Birth Certificates In Austria: Early 1900S Existence?

Did Austria Have Birth Certificates in the Early 1900s?

In the early 1900s, birth certificates in Austria were issued by local religious communities, which also kept the corresponding records. These communities included the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Jewish Community. The Austrian State Archives, which holds the records of the supreme bodies and central authorities of the Habsburg territories and the Republic of Austria since 1526, does not hold birth certificates from this period. However, genealogical research in Austria can be conducted through the Austrian State Archives, private companies, and institutes.

Civil registration of birth certificates in Austria was introduced in 1938

Civil registration of birth, marriage, and death certificates in Austria was introduced in 1938. Before this, the registers were kept by religious communities (parishes), which are still keeping these documents and data in their own archives. Certificates until 1938 can be found in the archives of the religious communities.

For example, for Catholic church records, the certificates can be found at:

Matricula Online, Erzbischöfliches Ordinariat, 1010 Vienna, Wollzeile 2

For Lutheran and Reformed church records, they can be found at:

Evangelischer Oberkirchenrat, 1180 Vienna, Severin-Schreibergasse 3

For Jewish records, they are kept at:

Israelitische Kultusgemeinde, 1010 Vienna, Seitenstettengasse 4

Before 1938, birth certificates were issued by religious communities

Birth Certificates in Austria Before 1938

Before 1938, birth certificates in Austria were issued by religious communities. The civil registration of births, marriages and deaths was introduced in Austria in 1938. Prior to this, the registers were kept by the religious communities (parishes), which are still keeping these documents and data in their own archives.

Religious Communities and Birth Certificates

The religious communities in Austria, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Jewish Community, have played a significant role in genealogical research and the issuance of birth certificates before 1938. The baptismal, marriage, and death registers of these communities were vital sources of information for those seeking to trace their family history.

Digitization of Records

The digitization of these records has made it easier to conduct online research in the archives of almost all dioceses in Austria. This has enabled people to access information from the comfort of their homes.

Certificates After 1938

After 1938, the issuance of birth certificates and the maintenance of registers fell under the civil authorities. The records of people of unrecognised religion or those not affiliated with a religious community were stored by the Civil Registry and are now kept by the Municipal Department.

Tracing Family History

Tracing family history in Austria can be a complex and time-consuming process due to the lack of a central register. It requires knowledge of the ancestor's religious affiliation and, in the case of Catholics, the parish they belonged to.

Available Resources

Various online resources and archives are available to assist in genealogical research, including the Austrian State Archives and the Municipal and Provincial Archives of Vienna. These resources provide access to a wealth of information on births, marriages, and deaths, as well as military records, probate records, and coroner reports.

Certificates until 1938 can be found in the archives of the religious communities

In Austria, civil registration of birth, marriages and deaths was introduced in 1938. Before this year, the registers were kept by religious communities (parishes), which are still keeping these documents and data in their own archives. Certificates until 1938 can be found in the archives of the religious communities.

For Catholic church records, the certificates can be found at Matricula Online, Erzbischöfliches Ordinariat, 1010 Vienna, Wollzeile 2.

Lutheran (A.B.) and Reformed (H.B.) church records are located at Evangelischer Oberkirchenrat, 1180 Vienna, Severin-Schreibergasse 3.

Jewish records can be found at Israelitische Kultusgemeinde, 1010 Vienna, Seitenstettengasse 4.

The Austrian State Archives holds records of the supreme bodies and central authorities of the Habsburg territories and the Republic of Austria since 1526

The Austrian State Archives hold records of the central authorities and supreme bodies of the territories ruled by the Habsburgs and the Republic of Austria dating back to 1526. The geographical reach of these records spans present-day Belgium to Sicily and from Alsace to Ukraine, reflecting the territorial expansion of the monarchy over the centuries.

The Austrian State Archives are divided into several sub-entities, with the Archive of the Republic and the War Archive being the most relevant for genealogical research. The Archive of the Republic holds records from 1918 onwards, including personnel files from the Austrian military and the German Wehrmacht (1938-1945). The War Archive contains personnel records of the Austrian-Hungarian army from the late 16th century to 1918, as well as documents related to military orders and decorations.

While the Austrian State Archives are a valuable resource for genealogical research, it is important to note that they do not have a central register of persons. This means that simply looking up a person by name is not possible. Instead, successful genealogical research requires basic data about the individual, such as dates of birth and death, career details, and proficiency in the German language and cursive script.

Before 1938, civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths in Austria was the responsibility of religious communities, which still maintain these records in their archives. To locate these records, it is essential to know the religious affiliation of the individual being searched for. The records of the former crown lands and parts of the Austrian Empire are now held in the archives of the modern states.

The Municipal and Provincial Archives of Vienna keep records of Viennese inhabitants, not of inhabitants of other Austrian provinces

The Municipal and Provincial Archives of Vienna keep records of Viennese inhabitants and not of inhabitants of other Austrian provinces. This is because, before 1938, civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths was the responsibility of religious communities (parishes), which still keep these documents and data in their own archives.

The records of the former crownlands and parts of the Austrian Empire are now in the archives of the modern states.

In Vienna, the authority in charge of immigration, citizenship, and registry offices is the Municipal Department for Immigration, Citizenship and Registry Offices (Magistratsabteilung für Staatsbürgerschafts- und Personenstandsangelegenheiten).

The Municipal and Provincial Archives of Vienna hold a lot of information on people in Vienna, which is already available online.

Frequently asked questions