Queen Anne's County Genealogy Records
Queen Anne's County genealogy records begin in 1706 and cover this Eastern Shore county that sits between the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay. The Circuit Court in Centreville holds land records, marriage licenses, and court files going back to the county's founding. Church records are especially important for early research here, since many families recorded vital events through their parishes long before civil registration began. Researchers should also check the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis for colonial-era records and the county's strong church register collections.
Queen Anne's County Overview
Queen Anne's County Circuit Court
The Circuit Court at 100 Courthouse Square, Centreville, MD 21617 is the primary courthouse for Queen Anne's County genealogy records. The clerk's office can be reached at 410-758-1773. This office maintains land records, marriage licenses, and court case files from 1706. Land records from the county's founding are also available for free online through MDLandRec.net, which provides scanned images of deeds and other land instruments for all Maryland counties. The Queen Anne's County Circuit Court website lists current staff, hours, and contact information.
Court case records are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. This tool works well for 20th-century genealogy research involving civil or criminal cases. Older courthouse records have been microfilmed and sent to the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, where they are open to the public. For specific record requests, call the clerk's office in advance to check availability and current hours.
The Queen Anne's County Circuit Court in Centreville holds land records, marriage licenses, and court files from 1706.
| Address | 100 Courthouse Square, Centreville, MD 21617 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 410-758-1773 |
| Website | courts.state.md.us/clerks/queenannes |
| Land Records Online | MDLandRec.net |
| Records Start | 1706 |
Vital Records: Births and Deaths
Birth and death records for Queen Anne's County residents are maintained by the Maryland Department of Health. For records from 1898 onward, contact the Maryland Vital Statistics Administration at 410-764-3038. Before 1898, there is no statewide system of civil registration in Maryland. For Queen Anne's County, early vital records must be pieced together from church registers, family Bibles, cemetery inscriptions, and federal census records. These sources can fill gaps left by the absence of formal birth and death registration before the late 19th century.
Church records are especially valuable for this Eastern Shore county. The published resource titled "Births, Deaths, and Marriages for Kent, Queen Anne, Talbot and Caroline Counties" is a key secondary source for early Eastern Shore research. This compilation draws on multiple parish registers and family records and is available at the Maryland State Archives and some library collections. For deaths in the 20th century, the county health department handles records for local residents. The MSA holds death records predating 1969 and can be contacted at 410-260-6400.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Queen Anne's County have been issued since 1706 under standard Maryland requirements. The Circuit Court in Centreville holds current marriage license records. For historical marriage research, the Maryland State Archives has indexes covering marriages from the county's founding. Church records provide an important supplement, since many marriages in Queen Anne's County were performed by Anglican, Methodist, or other clergy who recorded the event in parish registers. The published compilation covering Kent, Queen Anne, Talbot and Caroline counties includes marriage data extracted from church records and is one of the best starting points for early Eastern Shore families.
For recent marriage licenses, contact the Circuit Court clerk's office at 410-758-1773. The MSA can help locate historical marriage records and identify which church collections cover specific communities within the county. Some church records have been microfilmed and are searchable at the archives reading room in Annapolis. The Queen Anne's County Historical Society may also have compiled records and local indexes that supplement courthouse and state archive sources.
Wills and Probate Records
Probate records for Queen Anne's County date to 1706. The Register of Wills in the courthouse handles current probate filings and historical will records. Access the statewide Register of Wills directory at registers.maryland.gov. The Maryland State Archives holds indexes and original probate records for the county going back to the 18th century. Colonial-era wills from this county are among the older surviving legal documents on Maryland's Eastern Shore and can identify family connections across multiple generations.
Wills and estate inventories often list children, grandchildren, neighbors, and business associates by name. For genealogy research, probate records can establish family relationships that do not appear anywhere else. The MSA research guide for Queen Anne's County identifies which probate record series are available and their date ranges. Before visiting, check the online finding aids at the MSA website to plan your research effectively.
Land Records
Land records for Queen Anne's County from 1706 are available for free through MDLandRec.net. This free portal provides scanned deed images and lets researchers search by name, date, and instrument type. Maryland is one of the only states to make all county land records freely available online, and this is a major benefit for genealogy research. Deeds from this county often identify family relationships and describe exact property boundaries, which can help locate where ancestors lived.
Colonial land patents for Queen Anne's County are held at the Maryland State Archives and describe the original grants from the early 18th century. These records name the original patentee, describe the land, and are an important resource for families with deep roots in the county. The Maryland State Archives holds both the original patents and finding aids to help locate specific tracts.
Research Facilities
The Queen Anne's County Historical Society maintains local records and can help researchers identify sources specific to the county. Local historical societies on Maryland's Eastern Shore often hold church records, family files, and compiled genealogy materials not available through state or national databases. Contact the society for current hours and access information.
Queen Anne's County government offices in Centreville maintain records and can provide information on local resources for genealogy research.
The Queen Anne's County Library at 121 S. Commerce Street, Centreville provides access to genealogy databases and local history materials. The library's collection includes resources specific to Eastern Shore families and communities. Library cardholders can access some databases remotely. Check the library's website at qaclibrary.org for current hours, branch locations, and available databases.
The Queen Anne's County Library in Centreville offers genealogy databases and Eastern Shore local history materials for county research.
The Queen Anne's County Historical Society holds local records and compiled genealogy materials for families throughout the county.
Maryland State Archives for Queen Anne's County
The Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD holds the main collection of historical Queen Anne's County records. Call the archives at 410-260-6400 to speak with staff before visiting. The MSA holds microfilmed courthouse records, colonial documents, probate indexes, and early church records for the Eastern Shore. The MSA reading room is open to the public and provides access to original and microfilmed records.
The Archives of Maryland Online at aomol.msa.maryland.gov makes colonial records available for free online. The Internet Archive's Maryland State Archives collection also provides free digitized records. Both resources can be searched before a visit to the reading room in Annapolis. The MSA research guide for Queen Anne's County identifies available record series with dates and finding aids.
Cities in Queen Anne's County
No cities in Queen Anne's County meet the population threshold for individual records pages. The county seat is Centreville. All genealogy records for communities throughout the county are filed at the Circuit Court in Centreville or at the relevant state agencies described above.