German Genealogy Databases Online -Find your German Family

For many German-Americans, tracing their history is not so easy. Records were lost or destroyed, and the old script can be difficult to read. While I am by no means an expert, I have found some German Genealogy Databases online that can help you find a little more about your German Ancestry.

If you know of any websites or pages that would be helpful, please let me know in the comments, or email me at [email protected].

“This post contains affiliate links, at no additional cost to you I am compensated if you purchase after clicking on the links.”

Go to the Next Step- Reading German Handwriting to Understand old Records

Reading German Church Records and Letters requires understanding the Handwriting and old Language. Germanology Unlocked has great online classes and webinars to help! I’ve finished the handwriting course, and can already make sense of the handwriting AND know where to look for records.

Reading the Old German Handwriting Online CourseReading the Old German Handwriting Online CourseGermanology UnlockedGerman Language for Genealogists Online CourseGerman Language for Genealogists Online CourseGermanology Unlocked

March 11 is Genealogy Day

German Genealogy Databases Online

Ancestry- 
Ancestry’s World Explorer Membership has loads of German Records and connections to search. Ancestry

Germanic Genealogy Society-  Germanic Genealogy
GGS offers information, educational opportunities, publications, and association with others researching German roots.  This includes areas that are outside of the current borders of Germany.

German Genealogy Site –
Computer Genealogy group- GEDBAS

Online German Genealogy Records and Databases

Lists a number of websites including, emigration lists, grave records, Casualty lists, Hamburg Passenger lists, Historical Address books. Also lists some sites that are specific to different German States.

German Roots
Places to Find German Genealogy Records and Databases Online –German Roots

Online Family Tree
Register in German or English… provides some useful search tools
Vervant
Dynastree

The German Genealogy Group
membership group-German Genealogy Group

My Heritage (German Site)
You do need to sign up for this one – My Heritage

Top 100 Geneaology Websites
Lists 100 different Genealogy websites to use…. both paid and free (as of 2015) – Genealogy in Time

Billion Graves
A site that is logging all of the Graveyards and headstones around the world. Free to join and participate. – Billion Graves

German Emigration Records
Lists of Emigration records from Germany by state- German Roots

Archion & Matricula
-Online scans of Church Books in Germany. You must be a member to use Archion, Matricula, is Free

German American Heritage Museum in Washington DC

-GAHMUSA cultivates a greater awareness for German-American heritage and history through outreach efforts that deepen cultural understanding. –>GAHMUSA

International German Genealogy Partnership and Conference

The Partnership has regular programs both online and in person, as well an annual conferences. Learn more here.
– in 2021 I attended the conference virtually. Recordings are still available.

FYI- DNA Test Kits are very popular gifts… but which is the best one for YOU? DNA Weekly has tested and reviewed a number of DNA Test kits. Read more about them HERE–> DNA WEEKLY

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German Immigrants and Immigration

-German Emigration Database
The German Emigration Database (DAD) at the Historisches Museum Bremerhaven is a research project on European emigration to the United States. The database collects information on people who left Europe in the period 1820 to 1897, 1904 and sometimes 1907, primarily German ports to the United States –Auswanderer Datenbank

-German immigration to the United States
-list of Emigration and Immigration sources- Family Search

Early Immigration Records
-Castle Garden has records of had an immigrants who came to New York after 1820 and before 1892- Castle Garden Records

Hessian Soldiers in the American Revolution
-Some Germans fought in the American Revolution and stayed…. track those ancestors here – Hessian Records

German Script Experts

-Ute Brandenburg
-worked as a German research specialist for a nationally recognized company. Today she focuses on transcription and translation, as well as research projects in German church records. Contact her here–> Ute Brandenburg

Using German Church Records
-good tips for making sense of the Old German Alphabet and many of the symbols used in old Church Records. –How to Use Church Records

Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting

Finding yourself bogged down trying to understand German Documents? This book has loads of helps  for deciphering German Letters…. both handwritten and printed in documents. It’s a must for any German Gerontologists library!

Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting: A Translator's Tricks of the Trade for Transcribing German Genealogy DocumentsTips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting: A Translator’s Tricks of the Trade for Transcribing German Genealogy DocumentsTips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting: A Translator's Tricks of the Trade for Transcribing German Genealogy Documents

Sites to help with German Script

German Script and Typeface has changed several times… even in the 20th Century, making it difficult for modern genealogists and casual researchers to decipher. Learn more here 

German Gothic Letters
-reading German Gothic Letters

Omniglot-
Different Alphabets in German Writing

Sutterlin Script
-how to read and write Sutterlin script

Abbreviations
-Figure out what common German abbreviations mean- Abkürzung

Military Abbreviations
-Helping to read military records- Feldgrau

Facebook Groups that Help with Genealogy Research

German Genealogy Records Transcription

The Germanna Foundation

The German American Heritage Museum

Geneaology East and West Prussia

Black German Cultural Society

 

Maps of Germany / Find Places in Germany

-The borders of Germany have changed over the years… these older maps may have the cities you are looking for. Be aware, that some of the names of the towns were changed with the borders… I’ve included links to find those as well.

Finding Cities and Towns in the German Empire
Meyers Gazetteer helps you find cities and towns, even if you don’t know how to spell them. Check their help section for an explanation-Meyers Gazetteer

Detailed Maps of Germany
Germany in 1914
Germany in 1938-

German Place Names That Were Changed After WW2

Kartenmeister
Included in this database are the following provinces: Eastprussia, including Memel, Westprussia, Brandenburg, Posen, Pomerania, and Silesia. Kartenmeister

Germany/Poland
City names German Polish

Germany/Czechoslovakia
Place names German Czech

Germany/Russia
Volga German Places

Genealogy for Germans from Eastern Europe

Society for German Genealogy from Eastern Europe (SGGEE)
SGGEE public Databases

German Genealogy Society Schlesien

Database of German POWs in Soviet POW Camps WW2

DOCUMENTATION CENTER DRESDEN
These databases are not complete… but it might help find lost relatives. The site is in German, but you can translate by clicking the squares on the right end of the URL bar in the Chrome Browser – Documentation Center Dresden

The Memorial Society Archive
This group maintains the databases for all the Soviet Camps. Inquiries can be sent to them. Memorial Society Archive

 

Records From Bordering Countries

Poznan Project
Records from 19th century marriage records from the historic Greater Poland (then Prussian Province of Poznan)

WiewasWie
A lot of Catholic Germans and traders would cross border to The Netherlands. So one brother would be off to The Netherlands and on to the States. This might give you a clue in your searches. WieWasWie
(This site is in Dutch, but you can translate it if you are using Chrome… tap the two squares at the right end of the URL bar)

 

Germans in Russia

American Historical Society of Germans from Russia
AHSGR provides many resources to aid in genealogical research related to the history, cultural history and genealogy of the Germanic settlers in the Russian Empire and their descendants.- AHSGR

Volga German Surnames
A list of Volga German Surnames- where they came from in Germany, and where they settled in the Volga region. Volga German Institute

Information About Specific Cities/States

Bremen
Information about families in Bremen… Lots of information here.  Bremen

Breslau
Street names in Breslau that changed from German to Polish- Breslau
(this site is in German)

Lüben –
Pictures, History and Documents- Lüben
(this site is in German)

Bad-Neuheim
A German site that lists the dead who are buried in the Alten Friedhof Sterberegister der Bad Nauheimer Kirchenbücher. Bad Neuheim

Pommern
International Pommeranian Mailing List- Pommern Liste

Stasi Records

This site is in English and German. Not all records are available to everyone.
Stasi Records

Information About the Original 13 German Families that Settled Germantown

The Original 13

Finding People in Germany TODAY

I’ve also included links to a few groups who help Germans with American Fathers connect with their family in the US.

Finally, there is an online Bulletin board for family searches… you can input your information, and hopefully it will help you find the person you lost.

German Red Cross Tracing Service

History of the Red Cross Tracing Service-

Submit a trace to the Red Cross-

US Embassy Website
How do I find my Relatives and Friends in Germany
-lists current information, as well as some historical information- US Embassy services

German Phone book White Pages

Black German Cultural Society

Searching For Relatives in Germany & The USA

These are Sites to help German Children Find their American Father/Relatives

German children search for their father in the US- Suche Meinen Vater in Amerika

US Army Germany Searching-  for lost relatives and friends – US ARMY SEARCHING

Military Records

Military Indexes
This website is a directory of links to online military indexes and records for USA genealogy research. Included are rosters, databases of soldiers, draft card databases for World War I and II, and listings of military and war casualties. Military Indexes

FindMyPast has a special collection of Military records from English Speaking countries… Australia, England, the US and more…


German Genealogy Databases Online

Locating Lost Family Bulletin Board

-Use this bulletin board to search for lost relatives and missing people by name or keyword and check to see if someone is looking for you by posting a query. Locating Lost Family

 

Legal Terms in Genealogy Records

Genealogy and the Law
Often you will come across legal terms or abbreviations…. this page has definitions for all of these terms Genealogy and the Law

Books to help you with your Search

The Family Tree Historical Atlas of GermanyThe Family Tree Historical Atlas of GermanyThe Family Tree Historical Atlas of GermanyThe Family Tree German Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Germanic Ancestry in EuropeThe Family Tree German Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Germanic Ancestry in EuropeThe Family Tree German Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Germanic Ancestry in Europe

 

Trace Your German Roots Online: A Complete Guide to German Genealogy WebsitesTrace Your German Roots Online: A Complete Guide to German Genealogy WebsitesTrace Your German Roots Online: A Complete Guide to German Genealogy WebsitesIn Search of Your German Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing Your Ancestors in the Germanic Areas of EuropeIn Search of Your German Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing Your Ancestors in the Germanic Areas of EuropeIn Search of Your German Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing Your Ancestors in the Germanic Areas of EuropeThe Family Tree Guidebook to Europe: Your Essential Guide to Trace Your Genealogy in EuropeThe Family Tree Guidebook to Europe: Your Essential Guide to Trace Your Genealogy in EuropeThe Family Tree Guidebook to Europe: Your Essential Guide to Trace Your Genealogy in Europe

 

Tools to help you keep your Family Tree Organized.

Stammbaum 5.0 PremiumStammbaum 5.0 PremiumStammbaum 5.0 PremiumFamily History Kit GFamily History Kit GFamily History Kit G

More Helpful Genealogy Sites

Genealogy: The Complete Resource Guide

How to Use DNA Testing to Research Your Family Tree

How to Preserve Your Family Treasures


German Genealogy Databases Online

13 thoughts on “German Genealogy Databases Online -Find your German Family

  1. My grandparemts came to USA in1870 and 1880. GF William Ernest Haas was born Weil im Schonbuch born 2 Feb 1863. Grand mother Sophie Barbara Rein born 3 Dec 1868 in Frickenhausen.. Any free information would be appicated, I do know what they
    here in America.

    Thank you,
    Barbara H. Boyer

  2. Need a beginners guide to German ancestry. All the festivals and names of stuff leaves me dazed and confused to say the least. Any websites or guides out there anyone knows of? Seems like I need to learn German to navigate my way through a lot of sites.

  3. AM INTERESTED IN AUSTRIAN ANCESTORS IN THE HEHENBERGER FAMILY. IN WISCONSIN, USA (AMERICA) SOME OF THESE HAVE CHANGED THEIR NAME TO HEMBERGER.

  4. I’m looking for any information of the Voeller family from Selz, Kutschurgan, South Russia.

    Barbara Voeller married Michael Deibert. They immigrated to USA in 1885 and settled in Zeeland, North Dakota. They later resided in Odessa & Aberdeen SD.

    I have not been able to find any of Barbara’s family (parents, siblings).

    Also, I have not been able to find the Deibert family in Russia (Jacob Deibert) or earlier in Germany.

    Would appreciate any info or direction to a web site.

  5. I have tried your site for Germany maps 1918 but URL tells me it is in error and I cannot access How can I access this site?

  6. Where can I find a Genealogist for Borger Germany and Breddenburg?

  7. Um herauszubekommen, was Deine Eltern und Großeltern im Krieg erlebt haben, koenntest Du dem Landesarchiv (state archive) der Region, in der Deine Eltern kurz nach Kriegsende gelebt haben eine Email schreiben, und nach deren “Spruchkammerakte” fragen. I received this message from Nora Krug, she wrote a book “Belonging” about finding her German roots. She wrote me this message. I thought, it might be helpful too.

  8. I am hoping that someone can direct me to do research on my mother’s family. She said she was German and was born Almental and lived in Goldap, Gleisgarben. She lost track of everyone when her village was taken over WWII and her father and brothers went to war. I found a record of her DP card at Schleisheim. I have tried to do research on Ancestry, Family Search, etc. but cannot find any records. Since the German towns were later E. Prussia, do I need to search Polish records instead? Any suggestions?

  9. The word “FAMILY” plays a vital role in every human life because family comes as a top priority; we are well aware of that. Like a tree has its root, stem, branches, leaf, flowers, the same as the family tree has its structure like grandparents, parents, child, and it keeps continuing from generation to generation. “Family tree,” yeah, just two simple words, but these two words are highly important for everyone’s life.

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