Virginia Formation Maps

Virginia County Abbreviations

(Counties in BLUE were once part of
Virginia, but are now part of West Virginia.)

Aco-Accomack
Alb-Albemarle
All-Alleghany
Ame-Amelia
Amh-Amherst
Ap -Appomattox
Ar -Arlington
Au -Augusta
Bar-Barbour(WV)
Bat-Bath
Bed-Bedford
Ber-Berkeley(WV)
Bl -Bland
Boo-Boone(WV)
Bot-Botetourt
Bra-Braxton(WV)
Brn-Brunswick
Bro-Brooke(WV)
Bcn-Buchanan
Bkm-Buckingham
Cab-Cabell(WV)
Cal-Calhoun(WV)
Cam-Campbell
Crl-Carroll
Crn-Caroline
CC -Charles City
Clt-Charlotte
Che-Chesterfield
Clk-Clarke
Cly-Clay(WV)
Cr -Craig
Cul-Culpeper
Cum-Cumberland
Dic-Dickenson
Din-Dinwiddie
Do -Doddridge(WV)
EC -Elizabeth City
Es -Essex
Fai-Fairfax
Fau-Fauquier
Fay-Fayette(WV)
Flo-Floyd
Flu-Fluvanna
Fra-Franklin
Fre-Frederick
Gls-Giles
Gmr-Gilmer(WV)
Gl -Gloucester
Go -Goochland
Gra-Grant(WV)

Gra-Grayson
Grb-Greenbrier(WV)
Grn-Greene
Gvl-Greensville
Hal-Halifax
Ham-Hampshire(WV)
Hck-Hancock(WV)
Hvr-Hanover
Hdy-Hardy(WV)
Hsn-Harrison(WV)
Hco-Henrico
Hi -Highland
Hry-Henry
IW -Isle of Wight
Jac-Jackson(WV)
JC -James City
Je -Jefferson(WV)
Ka -Kanawha(WV)
KQ -King and Queen
KG -King George
KW -King William
La -Lancaster
Ldn-Loudon
Lee-Lee
Lew-Lewis(WV)
Li -Lincoln(WV)
Log-Logan(WV)
Lsa-Louisa
Lu -Lunenburg
Mc -McDowell (WV)
Mad-Madison
Mrn-Marion(WV)
Msl-Marshall(WV)
Mas-Mason (WV)
Mat-Mathews
Mec-Mecklenburg
Mer-Mercer (WV)
Mi -Middlesex
Mnl-Mineral (WV)
Mno-Mingo (WV)
Mon-Monongalia (WV)
Mro-Monroe(WV)
Mon-Montgomery
Mor-Morgan(WV)
Na -Nansemond
Nel-Nelson
NK -New Kent
Ni -Nicholas(WV)
Nfk-Norfolk
Nhn-Northampton

Nud-Northumberland
Not-Nottoway
Oh -Ohio(WV)
Or -Orange
Pag-Page
Pat-Patrick
Pe -Pendleton(WV)
Pi -Pittsylvania
PE -Prince Edward
PG -Prince George
PA -Princess Anne
Pl -Pleasants(WV)
Poc-Pocahontas(WV)
Pow-Powhatan
Pr -Preston(WV)
PW -Prince William
Pul-Pulaski
Put-Putnam(WV)
Ral-Raleigh(WV)
Ran-Randolph(WV)
Rap-Rappahannock
Ric-Richmond
Rit-Ritchie(WV)
Rbr-Rockbridge
Rhm-Rockingham
Rne-Roane(WV)
Rnk-Roanoke
Ru -Russell
Sc -Scott
Sh -Shenandoah
Sm -Smyth
So -Southampton
Sp -Spotsylvania
St -Stafford
Su -Summers(WV)
Sur-Surry
Sus-Sussex
Tay-Taylor(WV)
Taz-Tazewell
Tu -Tucker(WV)
Ty -Tyler(WV)
Up -Upshur(WV)
Wrn-Warren
Wwk-Warwick
Was-Washington
Way-Wayne(WV)
Web-Webster(WV)
Wes-Westmoreland
Wet-Wetzel(WV)
Wir-Wirt(WV)

Wis-Wise
Wod-Wood(WV)
Wy -Wythe
Wyo-Wyoming(WV)
Yor-York

[Independent Cities:]
[Alexandria]
[Bedford]
[Bristol]
[Buena Vista]
[Charlottesville]
[Chesapeake]
[Clifton Forge]
[Colonial Heights]
[Covington]
[Danville]
[Emporia]
[Fairfax]
[Falls Church]
[Franklin]
[Fredericksburg]
[Galax]
[Hampton]
[Harrisonburg]
[Hopewell]
[Lexington]
[Lynchburg]
[Manassas]
[Manassas Park]
[Martinsville]
[Newport News]
[Norfolk]
[Norton]
[Petersburg]
[Poquoson]
[Portsmouth]
[Radford]
[Richmond]
[Roanoke]
[Salem]
[South Boston]
[Staunton]
[Suffolk]
[Virginia Beach]
[Waynesboro]
[Williamsburg]
[Winchester]

(NOTE on Virginia CITIES: The Commonwealth of Virginia has a unique system of local government in that independent CITIES are politically and administratively separate from the county or counties in which they are geographically situated. Independent CITIES operate their own court systems and other governmental systems. Virginia's TOWNS exercise only limited functions of self-government and are subordinate, in most respects, to the counties in which they are located. There are currently 41 independent CITIES in the Commonwealth. Note, also, that some independent CITIES comprise areas that are located in more than one county, and, in some cases, and independent CITY may be the entire county.

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Virginia Discontinued Counties

Accawmack: Created in 1634.
Renamed Northampton in 1642/43

Charles River: Formed in 1634.
Renamed York County in 1642

Dunmore: Formed in 1772 from Frederick County.
Renamed Shenandoah County in 1778.

Elizabeth City:
Originally created in 1634 as Elizabeth River Shire, it was one of eight Shires created in the Virginia Colony by order of the King of England. In 1636, it was subdivided, and the portion north of the harbor of Hampton Roads became known as Elizabeth City Shire. It was renamed Elizabeth City County a short time later. The town of Hampton, established in 1680, became the largest town in Elizabeth City County, and was the county seat. In 1908, Hampton was incorporated as an independent city, and in 1952, the county and the former town of Phoebus in the county were merged into the independent city of Hampton.
Elizabeth City is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. Its records were damaged and/or destroyed during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. A few early deeds, wills, orders, and guardian's accounts survive.

Fincastle:
Formed in 1772 from Botetourt County. Fincastle County (extinct) was named either for George, Lord Fincastle, Lord Dunmore's son; for John Murray, fourth Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle; or, for the town of Fincastle, Virginia, which was named after Lord Botetourt's home in England. It became extinct in 1776 when it was divided to form Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky (now the state of Kentucky) Counties. Some Fincastle records may be found in the Montgomery Co. Courthouse in Christiansburg.
Historic Fincastle, Inc., & James Early Cabin,
121 East Murray Street
Fincastle, VA 24090
(540) 473-3077

Kentucky: Formed in 1777 from Fincastle.
Abolished in 1780

Lower Norfolk: Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk.
Abolished in 1691.
Records are in the City of Chesapeake.

Nansemond:
Formed as Upper Norfolk in 1637 from New Norfolk County.
Renamed in 1642.
Records were destroyed in 1866.
Incorporated as the City of Nansemond in 1972. Merged with the City of Suffolk in 1974.
All records transferred to City of Suffolk. Records include: Marriage from 1866, Land from 1734, Probate from 1866, and Court Records from 1774.
County Court Records were destroyed in three separate fires, the earliest of which consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), and the last on 7 February 1866. A few Fee Books have been found in the records of Sussex County.

New Norfolk: Formed in 1636 from Elizabeth City.
Abolished in 1637 and divided into Lower and Upper Norfolk Counties

Norfolk: Formed in 1691 from Lower Norfolk.
Merged with the City of Chesapeake in 1963.
All record were transferred to the City of Chesapeake. Some records may also be located in the City of Portsmouth. Records include: Marriage from 1866, Land from 1734, Probate from 1866, and Court Records from 1774.
Norfolk County (extinct) probably was named by Adam Thoroughgood, a local resident, for his native county in England.
The county seat was Portsmouth.

Princess Anne: Formed from Lower Norfolk County.
Merged with, and records transferred to, the City of Virginia Beach in 1963. The records include Marriage from 1724; Death from 1853; and Land, Probate, and Court Records from 1691.
Princess Anne County (extinct) was named for Anne (daughter of James II) who became Queen of England in 1702. The County Seat was Princess Anne. (Now Virginia Beach.)

Old Rappahannock: Formed in 1656 from Lancaster County.
It became extinct in 1692 when it was divided in into Essex and Richmond Counties.
The records were transferred to Essex County. Records include Land, Probate, and Court Records from 1656.

Upper Norfolk: Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk County.
In 1646, it was renamed Nansemond County for the area's Nansemond Indians. The county seat was Suffolk.
The county became the independent city of Nansemond in 1972, and, in 1974, Nansemond merged with the city of Suffolk. The entire area is now known as Suffolk.

Warrosquyoake: Formed in in 1634 as one of the original eight Shires.
Renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637. Records were transferred there.
Warrosquyoake County was named for the Warrosquyoake Indian tribe.

Warwick River:
Formed in 1634 as one of 8 original Shires.
Renamed Warwick County in 1643.
It was named either for Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, a prominent member of the London Company, or for the County of Warwick in England.
Warwick County became extinct in 1952, when it became the independent city of Warwick. It was consolidated with Newport News in 1958, and took the latter's name as an independent city. Denbigh was the county seat.
Warwick is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. County Court Records were destroyed several times, with the most destruction occurring during the Civil War. A Seventeenth Century Livestock Registry, one Order Book, and one Minute Book from the Eighteenth Century survive. It has the earliest records for Land from 1662, Probate from 1648, and Court from 1646.
(Records are missing from pre-Civil War times. Extant records are located with the City Clerk in the City of Newport News.

Yohogania: Created from the West Augusta territory in 1776.
The county was ceded to Pennsylvania in 1785

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(I have prepared these "slideshow" presentations for KY, MD, NC, PA, TN, VA, and WV (see VA); they can be accessed from the GERMANNA COLONIES Home Page. [Click Below to return there.] For other states, in a different format, got to http://www.mystategenealogy.com, where "state" is replaced by the state you wish to view, e.g., http://www.mynewyorkgenealogy.com, http://www.mycaliforniagenealogy.com, etc.)

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[Germanna Colonies Home Page]

Accawmack:	Created in 1634. Renamed Northampton in 1642/43
Charles River:	Formed in 1634. Renamed York County in 1642
Dunmore:	Formed in 1772 from Frederick County. Renamed Shenandoah County in 1778.
Elizabeth City:	Originally created in 1634 as Elizabeth River Shire, it was one of eight Shires created in the Virginia Colony by order of the King of England. In 1636, it was subdivided, and the portion north of the harbor of Hampton Roads became known as Elizabeth City Shire. It was renamed Elizabeth City County a short time later. The town of Hampton, established in 1680, became the largest town in Elizabeth City County, and was the county seat. In 1908, Hampton was incorporated as an independent city, and in 1952, the county and the former town of Phoebus in the county were merged into the independent city of Hampton. Elizabeth City is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. Its records were damaged and/or destroyed during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. A few early deeds, wills, orders, and guardian's accounts survive.
Fincastle:	Formed in 1772 from Botetourt County. Fincastle County (extinct) was named either for George, Lord Fincastle, Lord Dunmore's son; for John Murray, fourth Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle; or, for the town of Fincastle, Virginia, which was named after Lord Botetourt's home in England. It became extinct in 1776 when it was divided to form Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky (now the state of Kentucky) Counties. Some Fincastle records may be found in the Montgomery Co. Courthouse in Christiansburg. Historic Fincastle, Inc., & James Early Cabin, 121 East Murray Street Fincastle, VA 24090 (540) 473-3077
Kentucky:	Formed in 1777 from Fincastle. Abolished in 1780
Lower Norfolk:	Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk. Abolished in 1691. Records are in the City of Chesapeake.
Nansemond:	Formed as Upper Norfolk in 1637 from New Norfolk County. Renamed in 1642. Records were destroyed in 1866. Incorporated as the City of Nansemond in 1972. Merged with the City of Suffolk in 1974. All records transferred to City of Suffolk. Records include: Marriage from 1866, Land from 1734, Probate from 1866, and Court Records from 1774. County Court Records were destroyed in three separate fires, the earliest of which consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), and the last on 7 February 1866. A few Fee Books have been found in the records of Sussex County.
New Norfolk:	Formed in 1636 from Elizabeth City. Abolished in 1637 and divided into Lower and Upper Norfolk Counties
Norfolk:	Formed in 1691 from Lower Norfolk. Merged with the City of Chesapeake in 1963. All record were transferred to the City of Chesapeake. Some records may also be located in the City of Portsmouth. Records include: Marriage from 1866, Land from 1734, Probate from 1866, and Court Records from 1774. Norfolk County (extinct) probably was named by Adam Thoroughgood, a local resident, for his native county in England. The county seat was Portsmouth.
Princess Anne:	Formed from Lower Norfolk County. Merged with, and records transferred to, the City of Virginia Beach in 1963. The records include Marriage from 1724; Death from 1853; and Land, Probate, and Court Records from 1691. Princess Anne County (extinct) was named for Anne (daughter of James II) who became Queen of England in 1702. The County Seat was Princess Anne. (Now Virginia Beach.)
Old Rappahannock:	Formed in 1656 from Lancaster County. It became extinct in 1692 when it was divided in into Essex and Richmond Counties. The records were transferred to Essex County. Records include Land, Probate, and Court Records from 1656.
Upper Norfolk:	Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk County. In 1646, it was renamed Nansemond County for the area's Nansemond Indians. The county seat was Suffolk. The county became the independent city of Nansemond in 1972, and, in 1974, Nansemond merged with the city of Suffolk. The entire area is now known as Suffolk.
Warrosquyoake:	Formed in in 1634 as one of the original eight Shires. Renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637. Records were transferred there. Warrosquyoake County was named for the Warrosquyoake Indian tribe.
Warwick River:	Formed in 1634 as one of 8 original Shires. Renamed Warwick County in 1643. It was named either for Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, a prominent member of the London Company, or for the County of Warwick in England. Warwick County became extinct in 1952, when it became the independent city of Warwick. It was consolidated with Newport News in 1958, and took the latter's name as an independent city. Denbigh was the county seat. Warwick is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. County Court Records were destroyed several times, with the most destruction occurring during the Civil War. A Seventeenth Century Livestock Registry, one Order Book, and one Minute Book from the Eighteenth Century survive. It has the earliest records for Land from 1662, Probate from 1648, and Court from 1646. (Records are missing from pre-Civil War times. Extant records are located with the City Clerk in the City of Newport News.
Yohogania:	Created from the West Augusta territory in 1776. The county was ceded to Pennsylvania in 1785