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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Church records (parish registers, church books) are an important source for genealogical research in Germany before civil registration began. They recorded details of baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. The vast majority of the population was mentioned. In addition, church records can contain financial account books, ( | Church records (parish registers, church books) are an important source for genealogical research in Germany before civil registration began. They recorded details of baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. The vast majority of the population was mentioned. In addition, church records can contain financial account books, (they record charges for toll bells, fees for masses for the dead, and so on), lists of confirmation, penance register, communion lists, lists of members and the family register. | ||
Church records also often contain information on local minority faith populations. For example often Evangelical Registers in West Prussia are also populated with Mennonite data, when Mennonites lived in those regions. | Church records also often contain information on local minority faith populations. For example, often Evangelical Registers in West Prussia are also populated with Mennonite data, when Mennonites lived in those regions. | ||
In general you will need to know the religion of your ancestors as different religions kept separate records. The main religious division in Germany was between Catholics (''Katholische'') and Protestants, comprised mainly of Lutherans (''Evangelisch'') and Reformed (''Reformierte''). Catholic records are usually written in Latin or German, while other records will be written in the local language. | In general, you will need to know the religion of your ancestors as different religions kept separate records. The main religious division in Germany was between Catholics (''Katholische'') and Protestants, comprised mainly of Lutherans (''Evangelisch'') and Reformed (''Reformierte''). Catholic records are usually written in Latin or German, while other records will be written in the local language. | ||
In many regions, it was also common for the local church records to function in the role of civil registries. This is especially true in the further eastern regions (ie. West Prussia, East Prussia). | In many regions, it was also common for the local church records to function in the role of civil registries. This is especially true in the further eastern regions (ie. West Prussia, East Prussia). | ||