Germany, Rhineland, Diocese of Trier, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Why Should I Look at This Collection?
Church records (parish registers, church books) are the main source of genealogical information in Germany before civil registration began in 1876. They record details of baptisms, marriages, confirmations, deaths and burials. Generally, the majority of the population can be found in the records. Additionally, these records can contain financial account books which may detail expenses incurred in performing marriages, funeral masses, etc., Lists of persons receiving communion, penance registers, lists of church members and registers naming members of each family.

It is important to know the religious affiliation of your ancestors as Catholic and Protestant parishes kept separate records. Catholic registers, especially the earliest volumes, are generally written in Latin. In many regions, it was also common for the local church records to function in the role of civil registrar.

What is in This Collection?
This collection is an index of birth, marriage, and death records from the Catholic Diocese of Trier, Germany, from 1704-1957.

Reading These Records
These records are written in German. For help reading these records please see the following: FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * German Language and Languages
 * German Genealogical Word List
 * Germany Handwriting
 * Reading German Handwritten Records

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Baptism
 * Date and place of birth
 * Baptismal date and place
 * Name and gender of child
 * Legitimacy of child
 * Parents' names
 * Parents' residence
 * Witnesses' names or godparents

Marriage
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Groom's name
 * Date and birth place of groom
 * Groom's residence
 * Groom's parents' names
 * Bride's name
 * Date and birth place of bride
 * Bride's residence
 * Bride's parents' names
 * Witnesses' name

Death
 * Date and place of death
 * Name of deceased
 * Date and place of birth
 * Parents' names of the deceased
 * Name of spouse if married
 * Names of witnesses
 * Cause of death
 * Date and place of burial

Inventory
For a list of all the titles included in this Historical Records publication see Germany, Rhineland, Diocese of Trier, Catholic Church Records - Inventory.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching, it is best to know:
 * The name of the person you are searching for
 * The date or approximate date of birth, marriage, or death

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking for, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Copy down all the information from the index entry.
 * Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives. Note that family members often appear on an individual's vital records, such as a person's role of witnesses to a marriage.

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking for, What Now?

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Vary the search terms. For example, expand the date range or search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of results

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Germany.
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Germany Record Finder

Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collections

 * Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate Church Record Extractions and Family Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

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