West Virginia Births - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
These records cover births from 1853 to 1970.

Record History
Clerks of each County Court recorded births that were reported by parents, doctors and midwives beginning in 1853. The state of West Virginia began collecting births from the counties in 1917. From 1853-1879, about 15% of the births were recorded; from 1880-1920, coverage increased to about 65%. By 1925, nearly 100% of the births were recorded.

Why This Record Was Created
The state required counties to begin recording births to document the occurrence of a birth and to track public health issues. Delayed registration of births allowed persons whose birth was not recorded to obtain a birth certificate, usually in order to receive government benefits.

Record Reliability
The birth date and place, residence, and other facts that were current at the time the birth occurred are quite reliable, though there is still a chance of misinformation. Other data such as the parents' age or birth place have a greater chance of error because they are based on the memory of the informant.

Record Description
Birth entries were recorded in pre-printed register books containing many entries per page beginning in 1853. Earlier records were handwritten. They were usually typewritten by 1930.

Record Content
County birth records contain some or all of these genealogical facts:


 * Name of the child
 * Birth date and place
 * Registration date
 * Sex
 * Color or race
 * Father's name, occupation and residence
 * Mother's name and residence (maiden name sometimes given)
 * Father and mother's age, color, nationality and birthplace
 * Whether the child was born dead
 * Number of children in this birth
 * Total number of children born to this mother and number now living
 * Informant's name, address and relationship

How To Use The Record
County birth records are the best source after 1853 of birth information. Use the family residence at time of birth to find other records about the family. Use the parents' names to search for information about them and earlier generations.

Related Websites
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Related Wiki Articles
West Virginia Vital Records

Sources of This Collection
"West Virginia Births, 1853-1930," database, FamilySearch, 2009. Digital copies of originals housed in County Courthouses throughout West Virginia.

[County Name] (West Virginia). Clerk of the County Court. Birth records, [date range]. Downloaded from URL, date downloaded. Digital identification number if any, volume/page/entry number, name of person, birth place (if any), birth date.

[County Name] (West Virginia). Clerk of the County Court. Birth records, [date range]. Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, [filming date]. Microfilm/item number, volume/page/entry number, name of person, birth place (if any), birth date.

How to Cite Your Sources
''An example of citing these records is: County Courthouses in West Virginia. West Virginia Births 1853-1930. Birth record. From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org), April 23, 2010. Nilla J. Smith, Marshall, West Virginia, film number 853795, image number 102.''

Instructions for citing this source can be found at: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections 

Birth