Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Language and Handwriting

Reading the Records

It's easier than you think! You do not have to be fluent in French and German to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them. By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately. Here are some resources for learning to read German records.

Also online interactive slideshow lessons are available to help you learn to read these records:

Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 1: Kurrent Letters
Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 2: Making Words in Kurrent
Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 3: Reading Kurrent Documents. In this lesson, you will explore several types of German genealogical records, including birth, baptismal, marriage, and death records.
German Script Tutorial

This converter will show you how any phrase or name might look in German script:

Kurrentschrift Converter (enter German genealogical word, click on "convert", view your word in Kurrentschrift (Gothic handwriting)

Effective use of church records includes the following strategies:

Search for the relative or ancestor. When you find his or her birth record, search for the births of brothers and sisters.
Next search for the parents' marriage date and place. The marriage record will often lead to the parents' birth records.
You can estimate the ages of the parents and determine a birth year to search for their birth records. If more than one possible candidate is found, search confirmation, marriage, and burial records to determine the correct individual. If available, census-type records or family books can be used as well.
Try to find the parents death/burial entries, since these records may give their age at death.
Use the above strategies for both the father and the mother.
If earlier generations are not in the record you are using, search neighboring parishes and other denominations.
Search the burial registers for all family members.