Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Roanoke 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
- General Index to Maps1783–1944
- Deed Book1838–1901
- General Index to Land Records [Deeds]1838–1923
- Surveyors' Book1840–1920
- Plat Book1868–1953
- Index to Release Deeds1884–1960
- Release Deed Book1884–1909
Wills
- Wills, Inventories, Appraisements1834–1870
- General Index to Wills1838–1953
- General Index to Wills, etc1838–1940
- Will Book1838–1920
Estates and guardianships
- Inventory1865–1905
- General Index to Fiduciary Settlements1866–1958
- Settlements of Estates Book1866–1900
- Estate Divisions Book1867–1924
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index to Marriages1838–1968
- Marriage Bonds1838–1840
- Marriage Licenses1838–1903
- Marriage Bonds and Licenses1841–1857
- Marriage Register1853–1967
- Register of Births1853–1885
- Register of Deaths1853–1881
- Register of Marriages1853–1919
- Register of Colored Persons Cohabitating as Husband and Wife1866
- Register of Marriage Licenses1897–1919
Tax lists
- Land Taxes1845–1851
- Land Tax Book1851–1899
Court orders and minutes
- Chancery Causes, Case files1506–2025
- Judgments1837–1909
- Chancery Order Book1838–1911
- Common Law Order Book1838–1908
- County Court Papers1838–1910
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes1838–1864
County government and the poor
- Loose Road and Bridge Records1838–1904
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
- Roanoke County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the circuit court clerk's office, and any online record search the county offers.
- 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: Roanoke 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, Roanoke" 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: Botetourt County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Botetourt County
Later formed partly from Roanoke County: Craig County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1838, 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.