Brunswick County Genealogy
- Formed 1764
- Parent county / earlier New Hanover, Bladen
- County seat Bolivia
- Neighbors new-hanover, columbus, bladen
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1764 from New Hanover, Bladen — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Bolivia · Library: Brunswick County Library.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Brunswick County was formed in 1764 from New Hanover, Bladen. The county seat is Bolivia. Neighboring counties include new-hanover, columbus, bladen.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
The county was formed in 1764 from parts of Bladen County and New Hanover County. It was named for the (now abandoned) colonial port of Brunswick Town, which was itself named for Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg; at the time held by the British kings of the House of Hanover. Source Wikipedia
The County seat of Brunswick County is Bolivia. This county is on the Atlantic Coast and is bordered by the Cape Fear River and the state of South Carolina. Bolivia has been the county seat since 1977. Through the history of Brunswick county the county seat has been at Brunswick Town, then the plantation of John Bell near the Lockwood's Folly Bridge, then Walkersburg (near Deep Water Point). Then it was moved to Smithville (which was renamed to Southport) and Southport served as the seat until 1977.
Among the notable sites in Brunswick county are Fort Fisher and Fort Anderson/Brunswick Town. Also the lighthouses at Bald Head Lighthouse - (Bald Head Island info), Oak Island Lighthouse and Price's Creek Lighthouse are all in Brunswick County.
For local news, Brunswick County is served by the Brunswick Beacon which publishes a weekly edition.
Brunswick County Genealogy Resources
Brunswick County NCGenweb site
Southport Historical Society
P.O. Box 10014
Southport, NC 28461
Old New Hanover Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 2536
Wilmington, NC 28402-2536
Lower Cape Fear Historical Society
126 South Third Street
Wilmington, NC 29401
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Brunswick County Government
Brunswick County Courthouse
PO Box 249
County Courthouse
Bolivia, NC 28422
Census
- 1790 Federal Census transcription in order by last name
- 1790 Federal Census transcription
- 1800 Federal Census images directory opens to a list of images named by page number
- 1810 Federal Census images directory opens to a list of images named by page number
- 1820 Federal Census images directory opens to a list of images named by page number
Cemeteries
- USGS listing of cemeteries in Brunswick County
- Cemetery Transcriptions
- Brunswick County Cemetery Census
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Brunswick County:
- Ash
- Bald Head Island
- Belville
- Boiling Spring Lakes
- Bolivia (County Seat)
- Calabash
- Caswell Beach
- Fort Caswell
- Holden Beach
- Leland
- Long Beach
- Longwood
- Navassa
- Oak Island
- Ocean Isle Beach
- Shallotte
- South Brunswick
- Southport
- Sunny Point Military Ocean T
- Sunset Beach
- Sunset Harbor
- Supply
- Wilmington
- Winnabow
- Yaupon Beach
News related to Brunswick County, NC
History notes
Brunswick County (formed 1764; seat Bolivia) covers lower Cape Fear coastal and plantation landscapes. Pair with Wilmington/New Hanover for port-era families and with Columbus/Pender for rural edges. Beach/tourism growth adds late directory density.
Local history & events
- See the Brunswick house added to National Register of Historic Places - Wilmington Star-News
- Revolutionary War veterans remain part of Madison County’s history - The Edwardsville Intelligencer
- “Africa to Carolina” public art project to debut at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site - WWAYTV3
- One of Brunswick's 'most important' historic homes makes national list - Wilmington Star-News
- Brunswick County's mark on US history includes this fort - Wilmington Star-News
- Brunswick County wildfire grows to 300 acres - WRAL
Research tools
Record availability matrix
| Record type | Coverage | Years (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal census | good | 1790–1950 | Federal schedules available for NC with known quirks/losses in some years. Place the household in the correct county for each decade. Before 1764, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover, Bladen. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1764, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover, Bladen. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1764, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover, Bladen. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1764, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover, Bladen. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1764– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1764, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover, Bladen. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1764– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1764, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover, Bladen. |
| Church & parish | partial | varies | Church coverage varies by denomination and survival; check local societies and denominational archives. |
| Newspapers | varies | varies | Title survival varies widely. Search local weeklies plus larger regional papers; use Chronicling America and the State Library of North Carolina and DigitalNC. |
| Military | good | 1775– | Revolutionary through 20th-century service may generate pensions, CMSRs, and local militia notes. Pair with county context for battles and units. |
| Cemeteries | partial | varies | Published surveys, Find a Grave, churchyards, and family plots. Unmarked burials are common—use obituaries and church books. |
| Court records | partial | 1764– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1764, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover, Bladen. |
| Tax lists | sparse | varies | Tax lists can substitute for missing census years. Coverage is uneven by locality and year; check State Archives of North Carolina and published abstracts. |
Newspapers
Cemeteries & burial research
- Brunswick County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Brunswick County household reconstruction. Collect every decade, note neighbors (FAN club), and track the county name as it existed that year—especially across formation and split boundaries.
Vital records
North Carolina statewide vital registration expanded in the early 20th century. For many Brunswick County families you will rely on marriage bonds, church registers, Bible records, newspapers, delayed births, and probate—not only a modern certificate.
Cemeteries (legacy notes)
Cemetery surveys for Brunswick County appear in published books, Find a Grave, USGenWeb archives, churchyards, and family plots. Absence of a stone is not absence of burial—pair markers with obituaries and church books.
Courthouse & contacts
The county seat is Bolivia. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Brunswick County Library
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1764
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction New Hanover, Bladen — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):