Armenia Church Book - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Record
Հայաստան, ծխական գրանցումների մատյաններ

Record Description
This is a collection of church records of various religions as gathered by the National Archives of Armenia. However, the majority of the records are those of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It includes records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths from 1838 to 1929.

For a list of records by localities and dates currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
Baptismal records may contain the following information:


 * Date and place of baptism
 * Name of individual
 * Birth date
 * Parents’ names
 * Grandparents’ names (sometimes)

Marriage records may contain the following information:


 * Date and place of marriage
 * Names of the couple
 * Date of birth or ages
 * Parents’ names
 * Witnesses’ names
 * Residences

Death and burial records may contain the following information:


 * Date and place of death
 * Deceased name
 * Age at death
 * Marital status
 * If married, the spouse’s name
 * Sometimes the parents’ names
 * Burial place

How to Use the Record
To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select the "Browse" link in the initial collection page ⇒ Select the “Province” ⇒ Select the “Place, Parish” ⇒ Select the “Year, Volume, Record Type” which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

When searching the records it is helpful to know the following:


 * The name and surname of the primary individuals
 * The approximate date and place of the event

If you are unable to find your ancestors try the following:


 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * Search the records of nearby localities.

Using the Information

When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth to find the family in census records.
 * Use the residence and names of the parents to locate church and land records.
 * Occupations listed can lead you to other types of records such as employment or military records.
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family.
 * Compile the marriage entries for every person who has the same surname as the bride or groom; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the marriage records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the bride and groom who may have married in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Tips to Keep in Mind


 * The information in church records is usually reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the informant.
 * Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1800.
 * There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another.

Related Websites

 * National Archives of Armenia
 * Armenian Genealogy &amp; Family History Resources
 * Armenian Catholic Church
 * Armenian Church in Armenian

Related Wiki Articles

 * Armenia
 * Armenian Localities
 * Christian Church Records in Turkey

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
Citations for individual image records are available for this collection. Browse through images in this collection and click on the "Show Citation" box: Armenia, Church Books, 1838-1929

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.