1912 onward. Birth and death records for Virginia Beach residents from that date forward are available through the VDH Office of Vital Records at 804-662-6200.

Genealogy Records in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach genealogy research covers two distinct jurisdictional periods. From 1963 onward, records are held at the Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk. Before 1963, the area was Princess Anne County, and those records are held separately. Princess Anne County was itself an early Virginia county with a record set going back to the late 17th century. Researchers working on pre-1963 Virginia Beach families should plan to search the Princess Anne County archive as a separate step.

The Library of Virginia holds microfilmed and digitized records from both Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County. Their online catalog identifies specific record sets, dates, and formats. Some older Princess Anne County records, including deed books and will books, are available in digital form through the Library of Virginia's online collections. Others require ordering microfilm or visiting in person.

Land records are one of the strongest genealogy tools in this region. Deed books document property transfers that often name heirs, spouses, and other family members. Tax records, which survive more consistently than some other record types, can trace families across years even when deed records have gaps. Both the Library of Virginia and the Virginia Beach Circuit Court hold relevant materials depending on the time period you are researching.

The FamilySearch database has indexed some Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County records, including marriages and probate documents. Their Virginia collection is a good starting point for identifying what records exist before planning a courthouse visit or ordering microfilm.

How to Search Virginia Beach Genealogy

There are several ways to approach Virginia Beach genealogy research. In-person visits to the Circuit Court Clerk give you direct access to deed books, will books, and other original materials. Staff can help you navigate the index system. Bring names and approximate dates to make your search more efficient.

The Virginia Beach Public Library's genealogy program is an excellent starting point for those new to family history research. The library offers courses for those interested in discovering their ancestry. Participants are encouraged to bring a USB drive. The only prerequisites are basic computer skills and keyboard familiarity, making it accessible to researchers at any experience level.

The library's genealogy databases include Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest. These platforms are available free to library cardholders and provide access to census records, military records, immigration files, and more. Both in-person and virtual programming options are available, which means you can get guidance on your research from home as well as at the library.

For remote research, the Library of Virginia online catalog identifies what records exist for Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County. FamilySearch is another free resource with indexed Virginia records. The Virginia Courts online system covers recent case information for the city.

Note: The Virginia Beach Public Library offers both in-person and virtual genealogy courses, so researchers outside the area can still access their programming online.

Virginia Beach Public Library Genealogy

The Virginia Beach Public Library maintains the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library Local History and Genealogy Reference Collection. This collection is one of the strongest local genealogy resources in the Hampton Roads region. It includes city directories, old newspapers, and family history files that support research in Virginia Beach and the surrounding area.

The library provides access to Ancestry Library Edition, which gives cardholders free use of a subscription platform normally available only to paying users. HeritageQuest Online is another database available through the library, covering census records and published family histories. These two platforms together cover a wide range of genealogy record types and time periods.

Local history collections at the library include materials specific to Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County. City directories, which list residents by name and address, can help trace families across decades. Old newspapers document births, deaths, marriages, and local events that do not appear in official records. Family history files compiled by previous researchers may also be available and can save significant time.

The Virginia Genealogical Society publishes research guides and maintains statewide databases that cover the Hampton Roads region, including Virginia Beach. Their journal and research resources are available to members and cover record types and strategies specific to Virginia's independent cities.

Virginia Beach Record History

Virginia Beach was created from Princess Anne County on January 1, 1963. Before that date, the area was governed as a county, and all official records were kept under the Princess Anne County designation. Princess Anne County itself was one of the original Virginia counties established in 1691. Its records, where they survive, cover nearly three centuries of settlement and family history in the coastal Virginia region.

The transition from county to independent city in 1963 means that genealogy researchers need to be aware of the record split. A family living in what is now Virginia Beach in 1950 would appear in Princess Anne County records. The same family in 1970 would appear in Virginia Beach city records. Both sets of records are valuable, and researchers should plan to search both jurisdictions for families who lived in the area across the 1963 transition year.

The coastal Virginia region has a long colonial history. Land grants, patent books, and early court orders from the colonial period can be found at the Library of Virginia. These records document the first European settlement of the area and trace land ownership across the colonial and early American periods. Researchers working on very old families in the area should start with the Library of Virginia's colonial collections before moving to county and city records.

For African American genealogy in Virginia Beach, Freedmen's Bureau records are an important source for the post-Civil War period. The Library of Virginia and the National Archives both hold portions of the Virginia Freedmen's Bureau records, which cover the coastal Virginia region including the Princess Anne County area.

The Virginia Beach Public Library is a strong starting point for genealogy research in the city. The library's collections, databases, and courses support both beginning and experienced researchers. For official city records, the Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk holds the authoritative archive of deeds, wills, and court documents from 1963 onward.

The library's genealogy program provides structured courses, database access including Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest, and both in-person and virtual programming options for family history researchers.

Researchers using the library's genealogy resources are encouraged to bring a USB drive and have basic computer skills. The library offers courses for beginners and also holds materials for experienced researchers working on complex Virginia Beach family histories.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These independent cities are near Virginia Beach and maintain their own genealogy records.