German Empire Record Finder

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In other languages: Deutsch

German Empire

Record Finder

Record Finder Table for German Empire

The following Record Finder table assists researchers in determining record types that may list the information they are looking for.

Order of Records

The typically most reliable sources are listed at the top of the list. However, depending on the time period of the record and location, multiple records in the list may need to be searched to achieve the objective. Alternative records are listed as well in case traditional records do not provide the desired information.

List of Topics

This Record Finder table links to the German Empire topic Wiki pages, containing databases and other information about accessing the records.

Vital Events

Searching for:	Best Records to Search:	Alternative Records:
Birth date and place	Church Records Civil Registration Jewish Records	Obituaries Occupations Census Naturalization and Citizenship Schools Military Records
Marriage place and date	Church Records Civil Registration Jewish Records	Genealogy Periodicals Nobility Newspapers
Death date, place, and burial	Church Records Civil Registration Jewish Records Obituaries Newspapers	Probate Records Court Records Occupations Cemeteries

Maiden Names and Family Members

Searching for:	Best Records to Search:	Alternative Records:
Maiden name	Church Records Civil Registration	Jewish Records Obituaries
Parents, children, spouses, and other family members	Church Records Civil Registration Obituaries Jewish Records	Probate Records Land and Property Naturalization and Citizenship
Living relatives	Genealogies	Societies Periodicals

Immigration and Country of Origin

Searching for:	Best Records to Search:	Alternative Records:
Immigration date	Emigration and Immigration	Societies Military Records Periodicals See the FamilySearch Wiki article for the country to which the ancestor immigrated.
Country and town of origin	Emigration and Immigration

Residences and Locations

Searching for:	Best Records to Search:	Alternative Records:
Residence	Church Records Civil Registration Emigration and Immigration Directories Jewish Records Military Records	Biography Genealogies Census

Personal Details and Affiliations

Searching for:	Best Records to Search:	Alternative Records:
Nobility	Nobility	Biography Periodicals
Occupation	Church Records Civil Registration	Census
Religion	Church Records Civil Registration	History
Social activities	Social Life and Customs]] Societies	History
Physical description	Military Records

Reading German Records

Vocabulary	German Genealogical Word List Latin Genealogical Word List French Genealogical Word List German Script Tutorial
Naming patterns	Naming Customs
Online classes	Old German Script--1: Letters--2: Words--3: Records German Paleography Seminar German Church and Civil Records
Writing for records	German Letter Writing Guide

Provinces, Kingdoms, and Duchies of the German Empire

Click on the names of the province or duchy to find detailed instructions for family history research for that locality.

Jurisdictions of the German Empire
English (German, if different)

Independent From Prussia

Prussia (Preussen)

Thuringia (Thüringen)

City-States