How to Find Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for Bavaria (Bayern), German Empire

Germany

Bavaria (Bayern), German Empire Genealogy

How to Find Birth, Marriage, and Death Records

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Guide to Bavaria (Bayern), German Empire ancestry, family history, and genealogy before 1945: birth records, marriage records, death records, both church and civil registration, compiled family history, and finding aids.

Bavaria Online Genealogy Records

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Finding Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for Bavaria (Bayern)

Most of the information you need to identify you ancestors and their families will be found in two major record groups: civil registration and church records. To locate these records, follow the instructions in these Wiki articles.

1. Find the name of your ancestor's town in family history records.

Records were kept on the local level. You must know the town where your ancestor lived. If your ancestor was a United States Immigrant, use the information in the Wiki article Germany Finding Town of Origin to find evidence of the name of the town where your ancestors lived in Germany.
Also, see:

• Bavaria & Pfalz Emigrants
• Auswanderkartei, 1840-1930: Cards of emingrants from Bavaria most of whom are born during the time frame 1870 to 1900; however, there are some emigrant dates from the late 1600's and from the 1840's. The cards contain surnames, maiden names, given names, places of birth, and addresses in the country to which the people are moving.
• List of Pfalz Immigrants to America, 1724-1749.
• The Birkenhördt Project
• Bavaria and Pfalz Emigration Database
• German Emigrant Data Base,covers 1820-1939, main source: New York passenger lists beginning in 1820, supplemented by material found in Germany.
• 19th Century Emigrants from Central Franconia to North America

2. Use gazetteers and/or parish register inventories to learn more important details.

Your ancestor's town might have been too small to have its own parish church or civil registration office. Find the location of the Catholic or Lutheran (Evangelical) parish that served your ancestor's locality. Find the name of the civil registration office (Standesamt) that serves your ancestor's locality. Use the Wiki article Finding Aids For German Records for step-by-step instructions.

Germany was first unified as a nation in 1871. An important gazetteer, Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-lexikon des deutschen Reichs, "Meyer's Gazetter" for short, details the place names of villages, towns, counties (kreise), and higher jurisdictions used at that time. In the Research Wiki, FamilySearch Catalog, and FamilySearch Historical Records, the records of Germany are organized using those place names.

3. For birth, marriage, and death records after 1 January 1876, use civil registration.

Civil registration records are records of births, marriages, and deaths kept by the government. In Bavaria (Bayern), they were started 1 January 1876. German terms for these records include Standesamtsregister, Zivilstandsregister, or Personenstandsregister. They are an excellent source for information on names and dates and places of births, marriages, and deaths. These records are kept by the civil registrar (Standesbeamte) at the civil registry office (Standesamt). Study these links to learn what information can be found in them:

• Births (Geburtsregister)
• Marriages (Heiraten, Ehen, or Trauungen)
• Deaths (Sterberegister or Totenregister)

For a comprehensive understanding of civil registration, study the article Germany Civil Registration.

Determining the Location of a Civil Registration Office

Research your town name in MeyersGaz.org to find the location of the registry office (Standesamt). It is indicated by the abbreviation "StdA". 'This is the Standesamt location you will use when searching for civil registration records anywhere in the FamilySearch catalog and collections. Ancestry.com collections will also use this location name. Records in archives will use this location prior to the consolidation of registration offices in the 1970's.

However, some of the offices were merged in 1970's, so the modern record location might be different than that listed in MeyersGaz. When writing for records, first find the modern registrar for your town.

• To find the current Standesamt, go to the German Wikipedia, and enter the name of the town in the search box. An article about the town will start with a first line such as: "Besse with about 3200 inhabitants is the largest district of the municipality Edermünde...." It is probable that the Standesamt is now located in the larger municipality (in this example, Edermünde).
• For larger towns which constitute a municipality:

• To find the current Standesamt, go to the German Wikipedia, and enter the name of the town in the search box.
• This type of article will not state that the town belongs to another municipality, because it is itself a municipality.

• To e-mail the municipality to verify that the civil registry for your town is there.

1. Consult this address list for the exact contact information, which should include an e-mail address: Standesamt.com. In the horizontal menu bar, hover over "+registry office" or "+Standesämter", then the name of the modern state, for a drop-down list of links to modern cilvil registrars.
2. Send a message asking whether you have the correct office for your ancestors' home town. You can also use e-mail to request records and arrange payment. Use the German Letter Writing Guide to write your questions in German.

Privacy Laws

Since 2009, birth records have been public after 110 years, marriages after 80 years and deaths after 30 years. A direct relationship (direct descendants and direct ancestors) to the subject of the record sought will be required in cases where the required time period has not yet elapsed. Even then, the records may be accessible if it can be shown that all "participating parties" have died at least 30 years ago. Participating parties are both parents and the child in birth records, and both spouses in a marriage.

Finding Civil Registration Records

1. Online Records

FamilySearch Historical Records

• 1550-1900 Germany, Bavaria, Middle Franconia, Brenner Collection of Genealogical Records, 1550-1900 at FamilySearch — index and images. An alphabetical collection of family group sheets compiled from parish records and other sources in the district of Ansbach, Mittelfranken, Bavaria. It includes 97 parishes in the area for the period of about 1550-1945.
• 1803-1886 Germany, Bavaria, Nuremberg Civil Registration, 1803-1886 at FamilySearch Historical Records - index.

Ancestry.com ($)

• Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgaden civil status register 1876-1950, index and images

• These Bischofswerda records cover: Bischofswerds, Buehlau, Burkau, Frankenthal, Goldbach, Grossdrebnitz, Grossharthau, Jiedlitz, Putzkau, Rammenau, Shmiedefeld, Seeligstadt, and Uhyst.

Bischofswerda Births, 1876-1902---Marriages, 1876-1922--- Deaths, 1876-1952, index and images.

• These Ebersberg records cover: Assling, Ebersberg, Kirchseeon, and some small villages in the region.

Ebersberg, births, 1876-1905---Marriages, 1876-1921---Deaths, 1876-1951, index and images.

• Freilassing

Freilassing Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1876-1985, index and images.

• These Grafing records cover: Elkofen, Frauenneuharting, Grafing, Schalldorf, and Straussdorf.

Grafing Births, 1876-1906---Marriages, 1876-1936---Deaths, 1876-1950, index and images.

• These Laufen records cover: Heining, Laufen, Leobendorf, and Triebenbach.

Laufen Births, 1876-1906---Marriages, 1876-1936--- Deaths, 1876-1986, index and images.

• These Ludwigshafen records cover: Edigheim, Friesenheim, Ludwigshafen, Maudach, Mundenheim, Oggersheim, Oppau, Rheingönnheim, and Ruchheim.

Ludwigshafen Alphabetical tables of civil and civil status, 1730-1903,---Civil Registers, 1798-1875,

Ludwigshafen Births, 1876-1903---Marriages, 1876-1924---Deaths, 1875-1950, index and images.

• These records for Mainz cover: Bretzenheim, Drais, Ebersheim, Finthen, Gonsenheim, Hechtsheim, Laubenheim, Mainz, Marienborn, Mombach, Weisenau.

Mainz, Germany, life data of the civil registry, 1798-1875---Births, 1872-1900---Marriages, 1876-1920---Deaths, 1876-1950---Family register, 1760-1900, index and images

• These records for Mühldorf am Inn cover: Altmühldorf, Flossing Polling, Mößling, Mühldorf, Oberneukirchen, and Polling.

Mühldorf am Inn Births, 1876-1899---Marriages, 1876-1920---Deaths, 1876-1950, index and images.

• Nuremberg

Nuremberg Births, 1876-1905---Marriages, 1876-1925---Nuremberg, Germany, Deaths, 1876-1983, index and images.

• These records for Regen cover: Rinchnach, Teisnach, Schonau, Vietach, Wettzell, Wiesing, March, and Regen.

Regen births, 1876-1904---Marriages, 1876-1934---Deaths, 1876-1983, index and images.

• Saaldorf-Surheim

Saaldorf-Surheim Civil Registry, 1876-1983

• Speyer

Speyer Births, 1876-1902---Marriages, 1876-1918---Speyer, Deaths, 1798-1875---Civil status register, 1798-1875, index and images.

• These records for Traunstein cover: Au, Haslach, Kammer, and Traunstein.

Traunstein Family and Personal Forms, 1840-1910---Births, 1876-1905---Marriages, 1876-1934---Deaths, 1876-1978, index and images.

2. Digital Copies of Civil Registration From FamilySearch

Try to find records in the collection of the FamilySearch Library. Many microfilms have been digitized for online viewing. Gradually, everything will be digitized, so check back occasionally. Some have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at the FamilySearch Centers near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations. To find records:

a. Click on the records of Bayern, Germany.

b. Click on Places within Bayern, Germany and a list of towns will appear.

c. Click on your town. If the town or village is not listed, find the town in Meyer's Gazetteer. See where the Standesamt (StdA.) was. It may have been in different place, because of the size of the town.

d. Click on the "Civil registration" topic, if available. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.

c. Choose the correct record type and time period for your ancestor. "Geburten" are births. Heiraten are marriages. "Verstorbene" are deaths.

f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. . The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

3. Writing for Civil Registration Certificates

Civil registration records for Germany can be obtained by writing to the local civil registry (Standesamt) or the district archives. Records may have been lost at one location of the other, so you might end up checking both. The first office you contact might choose to forward your request to the other location if necessary.

Local Standesamt Addresses

• Standesamt Addresses for Bavaria (Bayern)

How to Write the Letter

Detailed instruction for what to include in the letter, plus German translations of the questions and sentences most frequently used are in the German Letter Writing Guide.

4. Writing to Archives

Archive Addresses

Here are the addresses for the district archive, should you decide to write there instead of or in addition to the local Standesamt.

Bamberg (for Upper Franconia/Oberfranken)
Staatsarchiv Bamberg
Hainstr. 39
96047 Bamberg
Germany
Tel. 0951/26861

Postfach 2668
96017 Bamberg
Germany

Internet: Website of the State Archives


Coburg (for the city and kreis/county of Coburg, covers Saxony-Coburg)
Staatsarchiv Coburg
Herrngasse 11
96450 Coburg
Germany
Phone: 09561/92833
Internet: Website of the Staatsarchivs


Nuremberg (for Middle Franconia/Mittelfranken)
State Archives Nuremberg
Archivstr. 17
90110 Nürnberg
Tel. 0911 / 357-437
Internet: Website of the State Archives

Würzburg (for Lower Franconia/Unterfranken)
State Archives Würzburg
Residenz-Nordflügel 17
97070 Würzburg
Phone: 0931 / 35529-0
Internet: Website of the State Archives

Augsburg (for Swabia/Schwaben)
State Archives Augsburg
Salomon-Ilder-Str. 2
86159 Augsburg
Germany
Tel. 0821/575025
Internet: Website of the State Archives


Amberg (for Upper Palatinate/Oberpfalz)
Staatsarchiv Amberg
Archivstr. 3
92224 Amberg
Tel. 09621/307270
Internet: Website of the State Archives

Munich (for Upper Bavaria/Oberbayern)
Staatsarchiv Munich
Schöfeldstr. 5, 80539 München Germany (P.O. Box) Postfach 221 152
80501 Munich
Germany
Tel 089 / 28638-525
Internet: Website of the State Archives

Landshut (for Lower Bavaria/Niederbayern)
State Archives Landshut
Burg Trausnitz
84034 Landshut
Tel. 0871/22515
Internet: Website of the State Archives

4. For baptism, marriage, and death records, use church records or parish registers.

Church records (parish registers, church books) are an important source for genealogical research in Germany before civil registration began. They recorded details of baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. The vast majority of the population was mentioned. To learn more about the types of information you will find in church records, click on these links:

• Baptisms (Taufen)
• Marriages (Heiraten)
• Burials (Begräbnisse)
• Confirmations (Konfirmationen)
• Family Registers (Familienbücher)

For a comprehensive understanding of church records, study the article Germany Church Records.

Finding Church Records

Parish Register Inventories

Church record inventories are essential tools for finding German records. They identify what records should be available for a specified parish and where to write for information on these records. They list the church records, their location, and the years they cover. Sometimes inventories explain which parishes served which towns at different periods of time.

• Index evangelische Kirchenbücher im Landeskirchenarchiv Speyer
• https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/200897 Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für die Evang.-Lutherische und Evang.- Reformierte Kirche des rechtsrheinischen Bayerns]
• Die Kirchenbücher der bayerischen Pfalz. Beschreibendes Verzeichnis
• Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Augsburg
• Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Eichstätt
• Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Erzbistum Bamberg
• Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Erzbistum München und Freising
• Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Passau
• Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Regensburg
• Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Würzburg
• Pfarrmatrikel-Zweitschriften, Verzeichnisse
• Kirchenbuchportal: See Bistum Augsburg (Catholic), Bistum Speyer (Catholic), and Ev. Kirche der Pfalz (Lutheran).

1. Online Church Records

• Archive and Library of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, complete online coverage of Roman Catholic church records for the diocese of Munich in Bavaria.
  
  • Direct link to parish registers: in progress
    • Click on the + sign to open alphabetical index.
    • Click on the + sign before the letter to open a list of parishes.
    • Click on the + sign before your parish to open a list of record types available.
    • Click on the + sign in front of the record type. Links to the digitized images now become available.
    • Click on the blue page before the image range you want.
    • A detailed description of the contents in that image range will appear. Click on the Open in the Mets Viewer link at the bottom of the box. The images load somewhat slowly.
  • Links to parishes, complete list:
    • Click on the + sign to open Archiv des Erzbistums München und Freising.
    • Click on the + sign to open Seelsorgeeinheiten.
    • Click on the + sign to open Pfarreien und Kirchenstiftungen.
    • Click on the + sign to open parish numbered file by name and date.
    • Click on the + sign to open Pfarrliche Seelsorge und Pfarramtsverwaltung.
    • Click on the + sign to open Pfarramtsverwaltung.
    • Click on the + sign to open Taufbücher (Baptisms), Traubücher/Sponsalien (Marriages), Sterbebücher (Deaths), or Seelenstandsbeschreibungen, Familien- und Hausbücher (Family books).
    • Click on the blue page icon for the time period you wish to search.
    • A detailed description of the contents in that image range will appear. Click on the Open in the Mets Viewer link at the bottom of the box. The images load somewhat slowly.
• Archion: Landeskirchliches Archiv der Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Bavaria ($).
• Matricula, church books for several Catholic parishes from the Passau, Bavaria, area.
• 1615-1939 Germany, Bavaria, Diocese of Augsburg, Catholic Church Records, 1615-1939 at FamilySearch — index
• 1600-1925 Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate Church Record Extractions and Family Registers, 1600-1925 at FamilySearch Historical Records, free, browsable images, incomplete.

These records cover the following parishes: Alsenborn, Alsenbrück, Bann-Queidersbach, Boos, Enkenbach, Glan-Münchweiler, Ludwigshafen, Marnheim, Münchweiler, Pfalz-Schweizer, Sembach, Studernheim, Südpfalz, and Wattenheim.

• 1650-1875 Germany, Bavaria, Catholic Church Records, 1650-1875 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Ancestry.com ($)

• 1518-1921 Germany, selected Protestant church books 1518-1921 - at Ancestry ($), index and images. Includes Alsen, Barbelroth, Billibheim, Bingert, Einöllen, Feilbingert, Drusweiler, Essweiler, Geesthacht, Haide, Hassloch, Homburg, Iggelheim, Jettenbach, Kapellen, Klein Schönebeck, Krummendiek, Kusel, Lambrecht, Lauterecken, Leumitz, Marienberghausen, Münchweiler, Neunburg, Nürnberg, Reichenbach, Rockenhausen, Spesbach, Steinbach, Steinburg, Stierhoffeten, Trippstadt, and Vorm Wald.
• 1526-1940 Ansbach, Germany, excerpts from Lutheran church records, 1526-1940, index and images.
• Rhineland-Palatinate, Protestant church records 1556-1973 - at Ancestry ($), index. The area covered coincides largely with the historical area of ​​the left bank of the Bavarian Palatinate of the 19th century. The cities include Alsenz, Bad Bergzabern, Homburg, Kusel, Pirmasens and Speyer. In addition to the places lying today in Rhineland-Palatinate this collection also contains church books from Nuremberg.

Other Contributors

• Death notices for the city of Würzburg
• Association for Local History Feuchtwangen: Parish records transcribed and indexed for Feuchtwangen, Unterampfrach, Steichele, Wildholz, Wieseth, Kloster Sulz, Dorfgütingen, Breitenau, Mosbach
• Kirchenbuch Bad Pyrmont-Oesdorf. 1657-1739. Images, no index.
• Genealogy and house chronicles northwest of Munich: List of parishes covered--- Main page

2. Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog

Try to find records in the collection of the FamilySearch Library. Many microfilms have been digitized for online viewing. Gradually, everything will be digitized, so check back occasionally. Some have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a FamilySearch Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations. To find records:

a. Click on the the Places within Germany, Bayern.

b. Click on Places within Germany, Bayern and a list of towns will appear.

c. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.

d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.

e. Choose the correct record type and time period for your ancestor. "Geburten" are births. "Taufen" are christenings/baptisms. "Heiraten" are marriages. "Tote" are deaths.

f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. . The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

3. Research in Church and State Archives

Church records or duplicates may have been gathered from the local parishes into central archives, either by the churches or the state. Older records are frequently given to these archives for safekeeping. Some gaps in the church records of local parishes could be filled using these records.

• Pdf Archive Inventory: "Part 1 of 2: Church records in Archives" - is an inventory of localities and the location or archive where their records should be found. The sixth column, "Archives", gives a number. To find the name and contact information, look up that number in the second column of this .pdf: Part 2: Archive Addresses.  It is not clear how up-to-date this inventory is.

Some archives offer searches for a fee. Archives might be unable to handle genealogical requests, but they can determine whether they have specific records you need, sometimes perform very brief research, such as just one record, or they may recommend a researcher who can search the records for you. Archivists are required to speak English.

E-mail

• You can e-mail archives and ask whether they have records for a parish. Also, you should inquire whether they provide research services and what their fees are. You can communicate with the archives in English.

Catholic Archives

Because the Catholic Church is so pre-dominant in Bavaria (Bayern), there are six dioceses. To find the correct diocese archives, look up your parish in The Catholic Directory for Germany. Click on "View Full Listing" to find the diocese for that parish.

Augsburg

Pfarrhausstrasse 4
86154 Augsburg
Germany

Phone: 0821 - 3166 8561
Fax: 0821 - 3166 8569
E-mail: archiv@bistum-augsburg.de

• Website

Archiv des Erzbistums Bamberg

Regensburger Ring 2
D-96047 Bamberg
Germany

Tel 0951/40747-0, Fax 0951/40747-50
Email: archiv@erzbistum-bamberg.de
Website

Diözesanarchiv, Bistum Eichstätt

Luitpoldstr. 1
D-85072 Eichstätt
Germany

Tel: 08421/50-761, Fax: 08421/50-769
E-Mail: archiv@bistum-eichstaett.de
Website

Archiv des Erzbistums München und Freising

Karmeliterstr. 1
D-80333 München
Germany
Mailing Address: Postfach 330360
D-80063 München
Germany

Tel: 089-2137-1346
E-mail: archiv@eomuc.de

• Website

Archiv des Bistums Passau

Luragogasse 4
94032 Passau
Germany

Phone: 851-393-386, Fax: 851-393-449
E-mail: archiv@bistum-passau.de

• Website

Bischöfliches Zentralarchiv Regensburg

St. Petersweg 11-13
D-93047 Regensburg
Germany

Phone: 49-941-597-2520
Fax: 49-941-597-2521
Email: archiv@bistum-regensburg.de

Diocesan Archives Würzburg

Domerschulstraße 17
97070 Würzburg
Germany

Phone: 0931 - 386 67 100
Fax: 0931 - 386 67 101
E-mail: archiv@bistum-wuerzburg.de
Website

Evangelical Lutheran (Protestant) Archives

Landeskirchliches Archiv der Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria
Veilhofstraße 8
90489 Nuremberg
Germany

E-Mail: archiv@elkb.de

• Website
  

State Archives

Here are the addresses for the district archive, should you decide to write there instead of or in addition to the local Standesamt. Bamberg (for Upper Franconia/Oberfranken)
Staatsarchiv Bamberg
Hainstr. 39
96047 Bamberg
Germany
Tel. 0951/26861

Postfach 2668
96017 Bamberg
Germany

Internet: Website of the State Archives


Coburg (for the city and kreis/county of Coburg, covers Saxony-Coburg)
Staatsarchiv Coburg
Herrngasse 11
96450 Coburg
Germany
Phone: 09561/92833
Internet: Website of the Staatsarchivs


Nuremberg (for Middle Franconia/Mittelfranken)
State Archives Nuremberg
Archivstr. 17
90110 Nürnberg
Tel. 0911 / 357-437
Internet: Website of the State Archives

Würzburg (for Lower Franconia/Unterfranken)
State Archives Würzburg
Residenz-Nordflügel 17
97070 Würzburg
Phone: 0931 / 35529-0
Internet: Website of the State Archives

Augsburg (for Swabia/Schwaben)
State Archives Augsburg
Salomon-Ilder-Str. 2
86159 Augsburg
Germany
Tel. 0821/575025
Internet: Website of the State Archives


Amberg (for Upper Palatinate/Oberpfalz)
Staatsarchiv Amberg
Archivstr. 3
92224 Amberg
Tel. 09621/307270
Internet: Website of the State Archives

Amberg (for Upper Palatinate/Oberpfalz)
Staatsarchiv Amberg
Archivstr. 3
92224 Amberg
Tel. 09621/307270
Internet: Website of the State Archives

Munich (for Upper Bavaria/Oberbayern)
Staatsarchiv Munich
Schöfeldstr. 5, 80539 München Germany (P.O. Box) Postfach 221 152
80501 Munich
Germany
Tel 089 / 28638-525
Internet: Website of the State Archives

Landshut (for Lower Bavaria/Niederbayern)
State Archives Landshut
Burg Trausnitz
84034 Landshut
Tel. 0871/22515
Internet: Website of the State Archives

4. Writing to a Local Priest for Church Records

Most church registers are still maintained by the parish. You might obtain information by writing to the parish. Parish employees will usually answer correspondence written in German. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to a central repository.

Evangelical Lutheran (Protestant)

• Towns search: Address list of the Protestant church

Catholic Addresses

• The Catholic Directory for Germany

E-mail

• Because many churches now have known e-mail addresses, you can quickly check whether the parish records are stored at the parish church or have been moved to archives. If possible, do this before sending a more detailed inquiry or any money. Links for church addresses are found on the wiki pages for the individual states and counties of Germany.

I. Are the parish records for _________to ___________ (time period range) at your church still?	1. Sind die Kirchenbücher für den Zeitraum von _____ bis _____ noch in Ihrer Kirchengemeinde?
2. If they have been moved to an archive, can you tell me where they are now?	2. Falls sie nun in einem Archiv sind, können Sie mir bitte sagen, wo sie sich jetzt befinden?

Writing to a Local Parish

Write a brief request in German to the proper church using this address as a guide, replacing the information in parentheses:

For a Protestant Parish:

An das evangelische Pfarramt

(Insert street address, if known.)

(Postal Code) (Name of Locality)

GERMANY

For a Catholic Parish:

An das katholische Pfarramt

(Insert street address, if known.)

(Postal Code) (Name of Locality)

GERMANY

• Click here for postal code help for Germany.

How to Write a Letter

Detailed instruction for what to include in the letter, plus German translations of the questions and sentences most frequently used are in the German Letter Writing Guide.

5. Compiled and Published Secondary Sources

Compiled genealogies and published genealogies are secondary sources, not original or primary sources. As such, they are subject to human error through translation or transcription errors, mistaken interpretations, and opinion decisions of another researcher. You should make every effort to base your research on the actual, original records or their digitized images.

Town Genealogies (Ortssippenbuch or Ortsfamilienbuch)

See the class, Online Ortsfamilienbücher at Genealogy.net, and Wiki article, Germany Town Genealogies and Parish Register Inventories on the Internet. Published town genealogies, Ortssippenbuch (town lineage book) or Ortsfamilienbuch (town family book), generally include birth, marriage, and death data for all persons found in the local records during a specified time period, compiled into families based on the opinion of the author. If one is available, it should only be used as an index or guide to finding the original records. They usually contain errors. Always verify their information in original records.

Finding an OFB

• GenWiki OFB Bibliography for Bavaria (Bayern)
  
• Click here to see OFBs at GenWiki. These are indexed and searchable. OFB Instructions.
• A bibliography of OFBs held by the Central Office for Person and Family History, and available in their archive in Frankfurt am Main-Höchst, is listed here. You can arrange for copied pages to be sent to you for a fee or donation. Use the "Find" function on your keyboard to search the bibliographies, as they are not alphabetical.

Other Religious Groups

To learn how to determine the location of other religious records, namely Jewish, French Reformed, German Reformed, etc., watch Hansen’s Map Guides: Finding Records with Parish Maps beginning at 48:00 minutes, to learn how to locate these congregations. Then go back and watch from the beginning to understand how to use the reference book. Also, you can read Map Guide to German Parish Registers. This video and handout teach you how to use a set of reference books found at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Reading the Records

• It's easier than you think! You do not have to be fluent in French and German to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them. By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately. Here are some resources for learning to read German records.

German Genealogical Word List

French Genealogical Word List

Latin Genealogical Word List

• These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:

• Old German Script Part 1
• Old German Script Part 2
• Old German Script (German Church and Civil Records) Part 3
• German Paleography Seminar
• German Script Tutorial

• List of Names in Old German Script A comprehensive list of German given names, written in old script, with possible variations.
• Old German Script Transcriber (alte deutsche Handschriften): See your family names in the script of the era. Type your name or other word into the font generator tool. Click on the 8 different fonts. Save the image to your computer and use it as you work with old Germanic records.
  

Downloadable Handouts

These printable handouts can be used for ready reference when reading German Handwriting.
Letters:

• Kurrent Letters handout
• Additional Kurrent Letters handout

Vocabulary found on Specific Records:

• Birth Records Vocabulary handout
• Marriage Records Vocabulary handout
• Overview of Marriage Laws and Customs (handout)
• Death Records Vocabulary handout

Dates, Numbers, Abbreviations:

• Days and Months handout
• Numbers Vocabulary handout
• Script Dates and Numbers handout
• Common Abbreviations handout
• Common Symbols handout

Miscellaneous Vocabulary:

• German Occupations Vocabulary handout
• Illnesses Vocabulary handout

Fraktur:

• Fraktur Font--Many forms and books are printed in this font.
  • • Fraktur Script - Instruction, Activity, Answer Key

Latin Records

Records of the Catholic church will usually be written in Latin:

• Latin Genealogical Word List

Feast Dates

• Calendar Changes in France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Low Countries--class
• Each day of the year had several patron saints and was a feast day to honor those saints. Some vital events are recorded in church records only by the holy day (feast day) on the church calendar. For example, the feast day called “All Saints Day” (Allerheiligentag) is “1 November.” The Wiki article, Moveable and Fixed Feast Day Calendars for Germany, provides charts for converting feast days given in church records to regular Julian and Gregorian calendar dates.

Search Strategy

• Search for the relative or ancestor you selected. When you find their birth record, search for the births of their brothers and sisters.
• Next, search for the marriage of their parents. The marriage record will have information that will often help you find the birth records of the parents.
• Search the death registers for all known family members.
• The marriage certificate will show the birth date, birth place, and parents of the bride and the groom. If you only have a church marriage record, calculate the birth date of the parents, using age at death and/or marriage to search for their birth records.
• Repeat this process for both the father and the mother, starting with their birth records, then their siblings' births, then their parents' marriages, and so on.
• If earlier generations (parents, grandparents, etc.) do not appear in the records, search neighboring parishes.

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