Germany Handwriting

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Handwriting

Handwriting Examples and Tools

Old German gothic handwriting and print are very different from the Roman script most English- speaking genealogists use.

• For examples of old German Gothic handwriting see the PDF file Handwriting Guide: German Gothic.
• A short handy reference guide with an alphabet, reading tips, and record samples is found here.
• A list of given names with handwritten examples from records is found here: German given names handwriting examples

Sütterlin or Suetterlin writing ("old German hand") is a practiced style of writing similar to earlier styles. This is a script, created by the Berlin graphic artist Ludwig Sütterlin (1865-1917), which was taught from 1915 to 1941 in German schools. It is also called the "deutsche Schrift". The website suetterlinschrift.de allows you to type any word and see what it would look like in that script. This is a very useful learning tool. This comparison page for the alphabet gives multiple examples of each letter.

Script Generator Tool

See your family names in the script of the era. Type your name or other word into the font generator tool using "alte deutsche Handschriften" website. Click on the 8 different fonts. Save the image to your computer and use it as you work with old Germanic records.

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

Transkribus

Transkribus is an artificial intelligence (AI) tool trained on historic script. Watch the instructional video on the website for details on how to use this tool for a rough transcription of documents.
Note: This tool is AI, and can regularly make mistakes. Transcriptions obtained through Transkribus should be taken with a grain of salt, and always double-checked by a handwriting expert.

Downloadable Handouts

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

Letters:

*Kurrent Letters handout

*Additional Kurrent Letters handout

Vocabulary found on Specific Records:

*Birth Records Vocabulary handout

*Marriage Records Vocabulary handout

*Overview of Marriage Laws and Customs (handout)

*Death Records Vocabulary handout

Dates, Numbers, Abbreviations:

*Days and Months handout

*Numbers Vocabulary handout

*Script Dates and Numbers handout

*Common Abbreviations handout

*Common Symbols handout

Miscellaneous Vocabulary:

*German Occupations Vocabulary handout

*Illnesses Vocabulary handout

Fraktur:

*Fraktur Font -- Many forms and books are printed in this font.

German Given Names:

*List of Names in Old German Script -- A comprehensive list of German given names, written in old script, with possible variations.

Tutorials and Classes

A three-hour series about how to read old documents can be found here. A ten-part online German Paleography Seminar is available that focuses on how to decipher simple German-language records by recognizing and writing letters in Kurrent, recognizing key genealogical terms, and recognizing common German names.

Another helpful learning tool is the German Script Tutorial. This tutorial shows how letters are formed, provides practice exercises, and allows students to test their knowledge.

Taking a course in German genealogy from a reputable college is also a worthwhile option for those who want to succeed in reading old German script. Such a course provides opportunities to practice your reading ability. For example, Brigham Young University - Independent Study offers such a free course in German Research.

See also: Reading the Old German Handwriting online course by Katherine Schober ($)

German Word Lists

If you do not know German, additional helps may be required such as the German Word List page on this wiki or a list of German Numbers from about.com. In order to not be overwhelmed, focus on key words. Numbers are often written out, such as when they appear in paragraph form church register entries. These numbers represent birth, christening, marriage and other important dates within church registers. They can be especially difficult to read when the German word is not known.

Books

These books include significant sections to help read the writing in German language documents:

• Edna M. Bentz, If I Can, You Can: Decipher Germanic Records (San Diego, Calif.: E.M. Bentz, 1982). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 943 G3b 1992.

• Roger P. Minert, Deciphering Handwriting in German Documents 2nd Edition (Provo, Utah: GRT Publications, 2013), 271 pages. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 417.7 M662d 2001. An excellent textbook for studying German script.

• George K. Schweitzer, German Genealogical Research (Knoxville, Tennessee, USA: Schweitzer, 1995), 239-70. FamilySearch Catalog.

• Kenneth L. Smith, German Church Books: Beyond the Basics (Camden, Maine: Picton Press, 1989), 171-97. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 943 D27skL. Including the chart above showing how each letter of the alphabet looks in Gothic handwriting and type.