Austria, Diocese of Gurk, Catholic Church Books - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection will include records from 1603-1939. The collection will contain registers of births, marriages, and deaths from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gurk in Carinthia, Austria.

For Help Reading the Records
These records are written in German. For help reading these records see the following:
 * German Word List
 * German Language and Languages
 * Germany Handwriting
 * Germany Resources

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

Birth  Marriage  Death
 * Birth date
 * Name at birth
 * Parents’ names
 * Parents’ residence
 * Marriage date
 * Names of bride and groom
 * Parents’ names
 * Bride/groom’s birth date or age
 * Place of marriage
 * Death date
 * Name of deceased
 * Name of closest living relative
 * Birth date
 * Cause of death

Sample Images
Click on images for a larger view.

How Do I Search the Collection?
When searching it is helpful to know: Search by name by visiting the Collection page: Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information in the list to what you already know about your ancestor to determine if it is the correct family or person. You may need to compare several persons in the list before you find your ancestor. View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page: To search by image: follow these links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the "Town or Parish" ⇒Select the "Event Type" ⇒Select the "Inclusive Years" which takes you to the images
 * Your ancestor's name
 * Age and or residence
 * An estimated event year
 * A parent's name

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 Who I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age in the record to find an approximate birth year, which will help you find their other records.
 * Use the information to find your ancestors in civil records. There may not be census records available but these can help you find additional family members.
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found to find more generations of the family.

I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search.
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.

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