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Church records (Księgi metrykalne) are excellent sources for accurate information on names; dates; and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Virtually all Christian people who lived in Poland were recorded in a church record. Records of births, marriages, and deaths are called vital records because events in a person’s life are recorded in them. Church records, called parish records or church books, are vital records made by church officials, pastors, or priests. They include records of births and christenings, marriages, and deaths and burials. In addition, church records may include account books, confirmations, and lists of members. Church records are crucial for research in Poland. They are often the only source of family information. Here is a link to find the addresses of Catholic parishes in Poland [http://www.genpol.com/Katalog-main.html http://www.genpol.com/Katalog-main.html].  Type in the name of the town where the parish was located.  A useful website for Lutheran church information can be found at [http://www.luteranie.pl http://www.luteranie.pl].  This site will help you locate Lutheran churches which still exist today and the diocese information for the different Polish regions. Civil authorities did not begin registering vital statistics until after 1874 in the former German areas and not until after 1918 in the rest of Poland. For these later records, see the "[[Poland Civil Registration- Vital Records|Civil Registration]]" section in this outline. === General Historical Background === In general, church records in Poland have been kept since the mid-1600s, although a few parishes have records dating from the 1590s. The efficient recording of baptisms, marriages, and deaths developed slowly. Record-keeping requirements were limited at first to baptisms, marriages, and confession registers. The amount of nformation increased over time. For example, early records often failed to provide the mother’s full name. Catholics were the first to maintain church vital records, but Protestants followed soon after. Most parishes have records dating from at least the early 1700s. Sometimes Catholic parishes also kept records of people of other faiths. For more information about the churches in Poland, see the "[[Poland Church History|Church History]]" section in this outline. The following chart shows important dates concerning church record-keeping in Poland: '''1563''' The Roman Catholic council of Trent required Catholic parishes throughout Europe to record baptisms and marriages. Few Polish parishes complied until the 1590s. '''1614'''A revised church proclamation repeated the order to keep church books and added a requirement to maintain death registers. Many more parishes complied. '''1772'''First partition of Poland. Polish territory was divided between Austria, Prussia, and Russia, creating differences in record-keeping styles. More partitions in 1793 and 1795. '''1781''' The Austrian Empire recognized the religeous rights of non-Catholics with the Edict of Toleration. '''1784''' The Austrian Empire began requiring civil transcripts of church records under Catholic supervision. '''1794''' Prussia introduced civil transcripts of church records. '''1807''' Duchy of Warsaw established under jurisdiction of Napoleon’s French Empire. Expanded to the Grand Duchy of Warsaw in 1809. '''1808'''Napoleon’s civil code introduced. Civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths were to be kept in the Duchy of Warsaw written in Polish language. Catholic clergy were generally responsible for making transcripts of their church records for the state, including records of the Protestants and Jews. '''1815''' The Congress of Vienna settled the distribution of territory after the defeat of Napoleon. The borders between Russia, Prussia, and Austria were realigned. Most of the Duchy of Warsaw was awarded to Russia and designated Congress Poland or the Kingdom of Poland. Napoleonic-style civil transcripts of church records continued there. '''1827''' Revision of the civil transcript law of Congress Poland let Protestants and Jews keep their own vital records. '''1830s'''Protestants and Jews in Austria, including those of the Polish area of Galicia, were allowed to keep their own civil transcripts of vital records. The practice was standardized by 1840. '''1868'''Russian law required civil transcripts throughout Congress Poland be kept in Russian language. '''1918'''The Republic of Poland was created, reuniting Polish territory. Laws regarding keeping vital records were gradually standardized throughout the republic. === Civil Transcripts === Some Polish church records were destroyed in the wars of the 1600s. Others were destroyed as parish houses burned. In 1704, because of concerns about such destruction, some parishes began making copies of their church books. Civil transcripts were made of most church records in Poland after the 1790s. These records were a form of civil registration and included non-Catholics entries. You can use these duplicates where available to supplement parish registers that are missing or illegible. === Information Recorded in Church Registers === The information recorded in church books varies over time. The later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones. The most important church records for genealogical research are christening, marriage, and burial registers. Some church books include confirmation records. Catholic records were generally kept in Latin, Protestant records in German, Orthodox records in Russian. Greek Catholic (Uniate) records were kept in Latin, Ukrainian, or sometimes Polish. Local dialects may have affected the spelling of some names and other words in the church records. Minority groups such as Mennonites, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Orthodox Schismatics, Independents, and others often did not keep church registers unless required by law. Their birth, marriage, and death records would be with those of recognized churches, such as the Catholic or Lutheran Church, until they had to prepare their own transcripts of vital records. === Records of Birth and Baptism (akta urodzeń i chrztów) === Children were generally christened within a few days of birth. Christening registers usually give the infant’s and parents’ names, legitimacy, names of witnesses or godparents, and the christening date. You may also find the child’s birth date, father’s occupation, and the family’s place of residence. Death information has sometimes been added as a note. Earlier registers typically give less information, sometimes only the child’s and father’s names and the date of the christening. Until the 1790s the pastors of many communities failed to give the name of the mother in the birth records or may have written only her given name. Occasionally the child’s name is omitted, in which case the child was probably named after the godparent. Some Orthodox records do not even give the names of the parents. At first only the christening date was recorded, but in later years the birth date was given as well. === Marriage Intentions (zapowiedzi) === Marriage intentions (banns) were announced a few weeks before a couple planned to marry. The couple were required to announce their intentions two or three times so other community members could raise any objections to the marriage. This was a requirement in Poland probably since the time marriage records were first kept. Marriage registers sometimes give the two or three dates on which the marriage intentions were announced in addition to the marriage date. === Marriage Records (akta małżóeństw) === Marriage registers give the date of the marriage and the names of the bride and groom. They also indicate whether they were single or widowed and give the names of witnesses. They often include other information about the bride and groom such as their ages, residences, occupations, names of parents, and sometimes birthplaces. In cases of second and later marriages, they may include the names of previous partners and their death dates. Early marriage records give little information about the couples’ parents. In most cases before the beginning of the 19th century, marriage registers recorded only the names of the bride’s parents. Some later marriage registers give the birthplaces of the groom and bride. Couples were often married in the home parish of the bride. === Records of Deaths and Burials (akta zgonów i pogrzebów) === Burials were recorded in the church record of the parish where the person was buried. The burial usually took place within a few days of the death. Burial registers give the name of the deceased person and the date and place of death or burial. Often the age, place of residence, cause of death, and names of survivors are given. Occasionally the date and place of birth and the parents’ names are included. Early death registers usually do not indicate the date and place of birth. The birth date and place of the deceased person and information about parents in a burial record may not be accurate. Burial records may exist for individuals who were born before birth and marriage records were kept. Burial records often start later than christening and marriage records of the same parish. === Locating Church Records === Original Catholic records are usually found in individual parish or diocesan archives. Protestant records are often in state archives; some are in the possession of Evangelical Church archives or officials. Civil transcripts are generally kept in the local civil registration offices (Urzd Stanu Ciwilnego) for 100 years; then they are transferred to state archives. To use church records, you must know the town and religion of your ancestor. You must also determine the parish that your ancestor’s town belonged to so that you will know which parish registers to search. Your ancestor may have lived in village that was part of a parish located in a nearby larger town. Over time, some villages may have belonged to more than one parish as jurisdictions changed. Some gazetteers indicate parish jurisdictions. For help identifying parish boundaries, see the "[[Poland Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]" and "[[Poland Maps|Maps]]" sections in this outline and the following section on church record inventories. The town where the church building was located is considered the parish headquarters. Although the church building was often named for a saint, the Family History Library Catalog refers to a parish by the name of the town where the parish church was located. In large cities where there may be many parishes for each religion, the catalog uses the parish name (such as St. John) to distinguish records of different parishes. === Church Record Inventories === An inventory lists available church records, their location, and what years they cover. Sometimes they include information on which parishes served which towns at different periods of time. For example, the village of Kuzie may have belonged to the parish in Nowogród before 1743 and to the parish in Ma»y P»ock after that date. See also the "[[Poland Church Directories|Church Directories]]" section in this outline. Church record inventories are available for some areas in Poland, and the Family History Library has copies of several of these for different counties and provinces. For areas of Poland that were formerly part of Prussia, the library has created the following inventories showing which records are included and not included in the library’s collection: *Pomerania (FHL book 943.81 D27b.) *Posen (FHL book 943.84 D27b.) *Silesia (FHL book 943.85 D27b.) *West Prussia (FHL book 943.82 D27b.) Many other inventories and lists of archive holdings for Poland are available at the Family History Library. Inventories of church records are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under: POLAND - CHURCH RECORDS INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS POLAND, (COUNTY) - CHURCH RECORDS INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS === Records at the Family History Library === The Family History Library has church records on microfilm from many parishes throughout Poland, some to 1875, some to the 1880s, and some as late as the 1960s. The library does not have copies of records that were destroyed, have not been microfilmed, or are restricted from public access by the archivist or by law. The specific holdings are listed in the Place section of the Family History Library Catalog. Look in the catalog under the name of the town where the parish was, not necessarily the town where your ancestor lived: POLAND, (COUNTY), (TOWN) - CHURCH RECORDS New records are continually added to the library’s collection from several sources. Do not give up if records are not available yet. Check the Family History Library Catalog every two or three years for the records you need. === Records Not at the Family History Library === Although the Family History Library is a convenient way to access records, sometimes the records you need are not available. You can often obtain needed information in other ways. Poland has no single repository of church records. The present location of records depends on nationality, religion, and local history. Church records are available at: *'''Local parishes.''' Most Catholic church records are still maintained by the parish, which will generally answer correspondence in Polish. You can write directly to the parish with a nonspecific address (Catholic parish, Town name with postal code, Poland), but using the specific parish address is better. For specific addresses, consult a church directory (see the "[[Poland Church Directories|Church Directories]]" section in this outline). If the records you need have been moved to a diocese or state archive, your request may be forwarded to that archive. *'''Diocese archives.''' Some parish registers are collected in diocesan archives. Generally the very old records (before 1800) are in diocesan archives. Some dioceses have parishes archive their records after 100 years. Protestants also maintain church archives, although their records are likely to be in a state archive. Church archives are often unable to handle genealogical requests, but they can tell you if specific records are available. *'''State archives.''' Many parish records and transcripts are in state archives. Most of these records have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library. For more recent records and for those not yet microfilmed, write to the Directorate of the State Archives and request searches of the records. See the [[Poland Archives and Libraries|"Archives and Libraries]]" section in this outline for that address. *'''Civil registration offices.''' Transcripts (copies) and sometimes originals of church records or Jewish records may be deposited in local civil registration offices. These are generally sent to state archives after 100 years. See the "[[Poland Civil Registration- Vital Records|Civil Registration]]" section in this outline. The Family History Library has microfilmed records at state archives and in the diocesan archives of several dioceses. The library is continuing to acquire film copies of additional records. This is a major ongoing project. Baptism, marriage, and burial records may be found by contacting or visiting local parishes or archives in Poland. Write your request in Polish whenever possible. Information about how to write to local parishes in Poland is given in [[Poland Letter Writing Guide|Poland Letter Writing Guide]]. In your letter include the following: *Full name and the sex of the person sought. *Names of the parents, if known. *Approximate date and place of the event. *Your relationship to the person. *Reason for the request (family history, medical, and so on). *Request for a photocopy of the complete original record. *International Reply Coupons, available from your local post office. C Money for the search fee (usually about U.S. $10.00 or equivalent in Polish currency). If your request is unsuccessful, write for duplicate records that may have been filed in other archives or in civil registration offices. === Search Strategies === Effective use of church records includes the following strategies: #Search for the relative or ancestor you have selected. When you find the ancestor’s birth record, search for the birth records of brothers and sisters. #Search for the marriage of the ancestor’s parents. The marriage record will often give clues for locating their birth records. #Estimate the ages of the parents and search for their birth records, repeating the process for both the father and mother. #If earlier generations are not in the parish records, search the records of neighboring parishes. #Search the death registers for all family members. # [[Category:Poland]]
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''For information about records for non-Christian religions in Poland, go to the [[Poland Religious Records|Religious Records]] page.''
==Definition ==
 
Church records (Księgi metrykalne), called parish records or church books, are vital records made by church officials, pastors, or priests. They include records of births and christenings, marriages, and deaths and burials. In addition, church records may include account books, confirmations, and lists of members. Virtually all Christian people who lived in Poland were recorded in a church record.
 
== Time Coverage==
*In general, church records in Poland have been kept since the mid-1600s, although a few parishes have records dating from about 1548. Most parishes have records dating from at least the early 1700s.  
*Catholics were the first to maintain church vital records, but Protestants followed soon after.
 
== Civil Transcripts  of Church Records==
In 1704, because of concerns about destruction, some parishes began making copies of their church books. Civil transcripts were made of most church records in Poland after the 1790s. These records were a form of civil registration and included non-Catholics entries. You can use these duplicates where available to supplement parish registers that are missing or illegible.
===In the Austrian Partition (1784-1918)===
Austria took possession of the southern part of Poland in 1772. Austria introduced laws in 1782 establishing Catholic priests as civil registrars. Then, in 1784, an edict by the emperor Joseph II required the Catholic clergy to make civil transcripts of church records. Catholic parish registers were designated as state records and a standardized Latin columnar form was issued. The parish register thus became the official register of births, marriages, and deaths. A transcript (duplicate) was made for state purposes. Separate registers were required for each village in the parish. Greek-Catholic and Roman-Catholic clergy were responsible for the registration of all vital records for all religions; Protestants were permitted to keep their own registers under the direction of the Catholic priest. Jews were allowed the same privilege in 1789. In the mid 1800s non-Catholics, including Jews and Protestants, were made responsible for their own vital records transcripts.
 
===in the Russian Partition (1808-1918)===
Napoleon established the Duchy of Warsaw in 1806. The French Empire introduced a system of civil transcripts under the control of the Catholic clergy. Most of the Duchy of Warsaw came under Russian administration after 1815. The Napoleonic practice of civil transcripts continued in areas governed by Russia until the creation of the new Polish Republic in 1918.
Catholic clergy were responsible for recording all births, marriages, and deaths until 1826, when the non-Catholic community was allowed to keep its own separate official registers. After 1826, clergy of other religions (Evangelical, Orthodox, Jewish) were required to maintain civil transcripts of their church record. These records, then, are essentially civil transcripts of the various denominational registers, except in the case of Jews where these civil records were usually the only record kept. The early records were kept in Polish, but usually in Russian from 1868.
 
===In Prussian Poland (1794-1874)===
Prussia gained a sizable portion of Poland until the settlement of the Napoleonic wars in 1815 reduced Prussia’s share of Poland. Church registration of births, marriages, and deaths was mandatory by Prussian law from the 1794-1874.  Clergy were required to make exact records of births, marriages, and deaths. For civil purposes the Prussian government required transcripts (duplicates) of the church record which were to be sent to local courts. In 1808 the practice was reinforced and expanded. In accordance with this law, Mennonites, Jews, and others who did not keep christening registers had their births, deaths, and marriages recorded by the Lutheran minister. The practice of civil transcripts was replaced by actual civil registration in 1874.
 
== Information Recorded in Church Registers  ==
The most important church records for genealogical research are christening, marriage, and burial registers. Some church books include confirmation records. The later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones. Catholic records were generally kept in Latin, Protestant records in German, Orthodox records in Russian. Greek Catholic (Uniate) records were kept in Latin, Ukrainian, or sometimes Polish. Birth, marriage, and death records of minority groups such as Mennonites, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Orthodox Schismatics, Independents, and others would be with those of recognized churches, such as the Catholic or Lutheran Church, until they had to prepare their own transcripts of vital records.
 
=== Records of Birth and Baptism  (akta urodzeń i chrztów)===
Children were generally christened within a few days of birth. Christening registers usually give:
*the infant’s and parents’ names,
*legitimacy,
*names of witnesses or godparents,  
*and the christening date.  
You may also find:
*the child’s birth date,
*father’s occupation, and
*the family’s place of residence.  
Death information has sometimes been added as a note. Until the 1790s the pastors of many communities failed to give the name of the mother in the birth records or may have written only her given name.  
=== Marriage Intentions  (zapowiedź ) ===
Marriage intentions (banns) were announced a few weeks before a couple planned to marry. The couple were required to announce their intentions two or three times so other community members could raise any objections to the marriage. Marriage registers sometimes give the two or three dates on which the marriage intentions were announced in addition to the marriage date.  
 
=== Marriage Records (akta małżeństwo) ===
 
Marriage registers give:
*the date of the marriage
*the names of the bride and groom.  
*whether they were single or widowed
*the names of witnesses.
They often include other information about the bride and groom such as:
*their ages,  
*residences,  
*occupations,
*names of parents, and  
*sometimes birthplaces.  
In cases of second and later marriages, they may include:
*the names of previous partners and  
*their death dates.
Early marriage records give little information about the couples’ parents. In most cases before the beginning of the 19th century, marriage registers recorded only the names of the bride’s parents. Some later marriage registers give the birthplaces of the groom and bride. Couples were often married in the home parish of the bride.
 
=== Records of Deaths and Burials (akta zgonów i pogrzebów) ===
Burials were recorded in the church record of the parish where the person was buried. The burial usually took place within a few days of the death. Burial registers give:
*the name of the deceased person and  
*the date and place of death or burial
*the age,
*place of residence,  
*cause of death, and  
*names of survivors are given.
Occasionally included are:
*the date and place of birth and
*the parents’ names  
Early death registers usually do not indicate the date and place of birth. The birth date and place of the deceased person and information about parents in a burial record may not be accurate. Burial records may exist for individuals who were born before birth and marriage records were kept. Burial records often start later than christening and marriage records of the same parish.
 
== Locating Church Records  ==
*Original Catholic records are usually found in individual parish or diocesan archives.  
*Protestant records are often in state archives; some are in the possession of Evangelical Church archives or officials.  
*Civil transcripts are generally kept in the local civil registration offices (Urząd Stanu Ciwilnego) for 100 years; then they are transferred to state archives.  
===Determining the Parish===
To use church records, you must know the town and religion of your ancestor. You must also determine the parish that your ancestor’s town belonged to so that you will know which parish registers to search. Your ancestor may have lived in village that was part of a parish located in a nearby larger town. Over time, some villages may have belonged to more than one parish as jurisdictions changed.
*Use [http://Kartenmeister.com '''Kartenmeister'''] to find the Polish and German province, county, Catholic parish, Lutheran parish, and Standesamt (civil registration office), if the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Prussia.
*Use [http://www.meyersgaz.org '''Meyer's 1871 Gazetteer Online'''] to find information on towns in the area of Poland once controlled by Prussia. Click on the "Map" option to see the 1871 map of the town inits region with parishes indicated, and the current Google map.
*If the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Russia or Austria, look it up in [http://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/docmetadata?id=12786&from=publication '''Skorowidz Gazetteer Online'''] to find the parishes of various religions. Here are the [[Media:1-Skorowidz_Online-Instruction.pdf|'''instructions'''.]] Use the second option, "Viewing anywhere via the Digital Library of Wielkopolska".<br>
 
===Finding Aids  ===
Poland  finding aids have been created by a variety of state, church, society, and private organizations.  Their goal is to inform what records exist and the repositories that hold them. Each finding aid has a different focus--a particular religion or geographical area or archive or collection.  Be sure to search all that apply to your ancestors. Remember that churches often produced civil registration records. The church records might have been destroyed, but copies had been sent to the government and still exist. So we search for both church records and civil registration records.
 
*[http://szukajwarchiwach.pl/ '''Szukaj w Archiwach''' ] Search page for church records and civil registration at the National Archives. Links directly to scans.
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1927187&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Poland%22 '''FamilySearch Catalog for Poland''']  Microfilms (all will eventually be digitized, many are now) of the FamilySearch records.
*[https://www.sggee.org/research/parishes/church_parishes/LutheransInRusPoland.html '''Lutheran Records in Russian Poland''']  Church records inventory with links to scans held at various repositories.
*[[Baptist Church Records in Poland|'''Baptist Church Records in Poland''']]
*[https://www.sggee.org/research/parishes/church_parishes/BaptistInRusPoland.html '''Baptist Records in Russian Poland''']
*[https://www.parafie.genealodzy.pl/ '''Parafie.genealodzy.pl'''], Parish inventory, address list of current parishes.
*[https://agoff.de/?p=714 '''AGOFF,'''] an organization dedicated to finding missing records of Prussia.
*[http://www.christoph-www.de/kbsilesia2.html '''Silesia Findbuch,''']  Comprehensive list of Silesian church records by parish, their location, and links to online records
*[http://westpreussen.de/pages/forschungshilfen/kirchenbuecher.php '''Family Research in West Prussia, Inventory of Church Records,'''] listed by county (kreis), find the kreis for your town in Meyers 1871 Gazetteer.
*[http://westpreussen.de/pages/forschungshilfen/standesamtsregister.php '''Family Research in West Prussia, Inventory of Civil Registration Records,'''] organized by county (kreis). Find the kreis in Meyer's 1871 Gazetteer.
* [http://www.ptg.gda.pl/index.php/certificate/action/main/ '''PTG (Pomorskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne)''']  Online indexes to birth, marriage and death records for the Pomeranian area.
* '''Pommerscher Greif e. V.,''' Association for Pomeranian Family and Local History. 
**[https://www.pommerscher-greif.de/kirchenbuch-online-qdb.html '''Finding aid tool for church records''']
**[https://www.pommerscher-greif.de/standesamt-online-qdb.html '''Finding aid tool for civil registration''']
*[http://www.przemysl.ap.gov.pl/skany/ '''Archiwum Państwowe w Przemyślu''',] for the Przemyśl region of Subcarpathia, searchable by name and localities, with links to scans.
*[https://www.genealogiawarchiwach.pl/ '''Genealogia w Archiwach''',] Torun and Bydgoszcz State Archives, mostly in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian area.
*[http://www.agad.gov.pl/inwentarze/testy.html '''BaSia''',] indexing for  Greater Poland and Kuyavian-Pomeranian
*[http://regestry.lubgens.eu/news.php '''Lubgens''',] searchable database and finding aid for Lublin voivodeship.
*[http://www.agad.gov.pl/inwentarze/testy.html '''AGAD (Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie)''',] parish inventory for Warsaw, Lublin and Subcarpathian.
*[https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Geneteka_database '''Geneteka''']
 
====Catholic Diocese Parish Inventories====
(Numbers match diocese map below.)
{|
|-
| style="vertical-align:top; padding-left:30px; padding-right:10px"|
2. [http://drohiczynska.pl/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Ogolna_informacja_o_zasobie_Archiwum_Diecezjalnego_w_Drohiczynie.pdf  '''Drohiczyn Diocese''']<br>
7. [[Media: Parish Registers at Tarnow Diocese Archives.pdf|'''Tarnow Diocese''']]<br>
8. [http://www.aacz.czestochowa.pl/art.php?id=1477330253,1477330290&langu=pl '''Częstochowa Archdiocese''']<br>
9. {{RecordSearch|1407440|'''Radom Diocese'''}}<br>
11. [http://westpreussen.de/pages/westpreussen/katholische-kirche.php '''Gdańsk Archdiocese''']<br>
12. [http://www.diecezja-pelplin.pl/instytucje/archiwum-diecezjalne  '''Pelplin Diocese'''] [http://westpreussen.de/pages/westpreussen/katholische-kirche.php '''Another list''']<br>
15. [http://westpreussen.de/pages/westpreussen/katholische-kirche.php '''Bydgoszcz Diocese''']<br>
16. [http://serwer1766985.home.pl/strona/index.html '''Włocławek Diocese'''] <br>
:Click on "Katalog". <br>
:Click on "Akta dekanalne i parafialne". <br>
:Click on "Akta parafialne".<br>
:Click on "Księgi metrykalne".<br>
|style="vertical-align:top;  padding-right:10px"|
17. [https://archiwum.archidiecezjakatowicka.pl/en/index '''Katowice Archdiocese''']
[https://archiwum.archidiecezjakatowicka.pl/en/metrics '''Clickable map''' ]<br>
18. [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2114433?availability=Online '''Gliwice Diocese''']<br>
21. [http://adlowicz.wixsite.com/archiwum/lista-zdigitalizowanych-parafii '''Łowicz Diocese''']<br>
22. [http://regestry.lubgens.eu/news.php '''Lublin Archdiocese''']<br>
23. [[Media:Sandomierz Diocese Parish Registers at Tarnow Diocese Archives.pdf|'''Sandomierz Diocese''']]<br>
25. [https://aap.poznan.pl/en/archive/ '''Poznań Archdiocese''']<br>
28.[[Media:Parish Registers of Rzeszow Diocese at Tarnow Diocese Archives .pdf|'''Rzeszów Diocese''']]<br>
30. [http://www.archiwum.szczecin.pl/?id=28 '''Szczecin-Kamień Archdiocese''']<br>
31. [http://www.archiwum.koszalin.opoka.org.pl/ksiegi.html '''Koszalin-Kołobrzeg Diocese''']<br>
32. [http://www.archiwum.diecezjazg.pl/index.php/zasoby-archiwalne/ '''Zielona Góra-Gorzów Diocese''']<br>
34. [http://diecezja.elblag.pl/instytucje/archiwum-diecezji-elblaskiej/ '''Elbląg Diocese''']<br>
35. [http://diecezjaelk.pl/parafie/ '''Ełk Diocese''']<br>
36. [https://web.archive.org/web/20191029095305/http://archiwum.mkw.pl/zasoby/Ad.2%20(12).pdf '''Warsaw Archdiocese''']<br>
37. [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/713285 '''Płock Diocese''']<br>
|}
 
==Online Searchable Databases  ==
*[http://geneteka.genealodzy.pl/ '''Geneteka''']
*[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60132 '''Poland, Roman Catholic Church Books Index, 1742-1964'''], index($)
 
*[https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Poland/ '''JewishGen Poland Database''']

*[http://jri-poland.org/ '''Jewish Records Indexing-Poland''']
====Ancestry.com====
*[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60749&geo_a=r&o_iid=41022&o_lid=41022&o_sch=Web+Property '''Eastern Prussian Provinces, Germany (Poland), Selected Civil Vitals, 1874-1945,'''] index and images, incomplete. ($)
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9950 '''Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg and Posen, Select Church Book Duplicates, 1794-1874,'''] index($).

*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2116 '''Brandenburg, Germany, Transcripts of Church Records, 1700-1874,'''] index & images ($).
===Online Indexed Records===
====FamilySearch Historical Records====
*'''1568-1990''' {{RecordSearch|4135958|'''Poland, Church Books, 1568-1990'''}} at FamilySearch - [[Poland, Church Books - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1784-1964''' {{RecordSearch|1867931|'''Poland, Lublin Roman Catholic Church Books, 1784-1964,'''}} images and index.
*'''1587-1966''' {{RecordSearch|1407440|'''Poland, Radom Roman Catholic Church Books, 1587-1966'''}} at FamilySearch — index and images
*'''1612-1900''' {{RecordSearch|1985025|'''Poland, Tarnow Roman Catholic Diocese Church Books, 1612-1900,'''}} images and index.
*'''1794-1874''' {{RecordSearch|1491272|'''Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg and Posen, Church Book Duplicates, 1794-1874,'''}} index and images.
*'''1544-1945''' {{RecordSearch|1874205|'''Germany, Prussia, Pomerania Church Records, 1544-1945,'''}} index and images
 
====Regional Databases====
*[http://www.przemysl.ap.gov.pl/skany/ '''Archiwum Państwowe w Przemyślu'''] for the Przemyśl region of Subcarpathia, searchable by name and localities, with links to scans.
*[http://www.mikeburger.com/rzeszow.html '''Search Rzeszów Vital Records''']
*[http://regestry.lubgens.eu/news.php '''Lubgens''',] searchable database for Lublin voivodeship.
*[http://www.agad.gov.pl/inwentarze/testy.html '''BaSia''',] indexing for  Greater Poland and Kuyavian-Pomeranian 
*[http://e-kartoteka.net/pl/ '''Archiwum Państwowe w Poznaniu Census database 1870-1931''']
*[http://bindweed.man.poznan.pl/posen/project.php '''Poznań Marriage Indexing Project''']. Marriage records from the entire Duchy of Poznań (Posen).
*[http://www.ptg.gda.pl/index.php/certificate/action/main/ '''PTG (Pomorskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne)''']  Online indexes to birth, marriage and death records for the Pomeranian area.
*[http://siliusradicum.pl/indeksy-metryk/ '''Upper Silesian Genealogical Society ''']
 
===Online Browsable Images Databases===
*[https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl '''Szukaj w Archiwach''']; [[Media:1-Polish_State_Archives-Instruction.pdf|'''Tutorial''']] - The Polish Archives
*[https://www.archion.de/de/suche/ '''Archion: Evangelical Central Archives in Berlin''']  ($), records for former Prussian localities, browsable image
**[https://www.archion.de/de/browse/#https://www.archion.de/de/browse/&path=3 '''Browse''']
**[https://www.archion.de/de/suche/ '''Search''']
*'''1700-2005''' - {{RecordSearch|2564996|'''Poland, Evangelical Church Books, 1700-2005,'''}} images, no index.
*[http://www.szczecin.ap.gov.pl/ '''National Archives in Stettin'''] [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/8/84/Stettin_tutorial_update2.pdf Tutorial]
*[http://metryki.genealodzy.pl/ '''Metryki Genealodzy Roman Catholic Records''']
*[http://metryki.genbaza.pl/en '''Metryki GenBaza''']
*[http://www.przemysl.ap.gov.pl/skany/ '''Archiwum Państwowe w Przemyślu''',] for the Przemyśl region of Subcarpathia, searchable by name and localities, with links to scans.
*[http://www.agad.gov.pl/inwentarze/testy.html '''AGAD (Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie)''',] parish inventory for Warsaw, Lublin and Subcarpathian.
*[http://www.ank.gov.pl/zasob-i-udostepnianie/informacje-o-archiwaliach/zbiory-online&usg=ALkJrhiz3eS6pgp4cj50rPg9uI5TtpKxTQ '''National archives in Krakow''']
*[http://olsztyn.ap.gov.pl/baza/szukaj.php '''Archiwum Państwowe w Olsztynie''']
*[http://www.archeion.net/atom/index.php/;digitalobject/browse?mediatype=137 '''Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu''']
*[http://www.szczecin.ap.gov.pl/iCmsModuleArchPublic/showDocuments?show_on_page=50 '''Archiwum Państwowe w Szczecinie''']
*[http://data.matricula-online.eu/en/polen/breslau/ '''Matricula'''] Breslau is now Wrocław
*‘’’1226-1950’’’ - {{RecordSearch|2115410|'''Poland, Częstochowa Roman Catholic Church Books, 1226-1950'''}} images, no index.
*[http://www.pommerscher-greif.de '''Pommerscher Greif e. V., Association for Pomeranian Family and Local History'''].
::Go to Forschung > Famillienforschung > Standesamt online or Kirchenbuch online > Find your Kreis >Parish
 
=== Records at the FamilySearch Library  ===
 
The FamilySearch Library has church records on microfilm from many parishes throughout Poland, some to 1875, some to the 1880s, and some as late as the 1960s. Look in the catalog under the name of the town where the parish was, not necessarily the town where your ancestor lived: POLAND, (COUNTY), (TOWN) - CHURCH RECORDS New records are continually added to the library’s collection from several sources. Do not give up if records are not available yet. Check the FamilySearch Catalog every two or three years for the records you need.
==Writing for Records==
===Local Parishes===
Most Catholic church records are still maintained by the parish, which will generally answer correspondence in Polish. You can write directly to the parish with a nonspecific address (Catholic parish, Town name with postal code, Poland), but using the specific parish address is better.  If the records you need have been moved to a diocese or state archive, your request may be forwarded to that archive.
====Parish Addresses====
*[http://www.thecatholicdirectory.com/directory.cfm?fuseaction=show_country&country=PL  '''The Catholic Directory, Poland''']
*[http://www.luteranie.pl/kontakt.html# '''Luteranie.pl''']: Polish Evangelical website with all current diocese addresses and individual parishes and email addresses. Many Lutheran parishes that existed before the 1918/1945 boundary changes no longer exist. Some of their records are in the diocese archives, and some were sent to [https://www.archion.de/de/browse/#https://www.archion.de/de/browse/&path=3 Archion: Evangelical Central Archives in Berlin.]
====How to Write the Letter====
Write your request in Polish whenever possible. Information about how to write to local parishes in Poland is given in [[Poland Letter Writing Guide|Poland Letter Writing Guide]].
 
===Diocese Archives===
Some parish registers are collected in diocesan archives. Generally the very old records (before 1800) are in diocesan archives. Some dioceses have parishes archive their records after 100 years. Protestants also maintain church archives, although their records are likely to be in a state archive. Church archives are often unable to handle genealogical requests, but they can tell you if specific records are available.
*See [[Media:Catholic_Vital_Records_of_Galicia-Halychyna_by_Matthew_R._Bielawa.pdf|Catholic Vital Records of Galicia/Halychyna]]
 
 
====Major Religious Dioceses====
 
{|
|-
|
*'''Use [http://www.thecatholicdirectory.com/directory.cfm?fuseaction=show_country&country=PL  ''The Catholic Directory, Poland''] '''<br>'''to find the parish and diocese for your town.'''<br>
[[File:800px-CatholicDiocesesPoland2004Numbered.svg.png|400px]]
|style="padding-left:50px"|
'''Lutheran Dioceses: Use [http://www.luteranie.pl/o_kosciele.html ''Luteranie.pl''] to find the diocese and parish for your town.'''<br>
[[File:Screen Shot 2018-04-04 at 00.41.13.png|400px]]
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|}
=====Catholic Dioceses=====
'''Catholic Diocese names are clickable to lists of parish records held by the archive.'''<br>
{|
|-
| style="vertical-align:top; padding-left:30px; padding-right:10px"|
1. Białystok Archdiocese <br>
2. [http://drohiczynska.pl/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Ogolna_informacja_o_zasobie_Archiwum_Diecezjalnego_w_Drohiczynie.pdf  '''Drohiczyn Diocese''']<br>
3. Łomża Diocese<br>
4. [https://archiwum.diecezja.pl/kopie-ksiag-metrykalnych/ '''Kraków Archdiocese''']<br>
5. Bielsko–Żywiec Diocese<br>
6. Kielce Diocese<br>
7. [[Media: Parish Registers at Tarnow Diocese Archives.pdf|'''Tarnow Diocese''']]<br>
8. [http://www.aacz.czestochowa.pl/art.php?id=1477330253,1477330290&langu=pl '''Częstochowa Archdiocese''']<br>
9. {{RecordSearch|1407440|'''Radom Diocese'''}}<br>
10. Sosnowiec Diocese<br>
11. [http://westpreussen.de/pages/westpreussen/katholische-kirche.php '''Gdańsk Archdiocese''']<br>
12. [http://www.diecezja-pelplin.pl/instytucje/archiwum-diecezjalne  '''Pelplin Diocese'''] [http://westpreussen.de/pages/westpreussen/katholische-kirche.php '''Another list''']<br>
13. Toruń Diocese<br>
14. Gniezno Archdiocese<br>
15. [http://westpreussen.de/pages/westpreussen/katholische-kirche.php '''Bydgoszcz Diocese''']<br>
16. [http://serwer1766985.home.pl/strona/index.html '''Włocławek Diocese'''] <br>
:Click on "Katalog". <br>
:Click on "Akta dekanalne i parafialne". <br>
:Click on "Akta parafialne".<br>
:Click on "Księgi metrykalne".
<br>
17. [https://archiwum.archidiecezjakatowicka.pl/en/index '''Katowice Archdiocese''']
[https://archiwum.archidiecezjakatowicka.pl/en/metrics '''Clickable map''' ]
<br>
|style="vertical-align:top;  padding-right:10px"|
18. [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2114433?availability=Online '''Gliwice Diocese''']<br>
19. Opole Diocese<br>
20. Łódź Archdiocese<br>
21. [http://adlowicz.wixsite.com/archiwum/lista-zdigitalizowanych-parafii '''Łowicz Diocese''']<br>
22. [http://regestry.lubgens.eu/news.php '''Lublin Archdiocese''']<br>
23. [[Media:Sandomierz Diocese Parish Registers at Tarnow Diocese Archives.pdf|'''Sandomierz Diocese''']]<br>
24. Siedlce Diocese<br>
25. [https://aap.poznan.pl/en/archive/ '''Poznań Archdiocese''']<br>
26. Kalisz Diocese<br>
27. Przemyś Archdiocese<br>
28. [[Media:Parish Registers of Rzeszow Diocese at Tarnow Diocese Archives .pdf|'''Rzeszów Diocese''']]<br>
29. Zamość-Lubaczów Diocese<br>
30. [http://www.archiwum.szczecin.pl/?id=28 '''Szczecin-Kamień Archdiocese''']<br>
31. [http://www.archiwum.koszalin.opoka.org.pl/ksiegi.html '''Koszalin-Kołobrzeg Diocese''']<br>
32. [http://www.archiwum.diecezjazg.pl/index.php/zasoby-archiwalne/ '''Zielona Góra-Gorzów Diocese''']<br>
33. Warmia Archdiocese<br>
34. [http://diecezja.elblag.pl/instytucje/archiwum-diecezji-elblaskiej/ '''Elbląg Diocese''']<br>
35. [http://diecezjaelk.pl/parafie/ '''Ełk Diocese''']<br>
36. [http://archiwum.mkw.pl/zasoby/Ad.2%20(12).pdf '''Warsaw Archdiocese''']<br>
37. [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/713285 '''Płock Diocese''']<br>
38. Warsaw-Praga Diocese<br>
39. Wrocław Archdiocese<br>
40. Legnica Diocese<br>
41. Świdnica Diocese<br>
 
|}
 
====Catholic Archives Addresses====
*Catholic Church Archives Bialystok
*Archives of Archives in Białystok, 15-087 Białystok, ul. Kościelna 1
*Częstochowa: Archdiocesan Archives in Częstochowa, 42-200 Częstochowa, Al. Sacred. Virgin Mary 54
::Old Records (prior to 1945): ul. Saint Barbara's 41
*Drohiczyn: Diocesan Archives in Drohiczyn, 17-312 Drohiczyn n. Bug, ul. Church 10
*Gdańsk: Archdiocesan Archives in Gdańsk, 80-330 Gdańsk-Oliwa, ul. Cystersów 15
*Gniezno: Archdiocesan Archives in Gniezno, 62-200 Gniezno, Cathedral
*Katowice: Archdiocesan Archives in Katowice, 40-043 Katowice, ul. Wita Stwosza 16
*Kielce: Archive of the Kielce Diocese, 25-013 Kielce, ul. Jana Pawła II 3
*Krakow: Archives of the Metropolitan Curia in Kraków, 31-004 Kraków, ul. Franciszkańska 3
*Lubaczów: Archdiocesan Archives in Lubaczów, 37-600 Lubaczów, ul. Mickiewicza 85
*Lublin: Archdiocesan Archives in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, ul. Prym. Wyszyńskiego 2
*Łódż: Diocesan Archives in Łódż , 90-458 Ł ódż, ul. Ks. Shells 1
*Łomża: Diocesan Archives in Łomża, 18-400 Łżża, ul. Sadowa 3
*Olsztyn ( Warmiński): Archives of the Diocese of Warmińska, 10-512 Olsztyn, ul. Copernicus 47
*Opole: Diocesan Archives in Opole, 45-032 Opole, ul. Cardinal Kominek 1
*Pelplin: Diocesan Archives in Pelplin, 83-130 Pelplin, ul. Bishop K. Dominika 11
*Płock: Diocesan Archives in Płock, 09-400 Płock, ul. Abpa AJ Nowowiejskiego 2
*Poznań: Archdiocesan Archives in Poznań, 61-108 Poznań 22, ul. Lubrański 1
*Przemyśl: Metropolitan Archives in Przemyśl, 37-700 Przemyśl, pl. Cathedral 4a
*Sandomierz: Diocesan Archives in Sandomierz, 27-600 Sandomierz, ul. Siennial 2
*Siedlce: Diocesan Archives in Siedlce, 08-100 Siedlce, ul. Piłsudskiego 62
*Szczecin: Archives of the Szczecin-Kamieńska Diocese, 72-400 Kamień Pomorski, pl. Cathedral 8
*Tarnów: Diocesan Archives in Tarnów, 33-100 Tarnów, ul. Katedralna 3
*Warsaw: Archidieczjalne Archives in Warsaw, 00-278 Warsaw, ul. Kanonia 6
**Archives of the Metropolitan Curia in Warsaw, 00-246 Warsaw, ul. Midowa 17/19
*Włocławek: Diocesan Archives in Włocławek, 87-800 Włocławek, ul. Gdańska 2/4
*Wrocław: Archdiocesan Archives in Wrocław, 50-328 Wrocław, ul. Kanonia 12
*Zielona Góra: Diocesan Archives in Zielona Góra, 65-075 Zielona Góra, pl. Powstańców Wielkopolskich 1
 
===State Archives===
Many parish records and transcripts are in state archives.
 
*[https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/ Szukaj w Archiwach]  This website can be searched by location (town or parish).  It will then tell you which archives hold what records for the location. On the entry for the records you want, click on "More" at the far right, and it will give you the contact information for the archive.
 
===Civil Registration Offices===
Transcripts (copies) and sometimes originals of church records or Jewish records may be deposited in local civil registration offices. These are generally sent to state archives after 100 years. See [[Poland Civil Registration]].
 
==Greek Catholic Church Records==
[[File:Greek Catholic Church in Poland.jpg|300px|thumb|right|<center>Greek Catholic Church in Poland</center>]]
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==Orthodox Church Records==
[[File:Dioceses of Orthodox Church in Poland.png|300px|thumb|right|<center>Dioceses of Orthodox Church in Poland</center>]]
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== Search Strategies  ==
 
Effective use of church records includes the following strategies:
 
*Search for the relative or ancestor you have selected. When you find the ancestor’s birth record, search for the birth records of brothers and sisters.
*Search for the marriage of the ancestor’s parents. The marriage record will often give clues for locating their birth records.
*Estimate the ages of the parents and search for their birth records, repeating the process for both the father and mother.
*If earlier generations are not in the parish records, search the records of neighboring parishes.
*Search the death registers for all known family members.
*Many genealogical societies have the resources to help you find parish information when all the usual sources fail. A good society is worth the membership fee for the support it can offer you.
 
 
 
[[Category:Poland Church Records]][[Category:Church Records by Country]]

Latest revision as of 18:01, 21 May 2024


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For information about records for non-Christian religions in Poland, go to the Religious Records page.

Definition

Church records (Księgi metrykalne), called parish records or church books, are vital records made by church officials, pastors, or priests. They include records of births and christenings, marriages, and deaths and burials. In addition, church records may include account books, confirmations, and lists of members. Virtually all Christian people who lived in Poland were recorded in a church record.

Time Coverage

  • In general, church records in Poland have been kept since the mid-1600s, although a few parishes have records dating from about 1548. Most parishes have records dating from at least the early 1700s.
  • Catholics were the first to maintain church vital records, but Protestants followed soon after.

Civil Transcripts of Church Records

In 1704, because of concerns about destruction, some parishes began making copies of their church books. Civil transcripts were made of most church records in Poland after the 1790s. These records were a form of civil registration and included non-Catholics entries. You can use these duplicates where available to supplement parish registers that are missing or illegible.

In the Austrian Partition (1784-1918)

Austria took possession of the southern part of Poland in 1772. Austria introduced laws in 1782 establishing Catholic priests as civil registrars. Then, in 1784, an edict by the emperor Joseph II required the Catholic clergy to make civil transcripts of church records. Catholic parish registers were designated as state records and a standardized Latin columnar form was issued. The parish register thus became the official register of births, marriages, and deaths. A transcript (duplicate) was made for state purposes. Separate registers were required for each village in the parish. Greek-Catholic and Roman-Catholic clergy were responsible for the registration of all vital records for all religions; Protestants were permitted to keep their own registers under the direction of the Catholic priest. Jews were allowed the same privilege in 1789. In the mid 1800s non-Catholics, including Jews and Protestants, were made responsible for their own vital records transcripts.

in the Russian Partition (1808-1918)

Napoleon established the Duchy of Warsaw in 1806. The French Empire introduced a system of civil transcripts under the control of the Catholic clergy. Most of the Duchy of Warsaw came under Russian administration after 1815. The Napoleonic practice of civil transcripts continued in areas governed by Russia until the creation of the new Polish Republic in 1918. Catholic clergy were responsible for recording all births, marriages, and deaths until 1826, when the non-Catholic community was allowed to keep its own separate official registers. After 1826, clergy of other religions (Evangelical, Orthodox, Jewish) were required to maintain civil transcripts of their church record. These records, then, are essentially civil transcripts of the various denominational registers, except in the case of Jews where these civil records were usually the only record kept. The early records were kept in Polish, but usually in Russian from 1868.

In Prussian Poland (1794-1874)

Prussia gained a sizable portion of Poland until the settlement of the Napoleonic wars in 1815 reduced Prussia’s share of Poland. Church registration of births, marriages, and deaths was mandatory by Prussian law from the 1794-1874. Clergy were required to make exact records of births, marriages, and deaths. For civil purposes the Prussian government required transcripts (duplicates) of the church record which were to be sent to local courts. In 1808 the practice was reinforced and expanded. In accordance with this law, Mennonites, Jews, and others who did not keep christening registers had their births, deaths, and marriages recorded by the Lutheran minister. The practice of civil transcripts was replaced by actual civil registration in 1874.

Information Recorded in Church Registers

The most important church records for genealogical research are christening, marriage, and burial registers. Some church books include confirmation records. The later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones. Catholic records were generally kept in Latin, Protestant records in German, Orthodox records in Russian. Greek Catholic (Uniate) records were kept in Latin, Ukrainian, or sometimes Polish. Birth, marriage, and death records of minority groups such as Mennonites, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Orthodox Schismatics, Independents, and others would be with those of recognized churches, such as the Catholic or Lutheran Church, until they had to prepare their own transcripts of vital records.

Records of Birth and Baptism (akta urodzeń i chrztów)

Children were generally christened within a few days of birth. Christening registers usually give:

  • the infant’s and parents’ names,
  • legitimacy,
  • names of witnesses or godparents,
  • and the christening date.

You may also find:

  • the child’s birth date,
  • father’s occupation, and
  • the family’s place of residence.

Death information has sometimes been added as a note. Until the 1790s the pastors of many communities failed to give the name of the mother in the birth records or may have written only her given name.

Marriage Intentions (zapowiedź )

Marriage intentions (banns) were announced a few weeks before a couple planned to marry. The couple were required to announce their intentions two or three times so other community members could raise any objections to the marriage. Marriage registers sometimes give the two or three dates on which the marriage intentions were announced in addition to the marriage date.

Marriage Records (akta małżeństwo)

Marriage registers give:

  • the date of the marriage
  • the names of the bride and groom.
  • whether they were single or widowed
  • the names of witnesses.

They often include other information about the bride and groom such as:

  • their ages,
  • residences,
  • occupations,
  • names of parents, and
  • sometimes birthplaces.

In cases of second and later marriages, they may include:

  • the names of previous partners and
  • their death dates.

Early marriage records give little information about the couples’ parents. In most cases before the beginning of the 19th century, marriage registers recorded only the names of the bride’s parents. Some later marriage registers give the birthplaces of the groom and bride. Couples were often married in the home parish of the bride.

Records of Deaths and Burials (akta zgonów i pogrzebów)

Burials were recorded in the church record of the parish where the person was buried. The burial usually took place within a few days of the death. Burial registers give:

  • the name of the deceased person and
  • the date and place of death or burial
  • the age,
  • place of residence,
  • cause of death, and
  • names of survivors are given.

Occasionally included are:

  • the date and place of birth and
  • the parents’ names

Early death registers usually do not indicate the date and place of birth. The birth date and place of the deceased person and information about parents in a burial record may not be accurate. Burial records may exist for individuals who were born before birth and marriage records were kept. Burial records often start later than christening and marriage records of the same parish.

Locating Church Records

  • Original Catholic records are usually found in individual parish or diocesan archives.
  • Protestant records are often in state archives; some are in the possession of Evangelical Church archives or officials.
  • Civil transcripts are generally kept in the local civil registration offices (Urząd Stanu Ciwilnego) for 100 years; then they are transferred to state archives.

Determining the Parish

To use church records, you must know the town and religion of your ancestor. You must also determine the parish that your ancestor’s town belonged to so that you will know which parish registers to search. Your ancestor may have lived in village that was part of a parish located in a nearby larger town. Over time, some villages may have belonged to more than one parish as jurisdictions changed.

  • Use Kartenmeister to find the Polish and German province, county, Catholic parish, Lutheran parish, and Standesamt (civil registration office), if the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Prussia.
  • Use Meyer's 1871 Gazetteer Online to find information on towns in the area of Poland once controlled by Prussia. Click on the "Map" option to see the 1871 map of the town inits region with parishes indicated, and the current Google map.
  • If the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Russia or Austria, look it up in Skorowidz Gazetteer Online to find the parishes of various religions. Here are the instructions. Use the second option, "Viewing anywhere via the Digital Library of Wielkopolska".

Finding Aids

Poland finding aids have been created by a variety of state, church, society, and private organizations. Their goal is to inform what records exist and the repositories that hold them. Each finding aid has a different focus--a particular religion or geographical area or archive or collection. Be sure to search all that apply to your ancestors. Remember that churches often produced civil registration records. The church records might have been destroyed, but copies had been sent to the government and still exist. So we search for both church records and civil registration records.

Catholic Diocese Parish Inventories

(Numbers match diocese map below.)

2. Drohiczyn Diocese
7. Tarnow Diocese
8. Częstochowa Archdiocese
9. Radom Diocese
11. Gdańsk Archdiocese
12. Pelplin Diocese Another list
15. Bydgoszcz Diocese
16. Włocławek Diocese

Click on "Katalog".
Click on "Akta dekanalne i parafialne".
Click on "Akta parafialne".
Click on "Księgi metrykalne".

17. Katowice Archdiocese Clickable map
18. Gliwice Diocese
21. Łowicz Diocese
22. Lublin Archdiocese
23. Sandomierz Diocese
25. Poznań Archdiocese
28.Rzeszów Diocese
30. Szczecin-Kamień Archdiocese
31. Koszalin-Kołobrzeg Diocese
32. Zielona Góra-Gorzów Diocese
34. Elbląg Diocese
35. Ełk Diocese
36. Warsaw Archdiocese
37. Płock Diocese

Online Searchable Databases

Ancestry.com

Online Indexed Records

FamilySearch Historical Records

Regional Databases

Online Browsable Images Databases

Go to Forschung > Famillienforschung > Standesamt online or Kirchenbuch online > Find your Kreis >Parish

Records at the FamilySearch Library

The FamilySearch Library has church records on microfilm from many parishes throughout Poland, some to 1875, some to the 1880s, and some as late as the 1960s. Look in the catalog under the name of the town where the parish was, not necessarily the town where your ancestor lived: POLAND, (COUNTY), (TOWN) - CHURCH RECORDS New records are continually added to the library’s collection from several sources. Do not give up if records are not available yet. Check the FamilySearch Catalog every two or three years for the records you need.

Writing for Records

Local Parishes

Most Catholic church records are still maintained by the parish, which will generally answer correspondence in Polish. You can write directly to the parish with a nonspecific address (Catholic parish, Town name with postal code, Poland), but using the specific parish address is better. If the records you need have been moved to a diocese or state archive, your request may be forwarded to that archive.

Parish Addresses

How to Write the Letter

Write your request in Polish whenever possible. Information about how to write to local parishes in Poland is given in Poland Letter Writing Guide.

Diocese Archives

Some parish registers are collected in diocesan archives. Generally the very old records (before 1800) are in diocesan archives. Some dioceses have parishes archive their records after 100 years. Protestants also maintain church archives, although their records are likely to be in a state archive. Church archives are often unable to handle genealogical requests, but they can tell you if specific records are available.


Major Religious Dioceses

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Lutheran Dioceses: Use Luteranie.pl to find the diocese and parish for your town.
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Catholic Dioceses

Catholic Diocese names are clickable to lists of parish records held by the archive.

1. Białystok Archdiocese
2. Drohiczyn Diocese
3. Łomża Diocese
4. Kraków Archdiocese
5. Bielsko–Żywiec Diocese
6. Kielce Diocese
7. Tarnow Diocese
8. Częstochowa Archdiocese
9. Radom Diocese
10. Sosnowiec Diocese
11. Gdańsk Archdiocese
12. Pelplin Diocese Another list
13. Toruń Diocese
14. Gniezno Archdiocese
15. Bydgoszcz Diocese
16. Włocławek Diocese

Click on "Katalog".
Click on "Akta dekanalne i parafialne".
Click on "Akta parafialne".
Click on "Księgi metrykalne".


17. Katowice Archdiocese Clickable map

18. Gliwice Diocese
19. Opole Diocese
20. Łódź Archdiocese
21. Łowicz Diocese
22. Lublin Archdiocese
23. Sandomierz Diocese
24. Siedlce Diocese
25. Poznań Archdiocese
26. Kalisz Diocese
27. Przemyś Archdiocese
28. Rzeszów Diocese
29. Zamość-Lubaczów Diocese
30. Szczecin-Kamień Archdiocese
31. Koszalin-Kołobrzeg Diocese
32. Zielona Góra-Gorzów Diocese
33. Warmia Archdiocese
34. Elbląg Diocese
35. Ełk Diocese
36. Warsaw Archdiocese
37. Płock Diocese
38. Warsaw-Praga Diocese
39. Wrocław Archdiocese
40. Legnica Diocese
41. Świdnica Diocese

Catholic Archives Addresses

  • Catholic Church Archives Bialystok
  • Archives of Archives in Białystok, 15-087 Białystok, ul. Kościelna 1
  • Częstochowa: Archdiocesan Archives in Częstochowa, 42-200 Częstochowa, Al. Sacred. Virgin Mary 54
Old Records (prior to 1945): ul. Saint Barbara's 41
  • Drohiczyn: Diocesan Archives in Drohiczyn, 17-312 Drohiczyn n. Bug, ul. Church 10
  • Gdańsk: Archdiocesan Archives in Gdańsk, 80-330 Gdańsk-Oliwa, ul. Cystersów 15
  • Gniezno: Archdiocesan Archives in Gniezno, 62-200 Gniezno, Cathedral
  • Katowice: Archdiocesan Archives in Katowice, 40-043 Katowice, ul. Wita Stwosza 16
  • Kielce: Archive of the Kielce Diocese, 25-013 Kielce, ul. Jana Pawła II 3
  • Krakow: Archives of the Metropolitan Curia in Kraków, 31-004 Kraków, ul. Franciszkańska 3
  • Lubaczów: Archdiocesan Archives in Lubaczów, 37-600 Lubaczów, ul. Mickiewicza 85
  • Lublin: Archdiocesan Archives in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, ul. Prym. Wyszyńskiego 2
  • Łódż: Diocesan Archives in Łódż , 90-458 Ł ódż, ul. Ks. Shells 1
  • Łomża: Diocesan Archives in Łomża, 18-400 Łżża, ul. Sadowa 3
  • Olsztyn ( Warmiński): Archives of the Diocese of Warmińska, 10-512 Olsztyn, ul. Copernicus 47
  • Opole: Diocesan Archives in Opole, 45-032 Opole, ul. Cardinal Kominek 1
  • Pelplin: Diocesan Archives in Pelplin, 83-130 Pelplin, ul. Bishop K. Dominika 11
  • Płock: Diocesan Archives in Płock, 09-400 Płock, ul. Abpa AJ Nowowiejskiego 2
  • Poznań: Archdiocesan Archives in Poznań, 61-108 Poznań 22, ul. Lubrański 1
  • Przemyśl: Metropolitan Archives in Przemyśl, 37-700 Przemyśl, pl. Cathedral 4a
  • Sandomierz: Diocesan Archives in Sandomierz, 27-600 Sandomierz, ul. Siennial 2
  • Siedlce: Diocesan Archives in Siedlce, 08-100 Siedlce, ul. Piłsudskiego 62
  • Szczecin: Archives of the Szczecin-Kamieńska Diocese, 72-400 Kamień Pomorski, pl. Cathedral 8
  • Tarnów: Diocesan Archives in Tarnów, 33-100 Tarnów, ul. Katedralna 3
  • Warsaw: Archidieczjalne Archives in Warsaw, 00-278 Warsaw, ul. Kanonia 6
    • Archives of the Metropolitan Curia in Warsaw, 00-246 Warsaw, ul. Midowa 17/19
  • Włocławek: Diocesan Archives in Włocławek, 87-800 Włocławek, ul. Gdańska 2/4
  • Wrocław: Archdiocesan Archives in Wrocław, 50-328 Wrocław, ul. Kanonia 12
  • Zielona Góra: Diocesan Archives in Zielona Góra, 65-075 Zielona Góra, pl. Powstańców Wielkopolskich 1

State Archives

Many parish records and transcripts are in state archives.

  • Szukaj w Archiwach This website can be searched by location (town or parish). It will then tell you which archives hold what records for the location. On the entry for the records you want, click on "More" at the far right, and it will give you the contact information for the archive.

Civil Registration Offices

Transcripts (copies) and sometimes originals of church records or Jewish records may be deposited in local civil registration offices. These are generally sent to state archives after 100 years. See Poland Civil Registration.

Greek Catholic Church Records

Greek Catholic Church in Poland














Orthodox Church Records

Dioceses of Orthodox Church in Poland














Search Strategies

Effective use of church records includes the following strategies:

  • Search for the relative or ancestor you have selected. When you find the ancestor’s birth record, search for the birth records of brothers and sisters.
  • Search for the marriage of the ancestor’s parents. The marriage record will often give clues for locating their birth records.
  • Estimate the ages of the parents and search for their birth records, repeating the process for both the father and mother.
  • If earlier generations are not in the parish records, search the records of neighboring parishes.
  • Search the death registers for all known family members.
  • Many genealogical societies have the resources to help you find parish information when all the usual sources fail. A good society is worth the membership fee for the support it can offer you.
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