Whether you’re a beginner starting your genealogy journey or a seasoned researcher, here are five North Carolina genealogy websites that will help you connect with your heritage and discover your ancestors.
North Carolina Genealogical Society
NCGS is open to all who are interested in genealogical or historical research. Some of our favorite resources include:
- NCGS Journal: The NCGS Journal is a scholarly publication featuring educational articles about North Carolina genealogy and transcribed original records. Since the founding of the society, we have aimed to increase interest in and raise the standards of research through quality publications while promoting the collection, preservation, and utilization of genealogical materials. The NCGS Journal has been published on a quarterly basis since 1975. Access to the journal library is a member-only benefit. Back issues are available for purchase for non-members.
- NCGS Journal Index & Article List: Are you curious if your ancestor appears in one of our journals? Or perhaps a historic location? The easiest way to find out is by searching our NCGS Journal Indexes. These indexes cover all issues of the journal from its inception. You will have the option of searching by ancestral name, numbered military unit, or place name. Search a comprehensive list of NCGS Journal articles. This list is complete through Volume 47 (2021), Issue No. 2. Once you find an article of interest, you can link directly to the issue and view it immediately.
- NCGS Research Guides: Research guides are free resources created to help you discover how to find your tar heel ancestors. Each guide will cover a different topic from vital records to a comprehensive list of North Carolina records currently available online. We hope these guides will help answer common genealogical questions and direct you on your genealogical journey.
- NCGS Member Listing
- Webinar Archive
- And so much more!
NC Land Grants
Created in 2014 by David McCorkle, the website features searchable data plus 929,000 images for 217,460 land grants issued in North Carolina from 1663 to 1960. All of the data comes from digital image scans of Land Grant files microfilmed by the State Archives of North Carolina in the 1990s. The website is frequently updated with new images and features.
NCpedia.com
“NCpedia highlights North Carolina’s unique resources, people, and culture to enrich, educate and inform. It is coordinated and managed by the North Carolina Government & Heritage Library at the State Library of North Carolina, a part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The encyclopedia contains articles covering a broad spectrum of topics and resources about North Carolina, including: historical time periods, subjects, and events; biographies, including North Carolina’s governors; counties and government; geography and environment; business and economy; historical places and monuments; natural resources and natural heritage; and many others. NCpedia also includes thousands of images.”
Digital NC
“The North Carolina Digital Heritage Center is a statewide digitization and digital publishing program housed at UNC’s Wilson Special Collections Library. We work with North Carolina cultural heritage institutions* to scan, describe, and publish historical materials online, which in turn increases access to and use of their collections. We are North Carolina’s hub for the Digital Public Library of America. The Center is supported by the State Library of North Carolina with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, and by the UNC-Chapel Hill University Library.”
State Archives of North Carolina
“The North Carolina State Archives maintains original records of North Carolina governments on the state, district, and county levels. Includes audio visual material, government records, maps, War of 1812, Civil War, World Wars, newspapers, photos, county records, state agency records, veterans records, organization records, private collections, and defunct academic institution records.”