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== General Historical Background == | == General Historical Background == | ||
Church records (parish registers) are excellent sources of sufficiently accurate information on names, dates and places of birth / baptism, marriage and death / funeral. They are the most important source of genealogical information for Germany before 1876 most of the people who lived in Germany, were recorded in a church record. | Church records (parish registers) are excellent sources of sufficiently accurate information on names, dates and places of birth / baptism, marriage and death / funeral. They are the most important source of genealogical information for Germany before 1876 most of the people who lived in Germany, were recorded in a church record. | ||
Church records are often called church books or churches books. They contain records of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. In addition, church records financial account books can contain (the 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 are often called church books or churches books. They contain records of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. In addition, church records financial account books can contain (the 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 are essential for pre-1876 German research. Since civil authorities in various areas of Germany not begin registering vital statistics to 1876 are church records often the only source of family information before that date. Church records are kept even after the introduction of the civil registry, but not the Family History Library microfilm many post-1875 church books. See Germany civil registration for more information on post-1875 sources. | Church records are essential for pre-1876 German research. Since civil authorities in various areas of Germany not begin registering vital statistics to 1876 are church records often the only source of family information before that date. Church records are kept even after the introduction of the civil registry, but not the Family History Library microfilm many post-1875 church books. See Germany civil registration for more information on post-1875 sources. The practice of keeping parish registers evolved slowly. The first surviving German Protestant records are from 1524 at St. Sebald in Nürnberg. Lutheran churches in general began requiring baptism, marriage, and burial records around 1540; Catholics began in 1563. By 1650 most Reformed parishes began keeping records. | ||
The practice of keeping parish registers evolved slowly. The first surviving German Protestant records are from 1524 at St. Sebald in Nürnberg. Lutheran churches in general began requiring baptism, marriage, and burial records around 1540; Catholics began in 1563. By 1650 most Reformed parishes began keeping records. | |||
Many church records were destroyed in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). In addition, records for some parishes in the Pfalz and Rheinland were interrupted for several years when the French controlled those areas of Germany from 1792 to 1815 and introduced civil registration. | Many church records were destroyed in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). In addition, records for some parishes in the Pfalz and Rheinland were interrupted for several years when the French controlled those areas of Germany from 1792 to 1815 and introduced civil registration. | ||
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Parish register duplicates often differ from the originals in their arrangement. Baptisms, marriages, deaths, and sometimes confirmations for each year are grouped together year by year, instead of being grouped by record type over a longer time period. Community members belonging to a minority religion may not be recorded in the majority faith's original church books. Instead they may only be included in the Kirchenbuchduplikat, labelled as "birth register" rather than "baptism book." | Parish register duplicates often differ from the originals in their arrangement. Baptisms, marriages, deaths, and sometimes confirmations for each year are grouped together year by year, instead of being grouped by record type over a longer time period. Community members belonging to a minority religion may not be recorded in the majority faith's original church books. Instead they may only be included in the Kirchenbuchduplikat, labelled as "birth register" rather than "baptism book." | ||
Also, a parish may have kept separate books for affiliated villages, both in the original and as duplicates. Sometimes only part of the record set has survived and is available in an archive or on microfilm. This is especially important to understand in regard to records filmed by the Family History Department. Descriptions in the FamilySearch Catalog may only list the name of the parish and thus give the impression that the complete book has been filmed. If the ancestor is not found, the researcher needs to check the film carefully to determine which parts of the church records it contains. The parish in question may have included several villages, but only the book for one village has survived. | Also, a parish may have kept separate books for affiliated villages, both in the original and as duplicates. Sometimes only part of the record set has survived and is available in an archive or on microfilm. This is especially important to understand in regard to records filmed by the Family History Department. Descriptions in the FamilySearch Catalog may only list the name of the parish and thus give the impression that the complete book has been filmed. If the ancestor is not found, the researcher needs to check the film carefully to determine which parts of the church records it contains. The parish in question may have included several villages, but only the book for one village has survived. | ||
=== Information Recorded in Church Records === | === Information Recorded in Church Records === | ||
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=== Baptisms [Taufen] === | === Baptisms [Taufen] === | ||
Children were usually baptized a few days after birth. Baptism registers usually give the infant's name, parents' names, status of legitimacy, names of witnesses or godparents, and baptism date. You may also find the child's birth date, the father's occupation, and the family's place of residence. Death information was sometimes added as a note or signified by a cross. The cross alone does NOT imply that the individual did as a young child. | Children were usually baptized a few days after birth. Baptism registers usually give the infant's name, parents' names, status of legitimacy, names of witnesses or godparents, and baptism date. You may also find the child's birth date, the father's occupation, and the family's place of residence. Death information was sometimes added as a note or signified by a cross. The cross alone does NOT imply that the individual did as a young child. | ||
Earlier registers typically gave less information, sometimes including only the child's and the father's names and the baptism date. A few records did not even give the child's name. This problem can sometimes be resolved if the godparents are mentioned in the entry. Boys were often named for the godfather and girls for the godmother. If this was customary in the parish, other baptismal entries should follow the same paatern. As a result it becomes important to look beyond the ancestral family and try to determine the local tradition. Until the later 1700s, pastors in some communities did not name the mother in the birth records, or they included only her given name. Sometimes only the baptism date was recorded, but in later years the birth date was given as well. | Earlier registers typically gave less information, sometimes including only the child's and the father's names and the baptism date. A few records did not even give the child's name. This problem can sometimes be resolved if the godparents are mentioned in the entry. Boys were often named for the godfather and girls for the godmother. If this was customary in the parish, other baptismal entries should follow the same paatern. As a result it becomes important to look beyond the ancestral family and try to determine the local tradition. Until the later 1700s, pastors in some communities did not name the mother in the birth records, or they included only her given name. Sometimes only the baptism date was recorded, but in later years the birth date was given as well. | ||
Because of social conditions in Germany, the birth of illegitimate children was not uncommon. Illegitimacy is usually noted in baptism records, sometimes by a note in the margin or an upside-down or sideways entry. | Because of social conditions in Germany, the birth of illegitimate children was not uncommon. Illegitimacy is usually noted in baptism records, sometimes by a note in the margin or an upside-down or sideways entry. | ||
=== Godparents === | === Godparents === | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
{{Germany|Germany}} | |||
[[Category:Germany|Church Records]] [[Category:Lutherans]] [[Category:Roman_Catholics]] [[Category:Church_records | {{Germany|Germany}} {{H-langs|en=Germany Church Records|pt=Alemanha - Registros da Igreja}} | ||
[[Category:Germany|Church Records]] [[Category:Lutherans]] [[Category:Roman_Catholics]] [[Category:Church_records in Germany]] | |||