Belarus Governates and Voivodeships

Europe Belarus Belarus Governates and Voivodeships

Finding Historical Civil Records

City, Town or Village , Voivodeship/Gubernia and Powiat/Uezd Names are Key

Many times discovering where to get civil records from where your ancestors lived, in what is now the counrty of Belarus, will require you to know the name of their city, town or village, the Voivodeship or Gubernia (province) and Uezd oe Powiat where their town was or is located. -With the exception of Vilna (Vilnius), Nowogrudok, Bialystok and Polesie, voivodeships were in use only through the late 1700's. Gubierna was the term used to refer to a province from the late 1700's up until the 1920's.

Voivodeships and Gubierna Names Changed Over the Years

Finding the correct voivodeship/Gubierna will likely not be an easy task. These provincial boundaries changed over the years right in step with the ever-changing boundaries of the countries of Poland, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus.

Maps and Reference Material in Russian, Polish or Belarusian Languages

Many times the maps and lists you will be referencing for help with will be written in Russian, Belarusian or Polish. 

Use Google translator to translate your ancestor's town into Russian, Polish and Belarusian. Keep the translations handy as you proceed with your research.

What you are looking for are the correct Voivodeship, Uezd or the correct Gubernia, Povet (Powiat) and Gmina.

Cracking the Language of Administrative Districts

Voivodeship,Gubernia or Governate = Province

Uezd or Powiat (poviat) = District

Gmina = Larger size town (usually where church was located)

Weis = Village

Helpful Links

These links may help you gain a better understanding of voivodeships, povets, gubernia, uezds and gminas.

History of Administrative Districts of Belarus 

Major Administrative Districts of Belarus

Administrative District Details -  Lists of  Gubernia and corresponding uezds

Wiki Belarus Governate-Voivodeship Maps - from FamilySearch.org

Steve's Genealogy blogs can also provide helpful information and understanding

1870 Historical Administrative Districts of Vilna, Grodno, Minsk and Nowogrudok 

1870 Gubernia	Vilna	Grodno	Nowogrudok	Minsk
Powiats:	Disna	Bialystok	Baranovichi	Bobruysk
	Lida	Belsk	Lida	Borisov
	Oshmiany	Brest	Nesvizh	Igumen
	Sventsiany (Zavileisk)	Grodno	Nowogrudok	Minsk
	Troki	Kobrin	Slonim	Mozyr
	Vileika	Pruzhany	Stolbtsy	Nowogrudok
	Vilno	Slonim	Wolozyn	Pinsk
		Sokolka		Reshita
		Volkovysk		Slutsk

1870 Maps of Gubernia

Grodno

Minsk

Nowogrudok

Vilna