One of the main goals for genealogists is finding birth, marriage, and death (BMD) information about their ancestors.
Over the past few decades, thanks to volunteers, librarians and archivists (as well as the largest of them all - FamilySearch), a great number of indexes to birth, marriage, and death collections have been provided for free online. These searchable indexes provide specific BMD information, and sometimes scanned images of the actual birth, marriage, and death certificates themselves. These free online collections have hundreds of millions of records in them in total.
There are a great number of online and offline collections that may include birth, marriage, and death information that are not included in the lists below. For example, newspapers, draft registration files, naturalization records, etc. have BMD info. To find out which types of other records may include BMD information, please see:
- 27 Ways to Find Ancestor Birth Information
- 22 Ways to Find Ancestors Marriage Information
- 21 Ways to Find Ancestors Death Information
The lists below are specific birth, marriage, and death indexes and record collections that are available for free online for the state of Virginia.
Note 1: Many of the links listed below take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. In many cases there is a link to the digital collection in the middle of the page, but also near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections' images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. Please also note that I have listed below only BMD databases that are accessible digitally from your computer (or tablet/phone)
Note 2: I have included links to Free Ancestry records and indexes. You do not need a subscription, but do need an Ancestry account. Without a subscription you can view indexes. If there is an image associated with a record, in most cases you will need a subscription, but the index does include very usable information.
(Updated May, 2020; recently added links are in BOLD)
General U.S.
- United States Births and Christenings, 1867-1931
- United States Deaths and Burials, 1867-1961
- United States Korean War Battle Deaths, 1950-1957
- United States Marriages, 1733-1990
- United States Social Security Death Index
- United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872
- Online Searchable Death Indexes
Virginia
- Accomack County Death Notices 1881-1912
- Accomack County Marriage License Bonds 1806-1835
- Accomack County Marriage Notices 1881-1912
- Accomack County Marriages
- Accomack County Death Register, 1853 - 1896
- Accomack County Index to Marriage Register, no. 6
- Accomack County Marriage Licenses and Bonds, 1774-1917
- Accomack County Registers of Births, 1853-1896
- Accomack County, Marriage Registry 1896-1925
- Albemarle County Marriage Bonds
- Alexandria Gazette Death and Obituary Index
- Alexandria A list of Marriage Certificates 1801-1850
- Alleghany County Marriages
- Amelia County Marriage Bonds
- Amelia County, Marriages 1756-1828
- Amherst County Marriage Bonds and other Marriage Records of 1763-1800
- Amherst County Marriage Bonds and Returns 1801-1854
- Amherst County Marriages 1801 to 1854
- Amherst County, Marriage Bonds 1753-1853
- Amherst County, Marriage Bonds, 1763-1825
- Augusta County Record of Marriages 1834-1846
- Augusta County, Marriages
- Bedford County Marriage Bonds
- Bedford County Marriage Bonds of 1755-1800
- Bedford County Marriages
- Bedford County records
- Bedford County Death Records, 1853-1860, 1868-1880
- Botetourt County Birth Indexes
- Botetourt County Death Indexes and Certificates
- Botetourt County Marriage Index
- Botetourt County Marriages 1770-1800
- Brooke County Marriage Record, 1848-1854
- Brunswick Co. Deaths (1861-1862)
- Brunswick County Marriages
- Buchanan County Death Certificate Index
- Buckingham County Records, 1786-1858
- Campbell County Marriage Bonds 1781-1854
- Carroll County Deaths, 1855-1896
- Carroll County Unindexed Marriage Records
- Charles City County Marriages Database
- Chesterfield County, Marriages, 1771-1799
- Culpeper County Marriage Bonds, 1780-1850
- Culpeper County Marriages 1781-1815
- Culpepper County Marriages 1781-1815
- Cumberland County Marriages and Wills Abstracted, 1749-1799
- Dickenson County Marriage and Death Indexes
- Dinwiddie County Marriage Records 1863-2000
- Early Virginia Marriages : from original County Records
- Early Virginia Marriages : Pt. I
- Eastern Shore Death and Obituary Indexes
- Eastern Shore Marriage Notices
- Fairfax County Marriage Licenses 1853 – 1957 – Bride
- Fairfax County Marriage Licenses 1853 – 1957 – Groom
- Fauquier Count Marriages 1759-1959
- Fauquier County Court Records
- Fauquier County Marriage Index 1897-1906
- Fauquier County, Marriage Returns (not Bonds)
- Fauquier County, Marriage Returns (not Bonds) 1785-1848
- Floyd County Birth Index
- Floyd County Marriages 1831-1940
- Fluvanna County Marriage Bonds (prior to 1801)
- Fluvanna County Index to Register of Certificates of Marriages 1781 to 1853 and Marriage Bonds 1777 to 1858
- Fluvanna County, Marriage Bonds 1781 to 1860
- Fluvanna County, Marriages, 1783-1809
- Franklin County Marriage Bonds 1786-1858
- Franklin County Marriage Bond Register, 1786-1853; loose Marriage Bonds and Licenses, 1785-1900
- Franklin County Registers of Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1853-1915 ; Index to Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1853-1898
- Fredericksburg Birth Index
- Fredericksburg City, Death Records, 1853-1896
- Fredericksburg Marriage Bonds 1782 to 1860
- Fredericksburg Marriage Index
- Fredericksburg Marriage Returns and Marriage Bonds
- Fredericksburg, Death Records, 1953-1986
- Giles County Marriage Bonds, 1821-1853
- Giles County Marriage Register, 1806-1913, Birth and Death Registers, 1855-1896; Indexes to Birth, Marriage and Death Registers
- Giles County Registers of Marriages, 1871-1943
- Gloucester County Freedmens Marriages
- Goochland County Marriage Bonds, 1730-1854
- Goochland County Marriages
- Grayson County Births
- Grayson County Death Index
- Grayson County Marriage Index
- Halifax County Death Records
- Halifax County Marriages
- Hanover County Freedmen's Marriage Register
- Henley Marriage Index
- Henrico County Marriage Indexes
- Henry County Marriage Bonds 1778-1799
- Henry County Marriage Bonds, 1778-1849
- Henry County Marriage Register 1778-1849
- Henry County Marriage Registers
- Highland County Marriages 1847-1853
- Index to Marriage Notices in the Southern Churchman, 1835-1941
- Isle of Wight County and Marriage Records, 1634-1951
- Isle Of Wight County Death Indexes
- Isle Of Wight County Marriage Indexes
- Isle of Wight County Marriages 1628-1800
- Isle of Wight County Marriage Records, 1772-1852
- Isle Of Wight County Marriages, 1628-1800
- Isle of Wight County Registers of Marriages 1854-1900, Births 1853-1876, and Deaths 1853-1874 ; Indexes to Registers
- Isle of Wight County, Birth Records, 1867-1893
- Isle of Wight County, Coroner's inquest Records, 1925-1944
- Isle of Wight County, Marriage Records,1775-1837
- King George County, Marriage Bonds, 1715-1787
- Lancaster County Marriage Bonds 1652-1850
- Lancaster County Marriage Bonds, 1652-1850
- Lee County Marriage Indexes
- Library of Virginia Marriage Index 1719-1898
- Lincoln County Birth Records, 1871-1957
- Loudon County Birth and Death Records 1853-1917
- Loudon County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Loudoun County Death Records
- Loudoun County Marriage Bonds and Marriage Records, 1767 through 1843
- Loudoun County Marriage Records
- Loudoun County Marriage Records 1751-1880
- Loudoun County Marriage Records, 1751-1880
- Loudoun County, Marriage Bonds, 1762-1850
- Louisa County Marriage Indexes
- Louisa County Marriage Records from Dec. 9, 1766 to Jan. 7, 1788
- Louisa County, Marriage Bonds, 1769-1856
- Lynchburg City Marriage Bonds, 1805-1854
- Lynchburg City Marriage Bonds, 1805-1854
- Lynchburg Marriages from beginning through 1828
- Marriage Register of the Presbyterian Church at Alexandria, Virginia
- Mecklenburg County Marriage Returns of Ministers, 1785-1841
- Mecklenburg County Marriage Bonds, 1770-1912
- Mecklenburg County Marriage License Bonds 1765 to 1810
- Mecklenburg County Marriage Records, 1765-1853
- Mecklenburg County Marriage Records, 1782-1909
- Mecklenburg County Marriage Register, 1854-1929
- Middlesex County Christ Church Parish Register 1653 to 1812
- Middlesex County Marriage Bonds 1704-1854, Index only
- Middlesex County Marriage Bonds 1740-1854
- Miscellaneous BMD Records by County
- Miscellaneous Virginia Marriages 1700-1799
- Miscellaneous Virginia Marriages 1800-1825
- Montgomery and Roanoke County Death Records 1853-1867
- Montgomery County Death Certificates
- Montgomery County, Marriage Bonds 1831-1854
- Nansemond County Marriage Registers, 1900-1910, 1952-1972
- Nelson County Marriage Index
- Nelson County, Marriage Bonds, 1808-1866
- Nelson County, Marriages from beginning of county through 1837
- New Kent County Births
- New Kent County Deaths
- New Kent Marriages, 1854-1910
- New Kent Marriages, 1911-1950
- New Kent Marriages, 1951-1993
- Nicholas County Birth Records, 1853-1916; Birth and Death Records, 1890-1967
- Norfolk County and Portsmouth Marriages
- Norfolk County Deaths
- Norfolk County Marriage Bonds October 5, 1706 to December 31, 1850
- Online Searchable Death Indexes
- Orange County Marriage Records, 1757-1938
- Orange County Marriage Registers, 1757-1938
- Orange County Birth Records, 1866-1895
- Orange County Marriage and Birth Records, 1751-1778
- Orange County, Marriage Bonds, 1757-1803 and 1810-1865
- Page County Marriage Bonds 1831-1851
- Pittsylvania Birth Records
- Pittsylvania County Marriage Bonds, 1767-1864
- Pittsylvania County Marriage Records 1767-1819
- Pittsylvania County Marriages
- Pittsylvania Death Records
- Portsmouth Births 1853 - 1917
- Portsmouth Colored Births 1857 - 1896
- Portsmouth Deaths 1856-1895
- Portsmouth Vital Records
- Prince Edward County Marriages
- Prince George County Record of Marriages 1801-1850
- Prince William County Vital Records Indexes
- Princess Anne County Births
- Princess Anne County Vital Records
- Pulaski County Marriages 1838 - 1845
- Pulaski County Marriage Records 1839-1900
- Putnam County Birth Records, 1853-1962
- Rappahannock and Essex Counties Index to Marriages 1655-1900
- Rappahannock County Marriages
- Richmond City Birth Index, 1870-1912
- Richmond City Birth Index, 1870-1912
- Richmond Marriage Index
- Richmond Marriage Bonds
- Roanoke County Birth Register, 1853-1885; Death Register, 1853-1881
- Roanoke County Marriage Licenses, 1838-1853; Marriage Register, 1853-1918 (1919)
- Roanoke Register of Births, 1886-1896
- Rockbridge County Marriage Bonds
- Rockingham County Death Indexes
- Rockingham County Deaths 1912-1939
- Rockingham County Old Tenth Legion Marriages 1778-1816, taken from the Marriage Bonds
- Rockingham County Birth Registers, 1862-1894
- Rockingham County Death Registers, 1862-1894
- Rockingham County Index to Register of Births, 1874
- Rockingham County Marriage Register (ministers' returns), 1791-1852
- Rockingham County Marriage Registers, 1864-1926 ; Indexes to Marriage Registers, 1778-1939, 1968-1983
- Rockingham County Registers of Deaths and Births 1865-1866
- Rockingham County, Virginia Valley Records
- Rockingham County, Virginia Valley Records
- Russell County Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Russell County, Marriage Register 1871-1885 (Vol. 2) : also including the lost Marriage records, 1848-1853
- Scott County License & Return of Marriages, 1815-1853
- Scott County Marriage Index
- Scott County Marriage Indexes
- Scott County, Marriage Books
- Shenandoah County Birth Indexes
- Shenandoah County Marriage Bonds, 1772-1850
- Shenandoah County Marriages
- Smyth County Marriage Licenses 1832-1850
- Some Virginia Marriages, 1700-1799
- Some Virginia Marriages, 1700-1799
- Some Virginia Marriages, 1800-1825
- Southampton County Marriage Bonds and Ministers' Returns 1750-1810
- Spotsylvania County, Marriage Bonds, 1795-1853
- Stafford County Birth Index
- Stafford County Death Indexes
- Stafford County Marriages
- Staunton Spectator Marriages 1755, 1781-1794
- Surry County Marriage Index
- Surry County Marriage Records, 1735-1950
- Surry County, Birth Records, 1771
- Surry County, Minister's Returns, 1705-1852
- Tazewell County Deaths
- Tazewell County Marriages
- Tazewell County Birth Index
- Tazewell County, Annals 1800 -1924
- Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917
- Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912
- Virginia Deaths Index 1853-1896
- Virginia Genealogies and County Records
- Virginia Marriage Records before 1853
- Virginia Marriages 1760-1824
- Virginia Marriages, 1700-1799
- Virginia Marriages, 1700-1799, Vol. 1
- Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940
- Virginia Marriages, 1800-1825
- Virginia Records copied from the Richmond Enquirer, 1831-35
- Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913
- Virginia, Birth Records, 1721-2011
- Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1943
- Virginia, Death certificates, 1912-1987
- Virginia, Death Records, 1912-1987
- Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1959
- Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1988
- Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007
- Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988
- Virginia, Marriage Records, 1936-1996
- Virginia, Newspapers, Marriage and Obituary Index, 1736-1820
- Virginia, Richmond Times Dispatch, Marriages and Obituaries Index cards, 1903-1909
- Virginia, Surry County Marriage Records, 1735-1950
- Virginia, Surry County, Certificate of free Birth and free slave, 1800-1856
- Washington County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Westmoreland County Marriage Bonds, Licenses and Ministers' Returns, 1772-1901
- Westmoreland County Marriage Records, 1826-1850; Marriage License Bonds, 1786-1850; Marriage Registers, 1854-1908; Birth Registers, 1858-1895
- Westmoreland County Register of Deaths, 1857-1896
- Wise County Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Wood County Consent to marry, 1880-1926
- Wood County Miscellaneous Records, 1801-1900
- Wythe County Marriages and Deaths
- York County 18th Century Marriages
- York County Births or Christenings, 1648-1789
- York County Marriages
Check out the links for other states on the BMD Records page.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
For other Free Virginia Links, click on the category of interest:
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