North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains an index and images of vital record indexes, including births, delayed births, and deaths, for the years 1800 to 2000.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Vital records contain:
 * Names of individuals
 * Dates of birth, marriage, and death
 * Places where the events occurred
 * Names of parents
 * Names of spouses

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The approximate year of birth, marriage, or death
 * The approximate place where the event occurred

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for the family in census records
 * Search for the original certificates or registers for births, and deaths once found in the index
 * Search for cemetery records
 * Search for obituaries in local newspapers
 * Search the county for land and probate records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of North Carolina.
 * North Carolina Guided Research
 * North Carolina Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.