West Virginia Births - FamilySearch Historical Records

This wiki article describes a collection that is available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. To access the collection, see [West Virginia Births, 1853-1930 ]

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

Collection 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 Collection 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.

Collection 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.

Collection 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.

Collection 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 Collection
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 Articles
West Virginia Vital Records