Greenville County Genealogy Records
Greenville County genealogy research begins at one of the most resource-rich county genealogy offices in South Carolina. The Greenville County Probate Court has digitized thousands of pages of historical estate records and made them available online. The county Register of Deeds has placed land indexes and conveyance books online as well. Greenville County was formed from the Greenville District in 1795 and has maintained records since the late eighteenth century. The county library system's South Carolina Room holds a major genealogy collection for the Upstate region. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia supplements local resources with state-level microfilm and digital collections. Furman University also holds special collections relevant to Upstate South Carolina family history.
Greenville County Quick Facts
Greenville County Probate Court Genealogy Records
The Greenville County Probate Court holds marriage licenses issued from July 1, 1911 through June 30, 1950. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-20, every marriage in South Carolina requires a written application filed with the Probate Court before a license is issued. The court maintains a permanent record of all licenses as required by § 20-1-270. The Probate Court is at 301 University Ridge, Greenville, SC 29601. Phone: (864) 467-7175.
The Greenville County Probate Court has digitized an extensive collection of historical records and made them available online. Will Books from 1820 to 1907, Account Books from 1896 to 1905, and an Index to Estate Papers from 1787 to 1976 are among the digitized materials. The court also has online access to over 80,000 pages of estate records and Guardian and Trustee Accounts from 1865 to 1878. This level of online access makes Greenville County one of the most genealogy-friendly probate offices in South Carolina.
The Probate Court's online collection of over 80,000 pages of estate records makes it possible to conduct significant Greenville County genealogy research before visiting the courthouse in person.
Greenville County Register of Deeds and Land Records
The Greenville County Register of Deeds maintains land records dating back to the county's formation. The office is at 301 University Ridge, Suite 1700, Greenville, SC 29601. Phone: (864) 467-7300. Greenville County has placed several early land record series online including Conveyance Books from 1865 to 1872, Grantee Indexes from 1787 to 1913, Real Estate Mortgage Books from 1879 through 1901, and Warrants for Surveys from 1868 to 1880.
The Grantee Indexes from 1787 to 1913 are especially useful for genealogy research because they cover the full span of early Greenville County history and allow name-based searches for ancestors who received land in the county. Before Greenville County was formed from the Greenville District in 1795, land transactions were recorded at the district level. District-level records from before 1795 are held at SCDAH in Columbia.
The SCDAH Online Records Index includes state land grant plats from 1784 to 1868 that cover Greenville County. These early plats document original land grants in the Upstate and help researchers trace the first families to settle in what became Greenville County.
Greenville County Library South Carolina Room
The South Carolina Room at the Greenville County Library Hughes Main Library is one of the premier genealogy research facilities in Upstate South Carolina. The library is at 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville, SC 29601. Phone: 864-242-5000. Email: scroominfo@greenvillelibrary.org. The collection has an extensive focus on Greenville and Upstate South Carolina but also includes resources for other South Carolina locations and neighboring states.
The South Carolina Room holds an obituary index for the Greenville News from 1912 to 1993, available online. Obituaries are an important genealogy source because they name family members, list survivors, and provide biographical context. The library also holds census records, local newspapers, family histories, and city directories for the Greenville County area. These materials complement the official probate and land records held at the courthouse.
The Greenville County Historical Society preserves county history and maintains genealogical collections. Furman University holds special collections related to Upstate South Carolina history and families that may be useful for Greenville County genealogy research. Furman's James B. Duke Library holds manuscript collections and archival materials that cover the Greenville area's history from the early American period through the twentieth century.
Greenville County Vital Records for Genealogy
South Carolina required birth and death registration starting January 1, 1915. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-10, every birth must be registered within five days. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds Greenville County birth records for 1915 to 1918 online and death records for 1915 to 1963. The South Carolina Department of Public Health holds vital records from 1915 to present at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia. Phone: 803-898-3630.
Death certificates become public records 50 years after death under § 44-63-84. The free South Carolina death index for genealogy covers Greenville County deaths from 1915 through 1967. For Greenville County genealogy before 1915, church records, census data, and the probate files online at the Probate Court website are the primary sources. Greenville County Marriage License searches from 1916 to the present are also available through the county's online resources and through FamilySearch for certain date ranges.
South Carolina Archives Resources for Greenville County Genealogy
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds microfilm and typescripts of Greenville County wills, inventories, bills of sale, power of attorneys, bonds, notes, administrations, judgments, and sales records. SCDAH is at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223. Phone: (803) 896-6100. Will Transcriptions from 1782 to 1855 are available online through SCDAH's Digital Collections.
The SCDAH Digital Collections include Confederate Pension Applications from 1919 to 1938, Will Transcripts from 1782 to 1855, and colonial plats. The SCGenWeb Archives for Greenville County provides free volunteer-contributed resources. The South Carolina State Library genealogy guide explains which office holds each type of Greenville County genealogy record by date.
The Library of Congress South Carolina genealogy guide provides a curated list of resources covering Greenville County. The South Carolina Genealogical Society publishes transcribed records and connects researchers to county-level genealogy resources through local chapters.
SCDAH's holdings complement the online records at the Greenville County Probate Court and cover additional record types including court documents, census microfilm, and digital collections.
Cities in Greenville County
Greenville County includes the city of Greenville as county seat, as well as Greer, Mauldin, and Simpsonville. Genealogy records for all Greenville County communities are maintained at the county Probate Court and Register of Deeds.
Nearby Counties
Greenville County borders several South Carolina Upstate counties. Ancestors who lived near a county line may have records in neighboring counties.