Latvia Emigration and Immigration: Difference between revisions

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{{Latvia-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
|Country=Latvia
|Name=Latvia
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Records
|Records=Emigration and Immigration
|Rating=Standardized
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| link1=[[Europe]]
| link2=[[Latvia Genealogy|Latvia]]
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==Online Records==
==Online Records==
*'''1850-1934''' {{FSC|43289|item|disp=Auswandererlisten, 1850-1934}} (Hamburg passenger lists) at FamilySearch, images.
*'''1878-1960''' [https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1518/ UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960], at Ancestry.com, index and images. ($)
*'''1850-1934''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1068 Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934] at Ancestry ($) index & images.
*'''1890-1960''' [https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?sourcecategory=travel%20%26%20migration&sid=999 Passenger Lists Leaving UK 1890-1960] at FindMyPast; index & images ($)
*'''1855-1924''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1166 Hamburg Passenger Lists, Handwritten Indexes, 1855-1934] at Ancestry ($) images.
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/hamburg-germany-emigrants Hamburg, Germany Emigrants] at Findmypast ($) index.
*'''1878-1960''' [https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1518/ UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960] at Ancestry - index & images ($)
*'''1890-1960''' [https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?sourcecategory=travel%20%26%20migration&sid=999 Passenger Lists Leaving UK 1890-1960] at Findmypast - index & images ($)
*'''1892-1924''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?q.anyPlace=new%20zealand&q.anyPlace.exact=on&f.collectionId=1368704&count=20&offset=0&m.defaultFacets=on&m.queryRequireDefault=on&m.facetNestCollectionInCategory=on New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924] Search results for New Zealand
*'''1892-1924''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?q.anyPlace=new%20zealand&q.anyPlace.exact=on&f.collectionId=1368704&count=20&offset=0&m.defaultFacets=on&m.queryRequireDefault=on&m.facetNestCollectionInCategory=on New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924] Search results for New Zealand
*'''1919-1920''' [https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/search-results?page=1&place=70&recordTypes=127023 Latvia Migration Records](*) at FamilySearch Explore Historical Images
*'''1946-1971''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61704/ Free Access: Africa, Asia and Europe, Passenger Lists of Displaced Persons, 1946-1971] Ancestry, free. Index and images. Passenger lists of immigrants leaving Germany and other European ports and airports between 1946-1971. The majority of the immigrants listed in this collection are displaced persons - Holocaust survivors, former concentration camp inmates and Nazi forced laborers, as well as refugees from Central and Eastern European countries and some non-European countries.  
*'''1919-1920''' [https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/search-results?startDateAvailable=2020-01-01&page=1&place=70&recordTypes=129468 Latvia Foreigner Files](*) at FamilySearch Explore Historical Images
*'''1919-1940''' [https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/search-results?page=1&place=70&recordTypes=123799 Latvia Immigration Records](*) at FamilySearch Explore Historical Images
*'''1946-1971''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61704/ Free Access: Africa, Asia and Europe, Passenger Lists of Displaced Persons, 1946-1971] at Ancestry - index & images.  
**Passenger lists of immigrants leaving Germany and other European ports and airports between 1946-1971. The majority of the immigrants listed in this collection are displaced persons - Holocaust survivors, former concentration camp inmates and Nazi forced laborers, as well as refugees from Central and Eastern European countries and some non-European countries.  
*[[United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records]]
*[[United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records]]


===Passports===
===Passports===
*'''1898-1920''' [https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/search-results?startDateAvailable=2020-01-01&page=1&place=70&recordTypes=124216 Latvia Passports](*) at FamilySearch Explore Historical Images
*'''1900''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1454/ Latvia, Passport and Police Registration Lists, 1900, Fond 51] at Ancestry ($), index.
*'''1900''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1454/ Latvia, Passport and Police Registration Lists, 1900] at Ancestry - index ($)
*[http://pases.arhivi.lv/index.php?temavb=lv Latvijas iedzīvotāju pases (Passports of Latvian Residents) database] During the inter-war period, Latvian citizens were required to register for a passport which served as identification papers.
*[http://pases.arhivi.lv/index.php?temavb=lv Latvijas iedzīvotāju pases (Passports of Latvian Residents) database] During the inter-war period, Latvian citizens were required to register for a passport which served as identification papers.


===British Overseas Subjects===
===British Overseas Subjects===


*[https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?datasetname=british+armed+forces+and+overseas+births+and+baptisms&sid=103&country=latvia British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms], index & images ($)
*[https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?datasetname=british+armed+forces+and+overseas+births+and+baptisms&sid=103&country=latvia British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms], index and images, ($)
*[https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?datasetname=british+armed+forces+and+overseas+banns+and+marriages&sid=103&country=latvia British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages,], index & images ($)
*[https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?datasetname=british+armed+forces+and+overseas+banns+and+marriages&sid=103&country=latvia British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages,], index and images, ($)
*[https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?datasetname=british+armed+forces+and+overseas+deaths+and+burials&sid=103&country=latvia British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials], index & images ($)
*[https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?datasetname=british+armed+forces+and+overseas+deaths+and+burials&sid=103&country=latvia British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials], index and images, ($)
===Cultural Groups===
===Cultural Groups===
*'''1869-1938''' {{FSC|697310|item|disp=Registration of German Nationals at the German Consulate in Riga (Matrikel, 1869-1938)}}, images
*'''1869-1938''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/697310?availability=Family%20History%20Library Registration of German Nationals at the German Consulate in Riga (Matrikel, 1869-1938)], images.
*'''1942-1943''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60828 Riga, Latvia, Austrian, Czech, and German Jews, 1942-1943] ($). Index. Incomplete. 800 Jewish forced laborers and was compiled from a notebook found in the Riga ghetto after the war. Many of these people were from Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany. Some of the records contain the name and others have the place of birth or deportation.
*'''1942-1943''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60828 Riga, Latvia, Austrian, Czech, and German Jews, 1942-1943], ($). Index. Incomplete. 800 Jewish forced laborers and was compiled from a notebook found in the Riga ghetto after the war. Many of these people were from Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany. Some of the records contain the name and others have the place of birth or deportation.
*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/289926-redirection History of families from Westfalia, Germany, especially those who moved to Prussia, Courland and Livonia. (Geschichte der westphälischen Geschlechter : unter besonderer Berücksichtigung iherer Uebersiedelung nach Preußen, Curland und Liefland)], e-book
*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/289926-redirection History of families from Westfalia, Germany, especially those who moved to Prussia, Courland and Livonia. (Geschichte der westphälischen Geschlechter : unter besonderer Berücksichtigung iherer Uebersiedelung nach Preußen, Curland und Liefland)], e-book
*{{FSC|630266|item|disp=Materials on Baltic German personal and family history from Baltic East, Livonia and Curland archives (Materialen zur baltischen deutschen Personen- und Familienkunde aus baltischen est- liv- und kurlaendischen Archiven)}} Genealogical records. Alphabetically arranged file cards.  
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/630266?availability=Family%20History%20Library Materials on Baltic German personal and family history from Baltic East, Livonia and Curland archives (Materialen zur baltischen deutschen Personen- und Familienkunde aus baltischen est- liv- und kurlaendischen Archiven)] Genealogical records. Alphabetically arranged file cards.  
*{{FSC|389406|item|disp=Family tables of German-Baltic families (Stammtafeln Deutsch-baltischer Geschlechter)}}
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/389406?availability=Family%20History%20Library Family tables of German-Baltic families (Stammtafeln Deutsch-baltischer Geschlechter)]


==Offices and Archives to Contact==
==Offices and Archives to Contact==
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Telephone:+371 20043706<br>
Telephone:+371 20043706<br>
Email: lna@arhivi.gov.lv<br>
E-mail: lna@arhivi.gov.lv<br>
[https://www.arhivi.gov.lv/content.aspx?id=344&mainId=342E-address Website]<br>
[https://www.arhivi.gov.lv/content.aspx?id=344&mainId=342E-address Website]<br>
[https://www.arhivi.gov.lv/en/databases Databases]<br>
[https://www.arhivi.gov.lv/en/databases Databases]<br>
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==Finding the Town of Origin in Latvia==
==Finding the Town of Origin in Latvia==
If you are using emigration/immigration records to find the name of your ancestors' town in Latvia, see [[Latvia Finding Town of Origin]] for additional research strategies.
If you are using emigration/immigration records to find the name of your ancestors' town in Latvia, see [[Latvia Finding Town of Origin|'''Latvia Finding Town of Origin''']] for additional research strategies.
==Latvia Emigration and Immigration==
==Latvia Emigration and Immigration==
"Emigration" means moving out of a country. "Immigration" means moving into a country. Emigration and immigration sources list the names of people leaving (emigrating) or arriving (immigrating) in the country. These sources may be passenger lists, permissions to emigrate, or records of passports issued. The information in these records may include the emigrants’ names, ages, occupations, destinations, and places of origin or birthplaces. Sometimes they also show family groups.
<span style="color:DarkViolet">'''"Emigration"''' means moving out of a country. '''"Immigration"''' means moving into a country. </span><br>
==Historical Background==
Emigration and immigration sources list the names of people leaving (emigrating) or arriving (immigrating) in the country. These sources may be passenger lists, permissions to emigrate, or records of passports issued. The information in these records may include the emigrants’ names, ages, occupations, destinations, and places of origin or birthplaces. Sometimes they also show family groups.
At the beginning of the 13th century, Germans ruled large parts of what is currently Latvia. Together with southern Estonia, these conquered areas formed the crusader state that became known as Terra Mariana or Livonia. The first German settlers were knights from northern Germany and citizens of northern German towns.
[[Category:Emigration and Immigration Records]]
 
After the Livonian War (1558–1583), Livonia (Northern Latvia & Southern Estonia) fell under Polish and Lithuanian rule. In the 17th and early 18th centuries, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Sweden, and Russia struggled for supremacy in the eastern Baltic. After the Polish–Swedish War, northern Livonia came under Swedish rule. Riga became the capital of Swedish Livonia and the largest city in the entire Swedish Empire. In Latvia, the Swedish period is generally remembered as positive; serfdom was eased, a network of schools was established for the peasantry, and the power of the regional barons was diminished. Under Swedish and largely German rule, western Latvia adopted Lutheranism as its main religion. Meanwhile, largely isolated from the rest of Latvia, southern Latgallians adopted Catholicism under Polish/Jesuit influence. In 1795, all of what is now Latvia was brought into the Russian Empire.
 
Most of the Baltic Germans left Latvia by agreement with Nazi Germany. In total 50,000 Baltic Germans left by the deadline of December 1939, with 1,600 remaining to conclude business and 13,000 choosing to remain in Latvia. Most of those who remained left for Germany in summer 1940, when a second resettlement scheme was agreed. The racially approved being resettled mainly in Poland, being given land and businesses in exchange for the money they had received from the sale of their previous assets. The Soviet Union incorporated Latvia on 5 August 1940, as The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. The Soviets dealt harshly with their opponents – prior to Operation Barbarossa, in less than a year, at least 34,250 Latvians were deported or killed. Most were deported to Siberia where deaths were estimated at 40 percent. During World War II, Latvia was invaded and left under the control of German forces by early July of 1941. More than 200,000 Latvian citizens died during World War II, including approximately 75,000 Latvian Jews murdered during the Nazi occupation. In 1944, when Soviet military advances reached Latvia, heavy fighting took place in Latvia between German and Soviet troops, which ended in another German defeat. Anywhere from 120,000 to as many as 300,000 Latvians took refuge from the Soviet army by fleeing to Germany and Sweden. Most sources count 200,000 to 250,000 refugees leaving Latvia, with perhaps as many as 80,000 to 100,000 of them recaptured by the Soviets or, during few months immediately after the end of war, returned by the West.


Between 136,000 and 190,000 Latvians, depending on the sources, were imprisoned or deported to Soviet concentration camps (the Gulag) in the post war years, from 1945 to 1952. An influx of new colonists, including laborers, administrators, military personnel and their dependents from Russia and other Soviet republics started. By 1959 about 400,000 Russian settlers arrived. As of March 2011, Latvians form about 62.1% of the population, while 26.9% are Russians, Belarusians 3.3%, Ukrainians 2.2%, Poles 2.2%, Lithuanians 1.2%, Jews 0.3%, Romani people 0.3%, Germans 0.1%, Estonians 0.1% and others 1.3%. 250 people identify as Livonians (Baltic Finnic people native to Latvia). There were 290,660 "non-citizens" living in Latvia or 14.1% of Latvian residents, mainly Russian settlers who arrived after the occupation of 1940 and their descendants.<ref>"Latvia", in Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia Latvia], accessed 26 July 2021.</ref>


==Immigration into Latvia==
==Emigration From Latvia==
==Emigration From Latvia==
The majority of Latvians whom left Latvia in WWII reside in North America (the US and Canada), across Europe mainly in Eastern countries and the former USSR with just as many in Western Europe and Scandinavian nations, and the rest in former Latvian lands in the Baltic states (Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Belarus). The most Russified of the three Baltic states, Latvia struggles with the issue of national identity after one million ethnic Russians and other Russian speaking people settled there since 1940.<ref>"List of diasporas", in Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diasporas#L List of diasporas], accessed 26 July 2021.</ref>
*The majority of Latvians whom left Latvia in WWII reside in North America '''(the US and Canada), across Europe mainly in Eastern countries and the former USSR with just as many in Western Europe and Scandinavian nations''', and the rest in former '''Latvian lands in the Baltic states (Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Belarus)'''. The most Russified of the three Baltic states, Latvia struggles with the issue of national identity after one million ethnic Russians and other Russian speaking people settled there since 1940.<ref>"List of diasporas", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diasporas#L, accessed 26 July 2021.</ref>
 
*'''Knomad Statistics:'''  Emigrants: 342,300. Top destination countries: '''the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ukraine, Ireland, Germany, Lithuania, Belarus, Norway, Canada.'''<ref>"Latvia", in Knomad, https://www.knomad.org/data/migration/emigration?page=13, accessed 26 July 2021.</ref>  
According to Knomad Statistics there were 342,300 emigrants. Top destination countries were the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ukraine, Ireland, Germany, Lithuania, Belarus, Norway, Canada.<ref>"Latvia", in KNOMAD, the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development, [https://www.knomad.org/data/migration/emigration?page=13 Migration], accessed 26 July 2021.</ref>  
'''"Other significant population centers:"'''<ref>"Latvians", in Wikipedia, accessed 26 July 2021.</ref>
Other significant population centers for Latvians were:<br>
{|
'''Populations over 10 Thousand'''
|-
{{columns-list|3|
|style="padding-right:50px; vertical-align:top"|
*United Kingdom: 124,000  
*United Kingdom: 124,000  
*United States: 96,070–102,000  
*United States: 96,070–102,000  
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*Russia: 18,979  
*Russia: 18,979  
*Norway: 11,723
*Norway: 11,723
}}
|
'''Populations from 1 to 10 Thousand'''
'''"Populations 1000 to 10,000"'''<br>
{{columns-list|3|
*Sweden: 8,798  
*Sweden: 8,798  
*Ukraine: 5,079  
*Ukraine: 5,079  
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*Netherlands: 1,400  
*Netherlands: 1,400  
*Kazakhstan 1,123
*Kazakhstan 1,123
}}
|}
== Records In the Destination Nations ==
{{Tip|Look for records about the ancestor in the country they immigrated to.}} See links to Wiki articles about immigration records for major destination countries below. Additional Wiki articles for other destinations can be found in the [https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Category:Emigration_and_Immigration_Records Category:Emigration and Immigration Records].


{{columns-list|2|
==Records of Latvian Emigrants in Their Destination Nations==
{|
|-
|[[File:Dark thin font green pin Version 4.png|150px]]
|<span style="color:DarkViolet">One option is to look for records about the ancestor in the '''country of destination, the country they immigrated into'''. See links to immigration records for major destination countries below.</span>
|}
{|
|-
|style="padding-right:75px"|
*[[United States Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[United States Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Canada Emigration and Immigration]]  
*[[Canada Emigration and Immigration]]  
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*[[Norway Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Norway Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Sweden Emigration and Immigration]]  
*[[Sweden Emigration and Immigration]]  
|
*[[Ukraine Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Ukraine Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Denmark Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Denmark Emigration and Immigration]]
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*[[Netherlands Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Netherlands Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Kazakhstan Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Kazakhstan Emigration and Immigration]]
*[[Belarus Emigration and Immigration]]
|}
*[[Poland Emigration and Immigration]]
}}


==For Further Reading==
==For Further Reading==
There are additional sources listed in the FamilySearch Catalog: {{FSC|Latvia - Emigration and immigration - Indexes|subject|subject-id=1563872219|disp=Latvia - Emigration and Immigration - Indexes}}
There are additional sources listed in the FamilySearch Catalog:
*{{FHL|750436|subject_id|disp=Latvia - Emigration and Immigration - Indexes}}


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Emigration and Immigration Records]]

Revision as of 16:27, 26 July 2021

Latvia Wiki Topics
Flag of Latvia.svg.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Latvia Background
Local Research Resources

Online Records[edit | edit source]

Passports[edit | edit source]

British Overseas Subjects[edit | edit source]

Cultural Groups[edit | edit source]

Offices and Archives to Contact[edit | edit source]

National Archives of Latvia
Šķūņu street 11
Riga, LV-1050

Telephone:+371 20043706
E-mail: lna@arhivi.gov.lv
Website
Databases
Raduraksti: Databases for Genealogical Research

Finding the Town of Origin in Latvia[edit | edit source]

If you are using emigration/immigration records to find the name of your ancestors' town in Latvia, see Latvia Finding Town of Origin for additional research strategies.

Latvia Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

"Emigration" means moving out of a country. "Immigration" means moving into a country.
Emigration and immigration sources list the names of people leaving (emigrating) or arriving (immigrating) in the country. These sources may be passenger lists, permissions to emigrate, or records of passports issued. The information in these records may include the emigrants’ names, ages, occupations, destinations, and places of origin or birthplaces. Sometimes they also show family groups.


Immigration into Latvia[edit | edit source]

Emigration From Latvia[edit | edit source]

  • The majority of Latvians whom left Latvia in WWII reside in North America (the US and Canada), across Europe mainly in Eastern countries and the former USSR with just as many in Western Europe and Scandinavian nations, and the rest in former Latvian lands in the Baltic states (Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Belarus). The most Russified of the three Baltic states, Latvia struggles with the issue of national identity after one million ethnic Russians and other Russian speaking people settled there since 1940.[1]
  • Knomad Statistics: Emigrants: 342,300. Top destination countries: the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ukraine, Ireland, Germany, Lithuania, Belarus, Norway, Canada.[2]

"Other significant population centers:"[3]

  • United Kingdom: 124,000
  • United States: 96,070–102,000
  • Germany: 40,480
  • Canada: 30,725
  • Brazil: 25,000
  • Ireland: 19,933
  • Australia: 20,509
  • Russia: 18,979
  • Norway: 11,723

"Populations 1000 to 10,000"

  • Sweden: 8,798
  • Ukraine: 5,079
  • Denmark: 3,799
  • Spain: 3,711
  • Estonia: 3,329
  • Finland: 3,232
  • Italy: 2,689
  • France: 2,602
  • Lithuania: 2,300
  • Netherlands: 1,400
  • Kazakhstan 1,123

Records of Latvian Emigrants in Their Destination Nations[edit | edit source]

Dark thin font green pin Version 4.png One option is to look for records about the ancestor in the country of destination, the country they immigrated into. See links to immigration records for major destination countries below.

For Further Reading[edit | edit source]

There are additional sources listed in the FamilySearch Catalog:

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "List of diasporas", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diasporas#L, accessed 26 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Latvia", in Knomad, https://www.knomad.org/data/migration/emigration?page=13, accessed 26 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Latvians", in Wikipedia, accessed 26 July 2021.

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