Germany, Hessen-Nassau, Diocese of Limburg, 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?
Catholic church records from Bistum (Bishopric or Diocese) Limburg, Germany including baptisms, marriages, and burials. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Limburg was organized in 1827 from the Dioceses of Trier and Mainz.

The diocese includes land formerly included in the Duchy of Nassau, the city of Frankfurt am Main, the County of Hesse-Homburg, and the area around Biedenkopf, in Hesse.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Latin and German. For help reading these records see the following:
 * German Language and Languages
 * German Genealogical Word List
 * Germany Handwriting
 * Latin Genealogical Word List
 * FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * Reading German Handwritten Records

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

Baptism
 * Date of baptism
 * Name of child
 * Date of birth
 * Gender
 * Parents’ names (including mother’s maiden name)
 * Witnesses or godparents

Marriage
 * Date of marriage
 * Name of bride and groom
 * Names of bride and groom’s parents
 * Age of bride and groom
 * Birth year of bride and groom

Death
 * Date of death
 * Name of deceased
 * Parents’ names
 * Spouse’s name (if married)
 * Occupation of deceased

Collection Content
For more information about these records see Germany, Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records.

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

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.