Germany, Prussia, Pomerania Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes birth, marriage, and death records from 1544-1945. These records come from Evangelical Lutheran and Roman Catholic church records, as well as transcripts for a portion of Pomerania now located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany and Szczecin, Poland. Original records are located in the Landesarchiv Greifswald, Germany.

Reading These Records
These records are written in German. For help reading them see: FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * German Language and Languages
 * German Genealogical Word List
 * Germany Handwriting
 * German Paleography Seminar

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

Birth
 * Date of birth
 * Name of child
 * Parents’ names (including mother’s maiden name)
 * Gender
 * Witnesses or godparents

Marriage
 * Date of marriage
 * Name of bride and groom
 * Names of bride and groom’s parents
 * Age of bride and groom
 * Birth year of bride and groom

Death
 * Date of death
 * Name of deceased
 * Parents’ names
 * Spouse’s name (if married)
 * Occupation of deceased

Collection Content
For more information about these records see Germany, Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Your ancestor's name
 * Residence
 * Age or birth date
 * Names of family members

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.

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the age to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in church or civil records
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived nearby
 * When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given.
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

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

 * Consult the Germany Record Finder to find other records
 * Keep in mind that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in.

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

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

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