Germany Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection includes the years 1558 through 1898.

Record Description
This index is an electronic database of information compiled from a variety of sources including the following:


 * Family Records
 * Church Records
 * Civil Registration

This index is not complete for any particular place or region.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found in birth or baptism index entries may include:


 * Name of the child
 * Gender
 * Names of the parents
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Christening date (if the source is a church record)
 * Family History Library Microfilm and item numbers for the source materials

Coverage Table
This collection is a partial index of records for the localities listed below as of April 2010. The table below shows the number of records by locality. Localities not listed may not have any records in this collection.

Most of these records date from the time period indicated in the columns below; however, there may be records before and after these dates. Record counts where the locality information was incomplete are included below under the country name. Because of this, you may wish to search only by country.

As this is an index of records compiled from various sources, it is strongly recommended that you verify the information in original records. Due to privacy laws not all records may be displayed.

How to Use the Record
Use this index to help you learn more about your ancestors. The information could help you identify family relationships and lineages as well as direct you to original records of your ancestors, which may contain additional information.

In birth or christening records, if a surname is not listed for the child, the indexer often assigns the father’s surname to the child. This surname may not be correct. So if you are looking for a birth or christening, search by the given name of the child, adding parents' names and as much locality information as is permitted.

Finding the Original Source for an Entry in This Collection
Each entry in this index has a source listed which includes a batch number. You will need to trace the batch number for the individual entry to learn its source. Please see the following wiki articles for more information on batch numbers:


 * IGI
 * IGI Batch Number Descriptions

If an FHL film number is given in the entry for your ancestor, search for it in the Family History Library Catalog.

Record History
For over 30 years, volunteer indexers extracted this information from microfilm copies of the original records. In 2000, some of the entries were published on 8 CDs by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the “Western Europe Vital Records Index: Germany Region.” This is an index of some births or baptisms throughout Germany. The index is not necessarily complete for any particular place or region.

Why This Record Was Created
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored the indexing of this collection to help individuals find information about their ancestors.

Record Reliability
Church records and civil registration were official records and are some of the most reliable sources of information available for those who were born, married, or died in Germany.

Known Issues with This Collection
The following are known issues for Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898; Germany Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958; and Germany Marriages, 1558-1929. Problem #1 - Previously available records can no longer be found or are missing. Problem #2 - Some of the localities are indexed wrong or transcribed incorrectly.

For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection, please read the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, feel free to report them at support@familysearch.org. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Web Sites
Archives in Germany

Cyndi's List in Germany

This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.

Related Wiki Articles
Germany Civil Registration

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection:
"Germany Births and Baptisms, 1559-1898." index, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed March 24, 2011). entry for Maria Schultz, baptized 9 March 1739; citing Church Records, FHL microfilm 1,043,918; Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

Sources of Information for This Collection
Original church books from parishes throughout Germany.