German Genealogy: Using Hansen’s Map Guides To Locate Your Ancestor’s Parish Records

Hansen’s Map Guides to German Parish Registers simplify the process of locating the parish registers containing the records of your ancestors. The map guides contain detailed information about Catholic and Lutheran jurisdictions for locations within the former German Empire (including areas now in Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Denmark, and France), Switzerland and Luxembourg, and also some information about Jewish congregations in those areas. Given your ancestor’s hometown, learn how to identify the most likely parish or parishes with the records, then check the online availability of the registers on FamilySearch, Archion and/or Matricula.

The focus of the German Genealogy Group is researching migrants who immigrated from German-speaking areas of Europe to various parts of the US from the 1700s to the 1900s. Knowledge of the German language is not required - the goal is to help guide your research and provide resources for translating the records. The group is a special interest group of the Dallas Genealogical Society and is freely open to all.

Can't make it in person? Join the meeting online through the DGS website.