Germany, Nordrhein-Westfalen Civil Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of civil registers of births, marriages, and deaths for North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Original records are located in the State Archive in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Reading These Records
These records are written in German. For help reading these records see:
 * German Genealogical Word List
 * Germany Handwriting
 * Brigham Young University Script Tutorial : The German Documents

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

Birth
 * Birth date
 * Name at birth
 * Parents’ names
 * Parents’ residence

Marriage
 * Marriage date
 * Names of bride and groom
 * Residence of bride and groom
 * Age of bride and groom
 * Parents’ names

Death
 * Death date
 * Name of deceased
 * Place of death
 * Age at death

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

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
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * 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. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.

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

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research 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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