Kirchenbuch

Kirchenbücher are the backbone of German research. Until civil registration began in the 1870s, the churches were the only ones recording births, marriages and deaths. Many parishes also kept confirmation lists and family registers.

In Austria the books are called Matriken and in Switzerland the Rodel. One book can mix all event types year by year, or each type can have its own volume, such as the Taufbuch for baptisms.