Tyrrell County Genealogy
- Formed 1729
- Parent county / earlier Albemarle / Bath
- County seat Columbia
- Neighbors dare, hyde, washington
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1729 from Albemarle / Bath — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Columbia · Library: Tyrrell County Public Library.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Tyrrell County was formed in 1729 from Albemarle / Bath. The county seat is Columbia. Neighboring counties include dare, hyde, washington.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
Tyrrell County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 4,149, making it the least populous county in the state. Its county seat is Columbia.
The county was formed in 1729 as Tyrrell Precinct of Albemarle County, from parts of Bertie Precinct, Chowan Precinct, Currituck Precinct, and Pasquotank Precinct. It was named for Sir John Tyrrell, one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.
With the abolition of Albemarle County in 1739, all of its constituent precincts became counties. In 1774 the western part of Tyrrell County was combined with part of Halifax County to form Martin County. In 1799 the western third of what was left of Tyrrell County became Washington County. In 1870 the half of Tyrrell County east of the Alligator River was combined with parts of Currituck County and Hyde County to form Dare County.
Source: WIkipedia.
Tyrrell County Genealogy Resources
Tyrrell County Genealogical and Historical Society
P.O. Box 686
Columbia, NC 27825
252-796-5921 and ask for Zelda Pledger
arnettecparker@hotmail.com
Tyrrell County Genealogical and Historical Society - Meeting times and archived newsletters - Tyrrell Tides
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Tyrrell County Government
Tyrrell County Government - Official Website
Tyrrell County Courthouse
403 Main Street
Columbia, NC 27925
Register of Deeds 252-796-2901
Clerk of Court 252-796-6281
Pettigrew Regional Libraries - serving Tyrrell, Washington, Chowan and Perquimans Counties
Tyrrell Library
414 Main Street
P.O. Box 540
Columbia, NC 27925
Phone: (252) 796-3771
Fax: (252) 796-1167
Email: tyrrell@pettigrewlibraries.org
Hours of Operation:
* Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
* Wednesday, Friday
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
* Saturday
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cities and Towns
Townships:
Alligator
Columbia
Gum Neck
Scuppernong
South Fork
Census
- 1784-1787 State Census Transcription
- 1790 Federal Census Transription
- 1890 Federal Census Transcription - Veterans Schedule
Cemeteries
Query Forums
News related to Tyrrell County, NC
History notes
Tyrrell County (seat: Columbia) is a core research hub for families who lived, married, worshipped, or owned land in this part of the Coastal Plain region of North Carolina.
Tyrrell County is part of North Carolina’s coastal plain documentary landscape—river towns, ports, agricultural belts, and free Black/plantation contexts. Formed in 1729 from Albemarle / Bath, early research often depends on parent counties and Albemarle or Cape Fear–era sources.
Neighboring counties—dare,hyde,washington—frequently hold the “missing” deed, marriage, or burial when households straddle lines or move a few miles for work, church, or better land. Always record the jurisdiction as named in the original, then map it onto modern county pages.
Use the panels on this hub for record availability, towns, repositories, and local history news. Pair them with the statewide Start here path and the counties & formation guide when events predate 1729.
Local history & events
- NWS Thunderstorm Alert For Tyrrell County - Hoodline
- Settlement to end Tyrrell Confederate monument federal lawsuit - Carolina Journal
- Mooresville man killed in Tyrrell County motorcycle crash on Alligator Bridge - WCTI
- Tyrrell County is rich in appeal, thin on population - Business North Carolina
- Historic surf rescue reenactments return to Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe on Thursday - Island Free Press
- Reenactors bring Revolutionary War history to life for July Fourth weekend - Watauga Democrat
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 1729, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle / Bath. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1729, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle / Bath. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1729, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle / Bath. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1729, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle / Bath. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1729– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1729, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle / Bath. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1729– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1729, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle / Bath. |
| 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 | 1729– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1729, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle / Bath. |
| 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
- Tyrrell County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Tyrrell 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 Tyrrell 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 Tyrrell 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 Columbia. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Tyrrell County Public Library
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1729
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction Albemarle / Bath — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):