East Prussia

Church Records: Delving into the church registers of East Prussia unveils a treasure trove for genealogical enthusiasts. These invaluable records, often reaching back centuries, are rich with intricate details on baptisms, marriages, and burials.

You can find East Prussian church registers on FamilySearch, which provides a comprehensive guide to these records, including Lutheran and Catholic parish registers. Additionally, the Evangelical Parish Registers and Catholic Parish Registers sections on FamilySearch offer specific details about available records and their locations.

Civil Registration Documents: Although many civil registration records were lost during World War II, surviving documents from certain districts can still be accessed.

Digitized civil registry records from East Prussia can be explored through the State Archive in Olsztyn, Poland, available via the Immigrant Genealogical Society. Additional resources for civil registration and family history research can be found on FamilySearch Genealogy. Records held by the Polish State Archives are accessible through their official website, and you can browse scans and archival materials from Poland on Szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl.

Online Databases: Modern technology has made it easier to research East Prussian ancestry.

Platforms such as FamilySearch, Archion, and Ancestry.com host digitized records related to the region. Additionally, databases like Kartenmeister and GenWiki are excellent resources for locating towns and understanding their administrative divisions during East Prussia’s existence.

Mapping Ancestry: Due to the changing borders of East Prussia, pinpointing ancestral locations can be tricky. Historical maps and gazetteers, such as the Gemeindelexikon für das Königreich Preußen, are essential for identifying towns and understanding their historical jurisdiction.

Kartenmeister is particularly useful for translating German town names into their modern equivalents in Poland, Lithuania, or Russia. Learn how to use Kartenmeister with this instruction guide or explore its features on Sassy Jane Genealogy.

Town Family Books of East Prussia: “Town family books” (“Ortssippenbücher” or “Ortsfamilienbücher”) compile detailed family histories specific to various towns, including records of births, marriages, and deaths. These books are indispensable tools for genealogical research. Recommended resources include Genealogy.net, FamilySearch, and WorldCat, making it easier for researchers to explore their ancestry.