History of Church Records
Since several areas of Germany did not begin registering civil
vital statistics until 1876, church records are the most common source
of German records before the 19th century.
The Catholic church mandated that parish records be kept after the
Council of Trent (1845-63). Protestant churches required registers to
be kept sometime later. But, in Württemberg and Baden there are
church records that date back to the year 1535.
These church registers (Kirchenbücher)
recorded baptisms (taufen),
marriages (heiraten), and
deaths.
Later, other records included:
grave registers, confirmation records, first communion, church receipt
books (Einnahmebücher) ,
funeral sermons, and local family history books.
Birth, marriage and death records are commonly called vital records because critical
events in an individual's life are recorded in them. Vital
records from churches were recorded by priests or pastors. Records in
German were usually written in Gothic Script.
Most people who lived in Germany were recorded in a church
register.
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Why
Church Records ?
German church records can help you learn about the lives of your
ancestors.
Baptism
records usually contain:
the name of the child
the name of the parents
the date of birth
the date of baptism
the names of sponsors
noted if the child is illegitimate
Marriage
records usually contain:
the names of the bride and groom
the names of the parents
the grooms residence
the grooms occupation
the date of marriage
noted if a compensation was granted
Death
records usually contain:
the name of the deceased
the deceased's occupation
cause of death
the date of death
the deceased's age
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