Arlington County Historical Records Genealogy

Arlington County genealogy records are held at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Arlington, Virginia, with documents going back to 1846 when the county was formed from Fairfax County. The archive includes land records, marriage licenses, court orders, and birth and death registers with no known history of courthouse disasters, meaning the records are largely intact from the county's founding through the present.

Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk

The Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk's office is located at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 6700, Arlington, Virginia 22201. The phone is (703) 228-7010. The clerk maintains court records, land records, marriage licenses, and other public documents for genealogy research.

Arlington County was created from Fairfax County on September 7, 1846. The county was originally called Alexandria County and was renamed Arlington on March 16, 1920. This name change matters for genealogy research because any records filed between 1846 and 1920 are indexed under the name "Alexandria County," not "Arlington." When searching catalogs and databases, use both names to make sure you find everything available.

The clerk's office handles the recording of deeds, probate of wills, issuance of marriage licenses, and maintenance of civil and criminal court records. Land records, court records, and marriage licenses all begin in 1846. Birth and death records are also on file with no known courthouse disasters affecting the collection. The office is the primary source for Arlington County genealogy documents.

Note: Public records in Arlington County are defined under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act as all writings and recordings prepared or owned by a public body in the transaction of public business. Court and land records are open to the public.

Arlington County Genealogy Records Available

Arlington County's record set is intact from the county's founding in 1846. Birth records are on file, as are death records. Marriage records go back to the founding year. Land records, court records, and probate files all begin in 1846. Because there is no history of courthouse fires or other major record losses, researchers can trace Arlington County families from the mid-1800s forward without the gaps common to many Virginia counties.

For families in this area before 1846, Fairfax County is the parent county. Fairfax County records go back much further, to 1742. Any family in what is now Arlington County before 1846 would have had their records filed in Fairfax County. A search of Fairfax County land records, will books, and marriage registers from before 1846 is the logical next step for researchers tracing these families back beyond the county's founding.

Before Fairfax County itself was formed in 1742, the area was part of Prince William County. And before that, it was part of Stafford County. Virginia genealogy in this part of the state requires tracing these county formation steps backward through time. The Library of Virginia can help you understand which records belong to which jurisdiction for each time period.

Searching Arlington County Public Records

The Arlington County Public Records site provides information on public records access under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains the official records for genealogy research. The Arlington County Department of Real Estate Assessments maintains property assessment records, which can also help trace property ownership over time. Tax records at the Treasurer's office are another useful supplementary source.

The Arlington County Government website at arlingtonva.us provides links to county departments and their records. For genealogy research specifically, the Circuit Court Clerk's office at (703) 228-7010 is the right starting point. Call ahead to confirm hours and ask what is available for the specific time period and record type you need.

For older records, the Library of Virginia holds microfilm copies of Alexandria County and Arlington County records. The Library's catalog is searchable online. Virginia Memory at virginiamemory.com includes digitized documents related to northern Virginia counties including Arlington. The Alexandria Library's Local History and Special Collections department also holds significant materials relevant to this county's history.

The Alexandria County Name Change

One detail that trips up researchers is the name change from Alexandria County to Arlington County in 1920. Records filed between 1846 and 1920 will be indexed under "Alexandria County," not "Arlington." When searching any database, catalog, or microfilm index, you need to use both names depending on the time period you are researching. The Library of Virginia's catalog reflects both names, and their staff can help you find the right microfilm rolls regardless of how the county was labeled at a given point in history.

This matters for census records too. The 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1910 federal censuses all enumerate the county as Alexandria. Only the 1920 and later censuses use Arlington. When looking for your family on census rolls, check under Alexandria County in the Virginia schedules. The Soundex indexes for these censuses also use the old county name, so searching for an Arlington County ancestor in a pre-1920 census will not return results unless you use the correct historical county name.

State Resources and Vital Records

Virginia vital records registration began statewide in 1912. Birth and death certificates from that year forward are held by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. For older local birth and death registers from the 1853 to 1896 period, the clerk's office and Library of Virginia are the primary sources. These local registers are separate from the state vital records system and predate centralized registration.

Virginia vital records statutes under Title 32.1 Chapter 7 set the rules for certified copy access. Court and land records at the Arlington County clerk's office are publicly accessible. The Virginia Genealogical Society offers research support and publications relevant to northern Virginia counties. Cemetery records for Arlington County are documented on Find A Grave and include records from Arlington National Cemetery as well as local civilian burial sites.

The Virginia Courts website provides case index information for more recent court records. For historical research going back to the 1800s, in-person visits to the clerk's office or Library of Virginia remain the most productive approach. FamilySearch also holds some indexed Arlington County records in their free database, particularly older marriages and probate documents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Arlington. Each maintains its own genealogy records at the Circuit Court Clerk's office.