Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Norfolk County, with the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps; it doesn't mean every year in between survives.
Land and deeds
- [Deed Book1637–1646
- FOR DEEDS1646–1722
- Deed Book1675–1901
- Surveyors' Record1790–1865
- Land Entry Book1795–1854
- Land Tax Book1797–1832
- Survey Book1799–1865
- Processioners' Returns1853–1854
- Surveyors' Book1853–1945
- Record of Caveats1872
- Map Book1879–1962
- Index to Map of1919
- General Index to Maps and Plats1969–1975
Wills
- FOR WILLS1637–1739
- Wills1646–1780
- Wills and Deeds1651–1753
- Unrecorded Wills1711–1761
- Wills and Orders1723–1734
- Loose Wills1748–1845
- Will Book1755–1968
- Original Wills1774–1821
- Wills and Bond Book1831–1860
Estates and guardianships
- Executors' Bond Book1746–1831
- Guardians' Bonds1751–1850
- Administrators' Bond Book1752–1850
- Appraisements1755–1930
- Audits1755–1973
- General Index to Appraisements1755–1937
- General Index to Audits1755–1937
- Inventory Book1755–1791
- Administrators' and Executors' Bond Book1773–1850
- Guardians' Accounts1792–1867
- Fiduciary Bond Book1850–1975
- List of Fiduciaries1850–1958
- Guardians’ Accounts1867–1906
- Trustees’ Accounts1873–1923
- and 2 more series in the full listing
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index to Marriage Bonds1706–1828
- Marriage Bonds1706–1850
- Ministers’ Returns1787–1840
- Marriages1840–1853
- Ministers' Returns1840–1853
- General Index to Marriages1850–1935
- Marriage Register1850–1912
- Register of Births1853–1917
- Register of Deaths1853–1870
Tax lists
- Tithables1730–1785
- Tithable Lists1732–1783
- Levy Book1753–1775
- Land Tax Book1825–1842
- Liquor License Bond Book1895–1903
Court orders and minutes
- FOR ORDERS1637–1735
- Minute Book1637–1904
- Miscellaneous Records1652–1748
- Order Book1675–1853
- General Index to Minute Book1815–1893
- Witness Attendance Book1824–1830
- Chancery Order Book1831–1904
- Common Law Order Book1853–1975
- Register of Convicts1870–1932
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes and Mulattoes1809–1852
- Register of Free Negroes1850–1861
Military and pensions
- Virginia World War Memorial Records1915–1944
- Muster Roll in War with Germany1917–1918
- Induction Records and Index to Discharge Records1941–1945
- Index to Induction and Discharge Records1944–1975
Census
- Census, Districts1880
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1856–1913
- Officials' Bond Book1876–1903
- Commissioners’ Bond Book1895–1929
- Injunction Bond Book1898–1918
- Appeal Bond Book1909–1927
- Forthcoming Bond Book1920–1934
County government and the poor
- Road Overseer Reports1886–1890
- Road Trustees Minute Book1890–1898
- Permanent Road Improvement Commission1908–1911
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Source: Library of Virginia, County and City Records on Microfilm. Reels marked for interlibrary loan can be borrowed through your local library.
Where to find the records
- Find Norfolk County's official website
We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the circuit court clerk's office.
- The circuit court clerk's office
Virginia's deed, will and marriage books are usually kept by the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city, though many older records have been moved to the Library of Virginia. Call before you visit; hours and access to older volumes vary.
- Library of Virginia: Norfolk County records on microfilmfree
Every filmed volume with its years and reel number. Use the reels in Richmond; many can be borrowed through interlibrary loan.
- Library of Virginia: Chancery Records Indexfree
Search equity court suits by name. They're rich in family detail: estate divisions, heirs and land disputes. Many localities' suits are scanned and free to view.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Virginia, Norfolk" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Lower Norfolk County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1691, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Start with the deed and will books: they name relatives, neighbors and land. Then try the court order books, which mention almost everyone in the county sooner or later, as witnesses, jurors, road workers or parties to a suit.