Bosnia and Herzegovina Church Records

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Research use: Primary genealogical source which uniquely identifies individuals and the links between generations.

Record type: Church records kept by parish priests of births/baptisms, marriages, and deaths/burials. The term is also used to refer to the records of denominations that had jurisdictions other than parishes.

General: Of the Christian population of Bosnia, most Croatians are Catholic and most Serbians are Orthodox.

Time period: 1800-present.

Contents: Name of the principal, other family members, residence, familial relationship, dates and place of birth and baptism, marriage, death and burial. Marriages and deaths include ages of the persons involved. Baptisms include names of the godparents. Entries sometimes identify residence for those not in the parish.

Population coverage: 60% coverage for population, but less for earlier periods.

Location: Based on the pattern in Serbia, it is assumed the records are located in churches and in various archives--national, historical, and community.