in the vast number of websites given over to it. These excellent sources of information can save you time. Your FREE genealogy starting point with more than 337,000 genealogy links, categorized & cross-referenced, in more than 200 categories. The scheme is still under development and requires a payment to see the records. The databases which are available here were all created by many volunteers. She teaches at the Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. However, you do not need to speak or read German to do research in German records. Encyclopedias. Record-keeping in Germany began through church records in the early 16 th century after the Protestant Reformation. If you want to research German archives today, you should always remember that the frontiers outside and inside the land called “Germany” were historically far from stable. Some of these are shown at GenWiki, Genealogical Symbols and Signs. Because of Germany's history, you may also find several other languages in German records. Kartenmeister “Kartenmeister is a database for towns which are found east of the Oder and Neisse rivers in the former German Empire provinces of East Prussia, West Prussia, Brandenburg, Posen, Pomerania, and Silesia. This category includes civil, church, cemetery, obituary, and other death-related collections. You will need to know some key words and phrases to understand the records. This was the case when I was trying to visit an ancestor’s hometown: the tiny village of Elsoff, now part of the German Land (state) Nordrhein-Westfalen. Polish Genealogical Word List 5. It is only expected for you to want to find out more about your German genealogy. For a printable table showing Kurrent letters in a computer font, click here. As an experienced German genealogy translator, I provide you with high-quality German to English translations. German can be tricky for non-native speakers, and it’s easy for words to become lost in translation. Free German Genealogy Terms Reference Charts. French was often used in Elsaß-Lothringen and during the French domination of the area west of the Rhein. The 12 Best German Genealogy Websites 1. *If you would like professional transcription or translation help, contact me here. Along with Thode's Address Book for Germanic Genealogy (Genealogical Pub., 1991), this is essential for German genealogical researchers. Challenges in German Genealogy Research German family history research can be very confusing because of the bureaucratic and variable complex structures of the different types of archives. All nouns are classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. We invite any person interested in researching their Germanic heritage to join the German Genealogy Group and share experiences with those who range from beginners to professional genealogists. Danish was used in much of Schleswig-Holstein until Preußen annexed that area in 1864. Research at Library and Archives Canada; Research at Other Institutions and Online ; Research in Published Sources; German language immigrants began arriving in Canada over 300 years ago from the region that is now Austria, Germany and Switzerland. We will provide exhaustive information on genealogical research. The term genealogy is used in this outline to describe records that contain family information gathered by individuals, societies, or archives. For more information consult: Federation of East European Family History Societies—Map Library FamilySearch—Germany—Maps . Some were available on FamilySearch.org and/or in the Family History Library (see website … The following list gives the cardinal (1, 2, 3) and the ordinal (1st, 2nd, 3rd) versions of each number. Schaumburg-Lippe, German Empire Online Genealogy Records; Schleswig-Holstein Online Genealogy Records; Silesia (Schlesien) Online Genealogy Records; Thuringia (Thüringen) Online Genealogy Records. Cemeteries in Germany aren't as useful as they are in the states. A number of the Protestant churches of Germany are cooperating to digitize copies of their church books and make them available online through the site Archion. Total now is over 132,500. Many other languages are also supported. Wikipedia Fraktur Script. The main archives outside of Germany are described below. Other Useful Sites Below are other useful sites for research in Germany. Online German Emigration Indexes and Lists [on this website] The Hamburg Passenger Departure Lists, 1850-1934 (Research Guide) [on this website] This is especially true of dates. Database updated 07 Nov 2019, with almost 12,000 additional names. If you are just getting started, this video series will give you the tools you need to be successful. Danish Word List Danish is used in some records of Schleswig-Holstein. Bob devoted most of his waking hours to scanning and formatting the data into an OCR program. In genealogy, this is especially relevant for the spelling of certain last names. This website is an index to seventeen websites focused on researching German … Church records may list both the old and new surnames, separated by German words such as oder (or) or genannt (called as), the Latin vulgo (commonly known as) or simply alias. Top 9 German Translation Websites and Resources. In addition to being able to recognize the most important genealogy words in German records, knowing a little about how the German language works can help you to narrow down what documents you think are … 4. If you have German ancestors, chances are you’ve encountered some challenges trying to track them down. These records may include pedigree charts, compiled family information, correspondence, ancestor lists, research exchange files, record abstracts, and collections of original or copied documents. When doing German genealogy, it is important to remember that the Germany of today is different from the German Empire 1871–1918, which is different from the various duchies of pre-1871. Researching German family history eventually means delving into documents written in German. Church records, however, go back as far as the 15th century. Base knowledge . However, help and support are provided in English as well. Try these suggestions. With a Master’s Degree in German Language and Literature, as well as several years spent in German-speaking Austria through the prestigious Fulbright program, I’ve developed a strong passion for the German language, history and culture. German Genealogy Guide: Free Records, Research Tips and Resources to Help You Find Your Ancestors. Regional research. It begins with an overview of the history of Germany and then continues with the details you need to find your ancestors. Word endings may vary, depending on the way the words are used in the sentence. Since most German records are not centralized, it is nearly impossible to trace your ancestors in Germany without this step.