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
For help reading these records see the following guides:
 * German Language and Languages
 * German Genealogical Word List
 * Germany Handwriting
 * FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * Reading German Handwritten Records

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

Christening
 * 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
 * Witnessess' 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

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

Search the Index

 * 1) Go to the 
 * 2) Fill in the search boxes with the information you have
 * 3) Click Search to bring up a list of possible matches

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?

 * Copy down all the information from the index entry.
 * Cite the record. See below for help citing records in this collection.
 * 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?

 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records
 * Try variations of given names and surnames. An individual might have been listed under a middle name, or abbreviation of their given name
 * 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