Bavaria (Bayern), German Empire Church Records

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. To learn more about the types of information you will find in church records, click on these links: For a comprehensive understanding of church records, study the article Germany Church Records.
 * Baptisms (Taufen)
 * Marriages (Heiraten)
 * Burials (Begräbnisse)
 * Confirmations (Konfirmationen)
 * Family Registers (Familienbücher)

= Finding Church Records=

Parish Register Inventories
Church record inventories are essential tools for finding German records. They identify what records should be available for a specified parish and where to write for information on these records. They list the church records, their location, and the years they cover. Sometimes inventories explain which parishes served which towns at different periods of time.
 * Index evangelische Kirchenbücher im Landeskirchenarchiv Speyer
 * Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für die Evang.-Lutherische und Evang.- Reformierte Kirche des rechtsrheinischen Bayerns
 * Die Kirchenbücher der bayerischen Pfalz. Beschreibendes Verzeichnis
 * Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Augsburg
 * Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Eichstätt
 * Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Erzbistum Bamberg
 * Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Erzbistum München und Freising
 * Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Passau
 * Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Regensburg
 * Pfarrbücherverzeichnis für das Bistum Würzburg
 * Pfarrmatrikel-Zweitschriften, Verzeichnisse
 * Kirchenbuchportal: See Bistum Augsburg (Catholic), Bistum Speyer (Catholic), and Ev. Kirche der Pfalz (Lutheran).

1. Online Church Records

 * 1600-1925 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images; Also at Ancestry ($)
 * Archive and Library of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, complete online coverage of Roman Catholic church records for the diocese of Munich in Bavaria.
 * Direct link to parish registers: in progress
 * Click on the + sign to open alphabetical index.
 * Click on the + sign before the letter to open a list of parishes.
 * Click on the + sign before your parish to open a list of record types available.
 * Click on the + sign in front of the record type. Links to the digitized images now become available.
 * Click on the blue page before the image range you want.
 * A detailed description of the contents in that image range will appear. Click on the Open in the Mets Viewer link at the bottom of the box. The images load somewhat slowly.
 * Links to parishes, complete list:
 * Click on the + sign to open Archiv des Erzbistums München und Freising.
 * Click on the + sign to open Seelsorgeeinheiten.
 * Click on the + sign to open Pfarreien und Kirchenstiftungen.
 * Click on the + sign to open parish numbered file by name and date.
 * Click on the + sign to open Pfarrliche Seelsorge und Pfarramtsverwaltung.
 * Click on the + sign to open Pfarramtsverwaltung.
 * Click on the + sign to open Taufbücher (Baptisms), Traubücher/Sponsalien (Marriages), Sterbebücher (Deaths), or Seelenstandsbeschreibungen, Familien- und Hausbücher (Family books).
 * Click on the blue page icon for the time period you wish to search.
 * A detailed description of the contents in that image range will appear. Click on the Open in the Mets Viewer link at the bottom of the box. The images load somewhat slowly.
 * Archiv der Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Bavaria ''' at Archion - images, ($).
 * Bistum Passau at Matricula Online - images; church books for several Catholic parishes from the Passau, Bavaria, area.
 * 1600-1925 at FamilySearch Historical Records, free, browsable images, incomplete.
 * These records cover the following parishes: Alsenborn, Alsenbrück, Bann-Queidersbach, Boos, Enkenbach, Glan-Münchweiler, Ludwigshafen, Marnheim, Münchweiler, Pfalz-Schweizer, Sembach, Studernheim, Südpfalz, and Wattenheim.


 * 1615-1939 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1650-1875 at FamilySearch - index and images; How to Use this Collection

Ancestry.com ($)
Ancestry.com can be searched free of charge at your local Family History Center.
 * 1518-1921 Germany, selected Protestant church books 1518-1921 at Ancestry.com - index and images, ($); includes some Catholic parishes; Includes Alsenborn, Barbelroth, Billigheim, Drusweiler, Essweiler, Feilbingert,Hassloch, Jettenbach, Klein Scönbeck, Lamprecht, Lauterecken, Marienberghausen, Münchweiler a/d Alsenz, Neunburg, Nürnberg, Reichenbach, Rösenbach, Spesbach, Stierhofstetten, Trippstadt.
 * 1526-1940 Ansbach, Germany, excerpts from Lutheran church records, 1526-1940 at Ancestry.com - index and images, ($).
 * 1556-1973 Rhineland-Palatinate, Protestant church records 1556-1973 at Ancestry.com - index, ($); The area covered coincides largely with the historical area of ​​the left bank of the Bavarian Palatinate of the 19th century. The cities include Alsenz, Bad Bergzabern, Homburg, Kusel, Pirmasens and Speyer. In addition to the places lying today in Rhineland-Palatinate this collection also contains church books from Nuremberg.

Other Contributors

 * Death notices for the city of Würzburg
 * Association for Local History Feuchtwangen: Parish records transcribed and indexed for Feuchtwangen, Unterampfrach, Steichele, Wildholz, Wieseth, Kloster Sulz, Dorfgütingen, Breitenau, Mosbach
 * Kirchenbuch Bad Pyrmont-Oesdorf. 1657-1739. Images, no index.
 * Genealogy and house chronicles northwest of Munich: List of parishes covered--- Main page

2. Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog
Try to find records in the collection of the FamilySearch Library. Many microfilms have been digitized for online viewing. Gradually, everything will be digitized, so check back occasionally. Some have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a Family History Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations. To find records:
 * a. Click on the '''the Places within Germany, Bayern.
 * b. Click on Places within Germany, Bayern and a list of towns will appear.
 * c. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
 * d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * e. Choose the correct record type and time period for your ancestor. "Geburten" are births. "Taufen" are christenings/baptisms. "Heiraten" are marriages.  "Tote" are deaths.
 * f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

3. Research in Church and State Archives
Church records or duplicates may have been gathered from the local parishes into central archives, either by the churches or the state. Older records are frequently given to these archives for safekeeping. Some gaps in the church records of local parishes could be filled using these records.


 * [[Media:Localities.pdf|Pdf Archive Inventory]]: "Part 1 of 2: Church records in Archives" - is an inventory of localities and the location or archive where their records should be found. The sixth column, "Archives", gives a number. To find the name and contact information, look up that number in the second column of this .pdf:  [[Media:Archive_Add_.pdf|Part 2: Archive Addresses.]]  It is not clear how up-to-date this inventory is.

Some archives offer searches for a fee. Archives might be unable to handle genealogical requests, but they can determine whether they have specific records you need, sometimes perform very brief research, such as just one record, or they may recommend a researcher who can search the records for you. Archivists are required to speak English.

E-mail

 * You can e-mail archives and ask whether they have records for a parish. Also, you should inquire whether they provide research services and what their fees are. You can communicate with the archives in English.

Augsburg
Pfarrhausstrasse 4 86154 Augsburg Germany

Phone:	0821 - 3166 8561 Fax:	0821 - 3166 8569 E-mail:	archiv@bistum-augsburg.de
 * Website
 * Online records via Matricula Online

Archiv des Erzbistums Bamberg
Regensburger Ring 2 D-96047 Bamberg Germany

Tel 0951/40747-0, Fax 0951/40747-50 Email: [mailto:archiv@erzbistum-bamberg.de archiv@erzbistum-bamberg.de]
 * Website
 * Online records via Matricula Online
 * Online inventory of archive holdings - click on the first letter of the parish.

Diözesanarchiv, Bistum Eichstätt
Luitpoldstr. 1 D-85072 Eichstätt Germany

Tel: 08421/50-761, Fax: 08421/50-769 E-Mail: [mailto:archiv@bistum-eichstaett.de archiv@bistum-eichstaett.de]
 * Website
 * Online records via Matricula Online
 * Online inventory of archive holdings

Archiv des Erzbistums München und Freising
Karmeliterstr. 1 D-80333 München Germany Mailing Address: Postfach 330360 D-80063 München Germany

Tel: 089-2137-1346 E-mail: archiv@eomuc.de
 * Website
 * Online records via Matricula Online

Archiv des Bistums Passau
Luragogasse 4 94032 Passau Germany

Phone: 851-393-386, Fax: 851-393-449 E-mail:	archiv@bistum-passau.de
 * Website
 * Online records via Matricula Online

Bischöfliches Zentralarchiv Regensburg
St. Petersweg 11-13 D-93047 Regensburg Germany

Phone: 49-941-597-2520 Fax: 49-941-597-2521 Email: [mailto:archiv@bistum-regensburg.de archiv@bistum-regensburg.de]
 * Website
 * Online inventory of archive holdings

Diocesan Archives Würzburg
Domerschulstraße 17 97070 Würzburg Germany

Phone:	0931 - 386 67 100 Fax:	0931 - 386 67 101 E-mail:	archiv@bistum-wuerzburg.de
 * Website
 * Online inventory of archive holdings

Evangelical Lutheran (Protestant) Archives
Landeskirchliches Archiv der Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria Veilhofstraße 8 90489 Nürnberg Germany

E-Mail: archiv@elkb.de
 * Website
 * Online inventory of archive holdings (as of May 2021)
 * Online records via Archion

State Archives
Here are the addresses for the district archive, should you decide to write there instead of or in addition to the local Standesamt. '''Bamberg (for Upper Franconia/Oberfranken) Staatsarchiv Bamberg Hainstr. 39 96047 Bamberg Germany Tel. 0951/26861 Postfach 2668 96017 Bamberg Germany Internet: Website of the State Archives Coburg (for the city and kreis/county of Coburg, covers Saxony-Coburg) Staatsarchiv Coburg Herrngasse 11 96450 Coburg Germany Phone: 09561/92833 Internet: Website of the Staatsarchivs Nuremberg (for Middle Franconia/Mittelfranken) State Archives Nuremberg Archivstr. 17 90110 Nürnberg Tel. 0911 / 357-437 Internet: Website of the State Archives

Würzburg (for Lower Franconia/Unterfranken) State Archives Würzburg Residenz-Nordflügel 17 97070 Würzburg Phone: 0931 / 35529-0 Internet: Website of the State Archives Augsburg (for Swabia/Schwaben) State Archives Augsburg Salomon-Ilder-Str. 2 86159 Augsburg Germany Tel. 0821/575025 Internet: Website of the State Archives Amberg (for Upper Palatinate/Oberpfalz) Staatsarchiv Amberg Archivstr. 3 92224 Amberg Tel. 09621/307270 Internet: Website of the State Archives Amberg (for Upper Palatinate/Oberpfalz) Staatsarchiv Amberg Archivstr. 3 92224 Amberg Tel. 09621/307270 Internet: Website of the State Archives

Munich (for Upper Bavaria/Oberbayern) Staatsarchiv Munich Schöfeldstr. 5, 80539 München Germany (P.O. Box) Postfach 221 152 80501 Munich Germany Tel 089 / 28638-525 Internet: Website of the State Archives

Landshut (for Lower Bavaria/Niederbayern) State Archives Landshut Burg Trausnitz 84034 Landshut Tel. 0871/22515 Internet: Website of the State Archives

4. Writing to a Local Priest for Church Records
Most church registers are still maintained by the parish. You might obtain information by writing to the parish. Parish employees will usually answer correspondence written in German. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to a central repository.

Evangelical Lutheran (Protestant)

 * Towns search: Address list of the Protestant church

Catholic Addresses

 * The Catholic Directory for Germany

E-mail

 * Because many churches now have known e-mail addresses, you can quickly check whether the parish records are stored at the parish church or have been moved to archives. If possible, do this before sending a more detailed inquiry or any money. Links for church addresses are found on the wiki pages for the individual states and counties  of Germany.

Writing to a Local Parish
Write a brief request in German to the proper church using this address as a guide, replacing the information in parentheses:

For a Protestant Parish:


 * An das evangelische Pfarramt
 * (Insert street address, if known.)
 * (Postal Code) (Name of Locality)
 * GERMANY

For a Catholic Parish:


 * An das katholische Pfarramt
 * (Insert street address, if known.)
 * (Postal Code) (Name of Locality)
 * GERMANY


 * Click herefor postal code help for Germany.

How to Write a Letter
Detailed instruction for what to include in the letter, plus German translations of the questions and sentences most frequently used are in the German Letter Writing Guide.'''

Other Religious Groups
To learn how to determine the location of other religious records, namely Jewish, French Reformed, German Reformed, etc., watch Hansen’s Map Guides: Finding Records with Parish Maps beginning at 48:00 minutes, to learn how to locate these congregations. Then go back and watch from the beginning to understand how to use the reference book. Also, you can read Map Guide to German Parish Registers. This video and handout teach you how to use a set of reference books found at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Town Genealogies (Ortssippenbuch or Ortsfamilienbuch)
See the class,, and Wiki article, Germany Town Genealogies and Parish Register Inventories on the Internet. Published town genealogies, Ortssippenbuch (town lineage book) or Ortsfamilienbuch (town family book), generally include birth, marriage, and death data for all persons found in the local records during a specified time period, compiled into families based on the opinion of the author. 'If one is available, it should only be used as an index or guide'' to finding the original records. They usually contain errors. Always verify their information in original records.

Finding an OFB

 * GenWiki OFB Bibliography for Bavaria (Bayern)
 * Click here to see OFBs at GenWiki. These are indexed and searchable. [[Media:1-Online_Ortsfamilienb%C3%BCcher-Instruction.pdf|OFB Instructions]].
 * A bibliography of OFBs held by the Central Office for Person and Family History, and available in their archive in Frankfurt am Main-Höchst, is listed here. You can arrange for copied pages to be sent to you for a fee or donation. Use the "Find" function on your keyboard to search the bibliographies, as they are not alphabetical.

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.
 * German Genealogical Word List
 * French Genealogical Word List
 * Latin Genealogical Word List


 * These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:
 * Old German Script Part 1
 * Old German Script Part 2
 * Old German Script (German Church and Civil Records) Part 3
 * German Paleography Seminar
 * German Script Tutorial


 * List of Names in Old German Script A comprehensive list of German given names,  written in old script, with possible variations.
 * Old German Script Transcriber (alte deutsche Handschriften): See your family names in the script of the era. Type your name or other word into the font generator tool. Click on the 8 different fonts. Save the image to your computer and use it as you work with old Germanic records.

Downloadable Handouts
These printable handouts can be used for ready reference when reading German Handwriting. Letters:


 * [[Media:Kurrent Letters.pdf|Kurrent Letters handout]]
 * [[Media:Kurrent Font Help Wiki.pdf|Additional Kurrent Letters handout]]

Vocabulary found on Specific Records:


 * [[Media:Birth Record Vocabulary-Kurrent-german.pdf|Birth Records Vocabulary handout]]
 * [[Media:Marriage Record Vocabulary-Kurrent-german.pdf|Marriage Records Vocabulary handout]]
 * [[Media:German marriage handout templated jan 2017.pdf|Overview of Marriage Laws and Customs (handout)]]
 * [[Media:Death Record Vocabulary-Kurrent german.pdf|Death Records Vocabulary handout]]

Dates, Numbers, Abbreviations:


 * [[Media:Days and Months Vocabulary-Kurrent-German.pdf|Days and Months handout]]
 * [[Media:Numbers Vocabulary.pdf|Numbers Vocabulary handout]]
 * [[Media:Kurrent Script Dates, Numbers, etc.pdf|Script Dates and Numbers handout]]
 * [[Media:Common Abbreviations-Kurrent-german.pdf|Common Abbreviations handout]]
 * [[Media:Common Symbols - Kurrent-german.pdf|Common Symbols handout]]

Miscellaneous Vocabulary:


 * [[Media:German Occupations Vocabulary.pdf|German Occupations Vocabulary handout]]
 * [[Media:Illnesses Vocabulary-Kurrent-german.pdf|Illnesses Vocabulary handout]]

Fraktur:


 * [[Media:Fraktur Font help - Wiki.pdf|Fraktur Font]]--Many forms and books are printed in this font.

Latin Records
Records of the Catholic church will usually be written in Latin:
 * Latin Genealogical Word List

Feast Dates

 * Calendar Changes in France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Low Countries--class
 * Each day of the year had several patron saints and was a feast day to honor those saints. Some vital events are recorded in church records only by the holy day (feast day) on the church calendar. For example, the feast day called “All Saints Day” (Allerheiligentag) is “1 November.” The Wiki article, Moveable and Fixed Feast Day Calendars for Germany, provides charts for converting feast days given in church records to regular Julian and Gregorian calendar dates.

Search Strategy

 * Search for the relative or ancestor you selected. When you find their birth record, search for the births of their brothers and sisters.
 * Next, search for the marriage of their parents. The marriage record will have information that will often help you find the birth records of the parents.
 * Search the death registers for all known family members.
 * Calculate the birth date of the parents, using age at death and/or marriage to search for their birth records.
 * Repeat this process for both the father and the mother, starting with their birth records, then their siblings' births, then their parents' marriages, and so on.
 * If earlier generations (parents, grandparents, etc.) do not appear in the records, search neighboring parishes.