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Wake County Genealogy

Last reviewed July 11, 2026

  • Formed 1771
  • Parent county / earlier Johnston, Cumberland, Orange
  • County seat Raleigh
  • Neighbors durham, franklin, johnston, harnett, chatham, nash, granville

Photos & maps

Freely licensed images from Wikimedia Commons (and related open sources), cached locally for research context.

Historic view — Wake County
Historic view Colbert Howell, Photographer · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons Source
Courthouse — Wake County
Courthouse State Archives of North Carolina · No restrictions · Wikimedia Commons Source
Map — Wake County
Map US Census, Ruhrfisch, Dincher · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Source

What’s new

In-depth topics

Towns & communities

13 places — view all town pages

Raleigh county seat Angier Cary Apex Holly Springs Fuquay-Varina Garner Knightdale Wake Forest Rolesville Zebulon Wendell Morrisville

Wake County was formed in 1771 from Johnston, Cumberland, Orange. The county seat is Raleigh. Neighboring counties include durham, franklin, johnston, harnett, chatham, nash, granville.

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 1771 from parts of Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County. It was named for Margaret Wake, wife of Governor William Tryon. The first courthouse was built at a place called Wake Courthouse, commonly known as Bloomsbury. In 1771, the first elections and court were held, and the first militia was formed.

Wake County lost some its land area during the subsequent formation of other new counties. Portions were taken by Franklin County in 1787 and by Durham County in 1881 and 1911.

The earliest inhabitants of present day Wake County were the Tuscarora Native Americans. After the Tuscarora War in 1711, they were defeated and moved to New York to join the Iroquois nation.

During the colonial period of North Carolina, the state capital was New Bern. For several years, during and after the Revolutionary War, there was no capital, and the General Assembly met in various locations. In 1792, a commission was appointed to select a site for a permanent state capital. The members of the commission were leaning toward land owned by Colonel John Hinton across the Neuse River, but on the night before the final vote, the committee adjourned to the home of Joel Lane for an evening of food and spirits. The next day, the vote was in Lane's favor.

Raleigh was named after Sir Walter Raleigh, and established on 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) purchased from Lane. Sir Walter Raleigh never set foot in the United States, but two centuries earlier he had sponsored the establishment of the first English colony on the North Carolina shore at Roanoke Island. The city of Raleigh became both the state capital as well as the new county seat of Wake County. Raleigh is the only planned state capital in the United States.

Wake County is divided into 20 townships: Bartons Creek, Buckhorn, Cary, Cedar Fork, Holly Springs, House Creek, Leesville, Little River, Marks Creek, Meredith, Middle Creek, Neuse, New Light, Panther Branch, Raleigh, St. Mary's, St. Matthew's, Swift Creek, Wake Forest, and White Oak.

Source Wikipedia

Wake County Genealogy Resources

Wake County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 17713
Raleigh, NC 27619

Wake County Historical Society
P.O. Box 2
Raleigh, NC 27602

Apex Historical Society
P.O. Box 502
Apex, NC 27502

Cary Historical Society
P.O. Box 134
Cary, NC 27511

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Wake County Government

Wake County Government - Official Site

Wake County Register of Deeds
One Bank of America Plaza
421 Fayetteville Street
Suite 300 - Floor 3
Raleigh, NC 27601
Ph: 919-856-5460
Fx: 919-856-5467

Wake County Public Libraries

Cities and Towns

Unincorporated communities

* Auburn
* Bonsal
* Carpenter
* Chestnut Hills
* Clegg
* Eagle Rock
* Falls
* Feltonville
* Forestville
* Green Level
* Kennebec
* Lizard Lick
* McCullers Crossroads
* Neuse
* New Hill
* Riley Hill
* Shotwell
* Stony Hill
* Swift Creek
* Willow Spring

Townships:

Bartons Creek
Buckhorn
Cary
Cedar Fork
Holly Springs
House Creek
Leesville
Little River
Marks Creek
Meredith
Middle Creek
Neuse
New Light
Panther Branch
Raleigh
St. Mary's
St. Matthew's
Swift Creek
Wake Forest
White Oak.

Census

1800 Federal Census Index
1800 Federal Census Index - alternate

1800 Federal Census Transcription - pages 714-745
1800 Federal Census Transcription - pages 715-778

Cemeteries

Query Forums

News related to Wake County, NC

History notes

Wake County is both an ordinary Piedmont jurisdiction and the documentary capital of North Carolina. Formed in 1771 from Johnston, Cumberland, and Orange, it was named for Margaret Wake, wife of Governor William Tryon. The seat at Raleigh became state capital in 1792—concentrating clerks, lawyers, newspapers, hotels, churches, and eventually the State Archives and State Library within reach of county researchers.

That dual identity creates a research strategy unique among NC counties. Ordinary farm and free Black households still require Wake deeds, estates, tax lists, and church books. At the same time, capital-city institutions generate state-level series—military, land grants, private manuscripts, and newspapers—that illuminate Wake families and migrants from across the state. Treat State Archives proximity as a bonus, never a substitute for county-level work.

Wake’s explosive late-20th and 21st-century growth means many “Raleigh” events after mid-century sit in city directories, suburban churches, and regional dailies (especially the News & Observer lineage). Older rural neighborhoods—Marks Creek, St. Mary’s, New Light, and others—still appear in earlier census clusters and land descriptions. Neighbor FAN clubs often spill into Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Harnett, and Chatham.

For African American research, combine 1870 bridge techniques with Wake estate papers, urban church records, and capital-city newspapers. For colonial and early national work, remember parent counties: events before 1771 may live in Johnston, Cumberland, or Orange records.

Local history & events

Recent news and notices about historic sites, heritage programs, reenactments, and local history related to Wake County (and statewide North Carolina heritage stories). Links open external publishers — verify details before traveling.

Updated automatically from public news feeds focused on history and heritage. See statewide local history news · Suggest an event

Research tools

Free printables for field sessions and home research nights.

Starter checklist Cheatsheet bundle Start here guide

Record availability matrix

Guidance for what tends to exist for this county—not a guarantee. Always verify at the repository. Statewide method notes: vitals, land, probate, census.

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 1771, search parent jurisdiction: Johnston, Cumberland, Orange.
Birth records sparse 1915– Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1771, search parent jurisdiction: Johnston, Cumberland, Orange.
Marriage records partial 1800– County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1771, search parent jurisdiction: Johnston, Cumberland, Orange.
Death records partial 1915– Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1771, search parent jurisdiction: Johnston, Cumberland, Orange.
Land & deeds good 1771– Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1771, search parent jurisdiction: Johnston, Cumberland, Orange.
Probate & estates good 1771– Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1771, search parent jurisdiction: Johnston, Cumberland, Orange.
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 1771– Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1771, search parent jurisdiction: Johnston, Cumberland, Orange.
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

Selected titles and research notes for this county. Confirm runs and repositories—mastheads change often.

Statewide newspapers guide · Libraries & societies directory

Cemeteries & burial research

Starting points and portals—not a complete inventory of every graveyard in the county.

  • City Cemetery / Oakwood (historic Raleigh cemeteries)
    Raleigh
    Major historic municipal and Victorian-era burial grounds in the capital.
    Find a Grave · More
  • Wake County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
    Raleigh
    Use Find a Grave, published surveys, churchyards, and USGS GNIS. Absence of a stone is not absence of burial.
    Find a Grave · More

Cemeteries research guide

Societies & repositories

Full societies & libraries directory

Research starting points

Census

Federal census schedules are foundational for Wake 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 Wake 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 Wake 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 Raleigh. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.

Wake County government

Public library: Wake County Public Libraries / Olivia Raney Local History

If not found here, try…

North Carolina brick walls are often jurisdiction problems. Search parent districts and neighbors when deeds, probate, or vitals are missing.

  • Formed 1771
  • Parent / earlier jurisdiction Johnston, Cumberland, Orange — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).

Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):

Durham Franklin Johnston Harnett Chatham Nash Granville

Also use Start here, the counties & formation guide, and local history news for recent heritage context.