Vilna Gubernia Religious Records

Jewish Records
The history of Jews in Lithuania spans the period from the fourteenth century to the present day. There is still a small Jewish community in the country, as well as an extensive Lithuanian Jewish diaspora in Israel, the United States and other countries. Before World War II, Lithuania had a very strong Jewish population - about 150,000 people, which was more than 5% of the total population. Throughout WWII and the Holocaust, 91-95% of Lithuania's Jewish population were killed.

The vital events, or birth, marriage, death, and divorce of Lithuanian Jews (also known as Litvaks), typically began to be recorded in 1835. You may find Jewish records prior to this point; however, beginning in 1835, the keeping of Jewish records was mandated by the Russian Empire. Copies, or transcripts of the records were filed with the local town council (gorodskaia duma). To locate vital records (or revision list records) for your Litvak ancestor, find the uyezd they lived in below. See also Lithuania Jewish Records for more information.

General Resources
The following "general" resources will apply to research in all uyezds within the former Vilna gubernia. For uyezd specific resources, find your respective uyezd's heading from the list below this section.

Litvak SIG
Litvak SIG, or the Lithuanian-Jewish Special Interest Group is an organization committed to preserving Jewish genealogy and history in Lithuania. If your ancestors lived in Disna, Lida, Oshmiany, Sventsiany, or Troki uyezds, this website will be of interest to you. The organization is divided into district and gubernia research groups that focus on gathering and indexing available Jewish records for that area. Many of those records are accessible via the free All Lithuania Database (ALD). For instructions on how to search the ALD, click here. The ALD is free; however, for access to recently required records and other search features, membership/a monetary donation is required. See their Membership and Contributions page for more information.

Belarus SIG
Belarus SIG, or the Belarus Special Interest Group is an organization dedicated to preserving Jewish genealogy and history in Belarus (including parts of the former Vilna, Vitebsk, Grodno, Minsk, and Mogilev guberni). If your ancestors lived in Disna, Lida, Oshmyany, or Vileĭka uyezds, this website will be of interest to you. The organization has some resources on their website to help you learn about research, as well as several databases. Many of the Belarus SIG records are available through the JewishGen Belarus Database; however, there are some smaller databases available to search.

JewishGen
JewishGen is the global home for Jewish genealogy and provides access to millions of records, research and learning tools, and much more. The following databases and pages may be useful to you in your Lithuanian/Vilna Gubernia Jewish research:


 * JewishGen Family Finder - a database of surnames and ancestral hometowns researched by Jewish genealogists throughout the world. You may be able to connect with others who are researching the same surnames and/or locations.
 * JewishGen Communities Database - is a great place to find information about your town including jurisdictions throughout time, alternate names and spellings in various languages, links to helpful resources for that town and more. Searching for information about the town is an important first step in genealogical research.
 * JewishGen Lithuania Collection - this collection contains more than 2.4 million records including vital records, revision lists, Vilnius household registers, army conscript photographs (1900-1914), city directories, cemetery records and much, much more. The following sub-databases are included within the larger JewishGen Lithuania collection and may be of especial interest to those searching Jewish Vilna Gubernia roots.
 * Vilnius Household Registers - this collection, nested in the larger JewishGen Lithuania Collection contains Jewish records in household registers from the city of Vilnius (Wilno) from 1919-1940.
 * Vilna Gubernia Conscripts Photographs - this database contains 1,222 names of Jewish conscripts from the former Vilna gubernia. In some cases, the backsides of the photos contain information aout the person, in Russian. The collection can be searched using the JewishGen Lithuania Collection.
 * Vilna Ghetto List - this database includes the names of 15,507 prisoners in the Vilnius Ghetto. The information came from a census in May of 1942. It can be searched via the JewishGen Lithuania Collection.
 * 1915 Vsia Vilna Directory - contains over 17,400 entries from the 1915 city directory of Vilnius, Lithuania. It can be searched through the JewishGen Lithuania Collection.
 * JewishGen Kehila Links - are websites commemorating Jewish shtetls. Kehila link pages can include helpful information such as history of the town, photographs, links to other sites containing information and records, indexes to records, images and/or transcriptions for headstones at Jewish cemeteries, and much more. To see all available Kehila Links for locations in the former Vilna Gubernia, check both the Lithuania and Belarus Kehila Link pages. Kehila Link pages are also commonly linked to a town's entry in the JewishGen Communities Database.
 * JewishGen Yizkor Books - Yizkor books are books created to memorialize a Jewish shtetl. They may include information such as town histories, lists of people who lived there, historical photographs, etc. Many Yizkor books have been translated (or partially translated) and are available through the JewishGen Yizkor Book project.

Miriam Weiner's Routes to Roots Foundation
Throughout her 30+ years of experience in Eastern European archives, Miriam Weiner collected vast amounts of information and material, much of which is now available online through the Routes to Roots Foundation website. The site includes many resources to help you research your Jewish roots including a town-by-town index/inventory of surviving Jewish records in archives, maps, surname and Holocaust list databases, informative articles and much more! For more information about how to use Miriam Weiner's Routes to Roots Foundation, see the FamilySearch Wiki article, Finding Lithuania Jewish Ancestors.

Genealogy Indexer
Genealogy Indexer is a free database that provides access to thousands of records including city directories from the Russian Empire, Yizkor books, WWI casualty lists and other military records, as well as school records. Links to the original records are included.

Jewish Roots
The Еврейские Корни (Jewish Roots) site is an excellent resource to help you locate archival documents. The website is in Russian, but if you are using the Google Chrome browser, simply right click anywhere on the page and select Translate to English. Search using the name of the town (find the Cyrillic spelling of the town on JewishGen Town Finder) to see what archival records might be available for your location. In addition to the database, use the Forum to connect with other researchers and find other potential resources for your location.

Uyezd Specific Resources
The following resources, grouped by uyezd, apply specifically to the uyezd it is listed under.

Disna Uyezd
Litvak SIG


 * The Disna District Research Group within Litvak SIG has been actively seeking out records for Disna Uyezd. There are over 28,000 individual records indexed. Records are accessible via the Litvak SIG All Lithuania Database. See this page for instructions on how to search the ALD.


 * Additional Disna records or information may be available to members of the Disna District Research Group. To learn more about the group, click here.


 * The 1784 Disna uyezd revision list has been transcribed by Litvak SIG.

FamilySearch


 * The 1858 revision list for Disna Uyezd is available on FHL 1224574, Item 1/DGS 7952297. For help reading revision lists, see the Reading Revision Lists "How to" Guide.

Lida Uyezd
For a history of Jews in Lida, see the article Lida: The Untold Stories.

Litvak SIG


 * The Lida District Research Group of Litvak SIG has obtained and translated all known available vital records for the twelve shtetls in the district of Vilna - more than 100,000 individuals records! Lida uyezd records can be searched using the Litvak SIG All-Lithuania Database, or the the JewishGen Lithuania Collection. See this page for instructions on how to search the ALD.


 * Additional Lida records or information may be available to members of theLida District Research Group. To learn more about the group, click here.

FamilySearch
 * There are also surname lists available for the Lida uyezd. These surnames lists were compiled along with translations of vital records done by the Lida group. You can use these surnames lists to see if your surname appears in a particular shtetl, and find possible spelling variations for your surname. Access the surname lists here.
 * The 1784 Lida uyezd revision list has been transcribed by Litvak SIG.


 * The 1858 revision list for Disna Uyezd is available on FHL 1224574, Item 3/DGS 7952297. For help reading revision lists, see the Reading Revision Lists "How to" Guide.
 * The following towns, or shtetl of Lida uyezd have Jewish records available through FamilySearch. Click on the hyperlink to view the Catalog entry page. Keep in mind that some records may not be accessible online - they may be accessible at your local Family History Center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 * Belitsa (1897-1900)
 * Zaskevichi (1855-1872)

Lida Holocaust Memorial Foundation


 * The Lida Holocaust Memorial Foundation works to preserve the memory of those who perished in Lida during the holocaust. They share stories, perform cemetery maintenance, and work on Holocaust awareness/education events, and memorial services. Check the Our Stories and Media Gallery tabs of their site to read or contribute stories and see pictures of pre-war Lida.

Additional Resources


 * The Lida Ghetto (history)

Oshmiany Uyezd
Litvak SIG


 * The Oshmiany District Research Group within Litvak SIG has been actively seeking out records for Oshmiany Uyezd. There are over 18,000 individual records indexed. Records are accessible via the Litvak SIG All Lithuania Database. See this page for instructions on how to search the ALD.
 * Additional Oshmiany records or information may be available to members of the Oshmiany District Research Group. To learn more about the group, click here.
 * The 1784 Oshmiany uyezd revision list has been transcribed by Litvak SIG.

JRI-Poland

FamilySearch
 * Parts of the former Oshmiany uyezd belonged to Poland in the inter-war period. As such, the indexing site, JRI-Poland, has several projects in place to obtain Oshmiany District records from Polish archives.


 * The 1858 revision list for Oshmiany uyezd is available on FHL 1224574, Item 2/DGS 7952297. For help reading revision lists, see the Reading Revision Lists "How to" Guide.
 * Metrical books for Zaskevichi/Zaśkiewicze/Zaskevichy (1855-1872) are available on FamilySearch. Keep in mind that some records may not be accessible online - they may be accessible at your local Family History Center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sventsiany Uyezd
Litvak SIG


 * The Svencionys District Research Group within Litvak SIG has been actively seeking out records for Sventsiany/Svencionys uyezd. Records for this uyezd are accessible via the Litvak SIG All Lithuania Database. See this page for instructions on how to search the ALD.
 * There are also surname lists available for the Sventisany uyezd. These surnames lists were compiled along with translations of vital records and revision list records done by the Sventsiany group. You can use these surnames lists to see if your surname appears in a particular shtetl, and find possible spelling variations for your surname. Access the surname lists here.
 * The 1784 Sventsiany uyezd revision list has been transcribed by Litvak SIG.

Troki Uyezd
Litvak SIG

FamilySearch
 * The Trakai District Research group within Litvak SIG has been actively seeking out records for Troki/Trakai uyezd. There are over 52,000 individual records indexed. Indexed records includes some data from every shtetl with which there is available data, but the project is still going. Records for this uyezd are accessible via the Litvak SIG All Lithuania Database. See this page for instructions on how to search the ALD.
 * The 1784 Troki/Trakai uyezd revision list has been transcribed by Litvak SIG.

The following towns, or shtetl of Troki uyezd have Jewish records available through FamilySearch. Click on the hyperlink to view the Catalog entry page. Keep in mind that some records may not be accessible online - they may be accessible at your local Family History Center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.


 * Butrimonys/Butrymańce (1856-1924)
 * Daugai (1854-1915)
 * Dorsunishki/Dersunishki/Darsūniškis (1870-1914)
 * Eve/Vievis(1864-1914)
 * Ezno/Jieznas (1877-1914)
 * Merecz/Merech/Merkinė (1854-1938)
 * Nemunaitis (1854-1913)
 * Olita/Alytus (1835-1914)
 * Olkieniki/Valkininkai (1856-1905)
 * Orany/Varėna (1854-1915)
 * Puni/Punia (1854-1905)
 * Stokliszki/Stakliškės (1854-1880)
 * Troki/Trakai (city) (1866-1908)
 * Vysokiĭ Dvor/Aukštadvaris (1881-1914)
 * Zhizhmory/Žiežmariai (1854-1915)
 * Zhosli/Žasliai (1871-1916)

Vilna Uyezd
Litvak SIG


 * The Vilnius District Research Group within Litvak SIG has been actively seeking out records for Vilnius uyezd (including the city of Vilnius and towns in the uyezd). There are over 85,000 individual records indexed. Records for this uyezd are accessible via the Litvak SIG All Lithuania Database. See this page for instructions on how to search the ALD.
 * The 1784 Vilna uyezd revision list has been transcribed by Litvak SIG.
 * City of Vilnius District Internal Passports ($) - All Internal Passports for the city of Vilnius were translated as of August 2016. There are approximately 40,000 internal passport files for Vilnius. In order to access internal passport indexes for the city of Vilnius, you must make a donation. See this page for more information.

FamilySearch

The following towns, or shtetl of Troki uyezd have Jewish records available through FamilySearch. Click on the hyperlink to view the Catalog entry page. Keep in mind that some records may not be accessible online - they may be accessible at your local Family History Center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.


 * Antokol/Antakalnis (1854-1895)
 * Bezdany (1891-1914)
 * Boguslavishki/Bohusławiszki/Bagaslaviškis (1854-1914)
 * Chabishki/Čiobiškis (1854-1914)
 * Gedroĭtsy/Giedraičiai (1892-1915)
 * Gelvany/Gelvonai (1854-1914)
 * Gorod Novyĭ/Nowy Gorod/Novogorod/Novogrod/Nowogród (1854-1914)
 * Jakubańce/Jokūbonys (1896-1914)
 * Inturki/Inturkė (1892-1895)
 * Kalvariĭskie Snipishki/Snipishki/Snipishki Kalvariĭskie/Snipiszki/Šnipiškės (1855-1904)
 * Kernovo/Kernavė (1870-1914)
 * Kalveliai/Kowalczuki/Kovalchuki (1918-1923)
 * Laĭbishki/Łojbisyki/Laibiškės (1895-1914)
 * Maliaty/Molėtai (1854-1915)
 * Mejszagoła/Meĭshagola/Maišiagala (1873-1914)
 * Muśniki/Musniki/Musninkai (1854-1914)
 * Niemenczyn/Nemenchin/Nemenčinė (1854-1914)
 * Nowa Wilejka/Novo-Vileĭsk/Naujoji Vilnia (1891-1914)
 * Podbrzezie/Podbereze/Paberžė (1838-1915)
 * Rudomino/Rudamina (1891-1914)
 * Shesholi/Szeszole/Šešuoliai (1873-1914)
 * Shirvinty/Širvintos (1854-1914)
 * Solechniki Bolshie/Wielkie Soleczniki/Šalčininkai (1891-1914)
 * Turgeli/Turgiele/Turgeliai (1891-1914)
 * Vilna/Vilnius/Wilno - there were several different Jewish congregations in Vilna and the surrounding suburbs. If your ancestor was from the city of Vilna/Vilnius/Wilno, you may need to search in the records of both the city and the suburbs.
 * Vilna/Vilnius/Wilno City (1837-1925)
 * Vilna/Vilnius/Wilno (1854-1895) Antokol - a suburb of Vilna
 * Vilna/Vilnius/Wilno (1854-1914) Gorod Novyi - a suburb of Vilna
 * Vilna/Vilnius/Wilno (1854-1904) Snipiszki/Kalvariĭskie Snipishki - a suburb of Vilna
 * Vorniany/Worniany/Varnėnai/Arnionys (1887-1914)

City of Vilnius

 * City of Vilnius District Internal Passports ($) - All Internal Passports for the city of Vilnius were translated as of August 2016. There are approximately 40,000 internal passport files for Vilnius. In order to access internal passport indexes for the city of Vilnius, you must make a donation. See this page for more information.
 * Vilnius Household Registers - this collection, nested in the larger JewishGen Lithuania Collection contains Jewish records in household registers from the city of Vilnius (Wilno) from 1919-1940.
 * Vilna Gubernia Conscripts Photographs - this database contains 1,222 names of Jewish conscripts from the former Vilna gubernia. In some cases, the backsides of the photos contain information aout the person, in Russian. The collection can be searched using the JewishGen Lithuania Collection.
 * Vilna Ghetto List - this database includes the names of 15,507 prisoners in the Vilnius Ghetto. The information came from a census in May of 1942. It can be searched via the JewishGen Lithuania Collection.
 * 1915 Vsia Vilna Directory - contains over 17,400 entries from the 1915 city directory of Vilnius, Lithuania. It can be searched through the JewishGen Lithuania Collection.

Islamic Records
A group of Muslims migrated to the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth (now modern-day Lithuania) in the fourteenth century. They lost their language over time, but still maintained Islam as their religion. These Muslims are sometimes referred to as Lithuanian Tatars. Because of the great distance between Lithuania and the greater Islamic world, the practices of the Lithuanian Tatars differ slightly from the Sunni Muslims. Most of the Lithuanian Tatar culture, mosques, and graveyards were destroyed by the Soviet Union; however, after Lithuania gained independence, there was a resurgence of Lithuanian Tatar culture.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1397670?availability=Family%20History%20Library