Hungary Letter Writing Guide: Difference between revisions

The primary sources for genealogical research in Hungary are records of births, marriages, and deaths. These are called vital records. The earliest records of this type were made by the churches as christenings, marriages, and burials were performed. Vital records kept by the church are called church records. After 1895 government officials kept vital records. These records are called civil registration. Other valuable records available for genealogical research are census records, military records, and land records. If your ancestor was of the nobility, nobility records may also prove to be a useful source.  

Church Records: Some church records date from as early as 1633. For most parishes, records are available from the early 1700s to 1895.  

Jewish Records: Jewish records date from the 1830s and 1840s through 1895, but there are often gaps. In many cases the library has only incomplete transcripts.  

Civil Registration: These records begin in October of 1895. For most civil registration districts, records are available from 1895 to the early 1900s.  

Census Records: The library has the 1828 census of land and property owners (less than 20% of the total population) available for most of the old Kingdom of Hungary. Census returns for other years are available for the following areas: • 1857 - Parts of Csanád, Esztergom, Sopron, Tolna, Vas, Zala, and Zemplén counties • 1869 - Abauj-Torna, Bars, Komárom, Nyitra, Szepes, Sáros, Zemplén and portions of Esztergom and Vas counties • 1868-1871 - Somogy county The library also has Jewish census returns of 1725-1775 and 1848 for many counties.  

Military Records: Muster rolls and qualification lists are available from the 1700s through 1915. Unless your ancestor was an officer, you must know the regiment to which the ancestor belonged in order to use these records.  

Nobility: The library has nobility documents for most of the old Kingdom of Hungary. These records date from the 1600s.