Dare County Outer Banks Genealogy

Dare County was created in 1870 from parts of Currituck, Tyrrell, and Hyde counties. It is named for Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the Americas. Manteo is the county seat. The county spans the northern Outer Banks, including Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Cape Hatteras. Roanoke Island sits at the heart of the county. Genealogy records in Dare County begin in 1870, though land records reach back to 1804. This stretch of coast holds some of the most storied ground in American history.

Dare County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds in Manteo keeps all genealogy records for Dare County. This office holds marriage licenses, land deeds, and vital records. The courthouse is on Budleigh Street. Staff can help you search for records and make copies.

Because Dare County formed in 1870, most record types start that year. Marriage, court, and probate files all begin in 1870. Land records reach back to 1804 because deed books from the parent counties were copied forward. Birth and death records start in 1913 with statewide registration. For families who lived on the Outer Banks before 1870, check records in Currituck, Tyrrell, and Hyde counties.

Roanoke Island Genealogy History

Roanoke Island is central to American colonial history. In 1587, English colonists established a settlement here. Virginia Dare was born that August. The colony vanished by 1590. No definitive trace of the colonists has been found. The Lost Colony remains one of the oldest mysteries in North American history.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site preserves the location of the Lost Colony. The National Park Service maintains records, archaeological reports, and historical documents related to the site. These materials can help researchers studying the earliest English presence on the Outer Banks.

During the Civil War, Roanoke Island was the site of a Freedmen's Colony. Formerly enslaved people settled on the island under Union protection starting in 1862. Records from the colony include names, family groups, and place of origin. These files are held at the National Archives and are a key resource for African American genealogy in Dare County.

Dare County Marriage Genealogy

Marriage records in Dare County begin in 1870. Licenses from that year forward are at the Register of Deeds in Manteo. These records include the names of both parties, ages, and parents' names. In a small Outer Banks county, marriage records often reveal how families connected across the barrier islands.

For marriages before 1870, check the parent counties. Currituck County records go back to 1767. Tyrrell County records start in 1746. Hyde County has records from 1757. Your ancestor may have married in one of these counties before Dare was formed.

Note: Outer Banks families often intermarried within a small group. The same surnames appear in multiple records. Use dates and middle names to tell individuals apart.

Land Records in Dare County

Land records in Dare County date from 1804. Early deeds describe parcels along the sound and ocean. Boundaries used natural features like inlets, dunes, and marshes. Because the Outer Banks is a shifting landscape, some landmarks named in old deeds no longer exist.

Families on the Outer Banks often held land for many generations. A single parcel might pass from father to son for over a century. Deed research in Dare County can trace these family lines back to the early 1800s. The Register of Deeds indexes records by grantor and grantee, so you can search by surname.

The Wright Brothers arrived at Kill Devil Hills in 1900 to test their flying machines. Their first powered flight took place on December 17, 1903. Federal records tied to the Wright Brothers' time in Dare County, including correspondence with local families, may appear in National Archives collections.

Dare Probate Genealogy Records

Probate records in Dare County start in 1870. Wills name heirs. Estate inventories list boats, fishing gear, and personal property. Guardian bonds name minor children. These files help build family trees in a county where other record types may be sparse.

Court records also begin in 1870. Minutes from the early court sessions cover land disputes, debt cases, and local governance matters. In a maritime county, court records may include salvage claims and shipping disputes that name local families and their occupations.

Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records in Dare County start in 1913. For earlier vital events, look at church registers, family Bibles, and cemetery inscriptions. Small churches along the Outer Banks kept records that predate state registration. Headstones in local cemeteries provide birth and death dates for many early families.

Order copies from the Register of Deeds in Manteo or through vitalrecords.nc.gov. The state office handles mail and online requests for certified records.

Dare County Genealogy Research Tips

Start your research at DigitalNC for Dare County. This free resource has digitized newspapers, photos, and documents from across the county. Local papers published marriage notices, death notices, and legal ads.

The North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh holds extra Dare County records. Tax lists name heads of household. Militia and military records cover the Civil War era. Freedmen's Colony records at the National Archives provide names and family details for formerly enslaved people on Roanoke Island.

• Check Currituck, Tyrrell, and Hyde for records before 1870
• Search National Park Service records for Fort Raleigh
• Review Freedmen's Colony records at the National Archives
• Use lifesaving station crew lists for Outer Banks families
• Look at church and cemetery records for pre-1913 events

Note: Hurricanes and storms have destroyed some Outer Banks records over the years. If a record seems missing, check the state archives for backup copies.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dare County or share parts of the Outer Banks. For ancestors who moved along the coast, records in neighboring counties can fill gaps in your research.