Leslie Massey
Researching ancestors in Austria can be a challenging but rewarding task. With Austria's changing borders and diverse cultural history, it is important to understand the country's history and utilise the right tools and resources to effectively conduct genealogical research. Civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths was introduced in 1938, and before this, religious communities were responsible for maintaining records. This guide will explore methods and sources for researching ancestors in Austria, including online records, church registers, and historical archives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country Borders | Austria shares its borders with the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. |
| Official Language | German |
| Genealogy Websites | FamilySearch, AustriaGenWeb, WorldGenWeb Project, and ÖFR-Austrian Society for Research on Genealogy and Regional Heritage |
| Genealogy Records | Church registers on baptisms, marriages, and deaths; civil registry offices; municipal and provincial archives; and military records |
| Tips | Understand the country and its changing borders; know your ancestors' religious affiliations and parishes; collect specific data and verify sources; consult older relatives and record their stories |
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What You'll Learn
Civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths
The Austrian State Archives also hold some military parish records ("Militärkirchenbücher") from the 17th to 20th centuries and registers of births, deaths, and marriages ("Personenstandsbücher") from 1939 onwards. For births and deaths before 1939, and marriages before 1938, the respective church or parish records ("Pfarrmatriken") should be consulted. These can be found in parishes, diocesan archives, officially recognized religious communities, and the Registry Offices. In Vienna, the authority responsible is MA 35, the Municipal Department for Immigration, Citizenship, and Registry Offices. Additionally, in successor states of the Habsburg Empire, parish records may have been transferred to state-run archives.
The Civil Status Register ("Zivile Altmatrik") holds documents for individuals who were not members of a religious community at the time of their birth, marriage, or death, as well as for those who belonged to different religious communities. The Austrian State Archives also hold the Austrian Military Register ("Österreichische Militärmatrik"). To access documents from these sources, an application must be submitted, and certain fees may apply. The application process can be done electronically or through conventional means, with reduced fees for electronic submissions.
It is important to note that register offices in Austria have undergone mergers over time, so the original office mentioned in a civil status document may no longer exist. To navigate this, the overview of past and present register offices in Vienna, "Historische Wiener Standesämter," can be referenced. Additionally, having basic data about the person you are researching, such as dates of birth and death, career details, and proficiency in German, can be beneficial for successful genealogical research in Austria.
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Religious community records
To effectively utilise these records, it is essential to know the religious affiliation of your ancestor. Contact the respective religious community, such as a parish ("Pfarramt") or synagogue. In towns with small Jewish communities, records may have been kept by the Roman Catholic Church. Additionally, some files may have been transferred to regional archives, so it is worth contacting diocesan archives as well.
The Austrian State Archives do hold some military parish records ("Militärkirchenbücher") from the 17th to 20th centuries, but they do not contain general parish records or birth, death, and marriage registers. These can be found in parishes, diocesan archives, officially recognised religious communities, and the Registry Offices.
If your ancestor belonged to an unrecognised religion or had no religious affiliation, their records may have been stored by the Civil Registry, now maintained by Municipal Department 35 - Immigration and Citizenship (MA 35). This includes coroner records from 1648 to 2004 and probate records from 1783 to approximately 1975.
It is important to note that Austria's borders have changed over time, and your ancestor may have originated from a different country that was once part of the Habsburg Monarchy or Austro-Hungarian Empire. This may impact the specific religious institutions and archives you need to contact.
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Archival records
The archival holdings of the Austrian State Archives date back to the early Middle Ages and include the archives of the central agencies of the Holy Roman Empire, the Habsburg family, the imperial cabinet, court institutions, and central state agencies of the Habsburg monarchy. The Austrian State Archives are divided into sub-entities, including the Archive of the Republic, which holds records from 1918 onwards, and the War Archive, which contains personnel records of members of the Austrian-Hungarian army from the late 16th century to 1918.
The fundamental prerequisite for genealogical research at the Austrian State Archives is to identify points of contact between the life of the person being researched and the authorities of the Habsburg Empire, the Dual Monarchy, the Austrian Republic, or the NS regime. If no such indications exist, it may be more fruitful to explore other archives, such as those of cities or Länder. In the Greater Vienna area, the Municipal and Provincial Archive of Vienna (Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchiv) is a recommended resource.
Civil registration of birth, marriage, and death records in Austria began in 1938. Prior to this, these registers were maintained by religious communities (parishes), which continue to hold these documents in their archives. To access these records, knowledge of your ancestor's religious affiliation and, in the case of Catholic faith, the parish they belonged to, is essential. For Catholic church records, you can refer to Matricula Online, while Lutheran (A.B.) and Reformed (H.B.) church records are available at Evangelischer Oberkirchenrat in Vienna.
Additionally, after 1870, administrative districts and self-administering cities established registers ("Meldeamt") for individuals without any religious affiliation. It is also important to note that many areas once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire are now located in various countries across Europe, so consulting an atlas or historical maps is crucial to determine the present sovereignty of the region you are researching.
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Online genealogical records
Austria has changed its borders several times, so your ancestor may have said they were from Austria, but they may have come from any of the countries that once belonged to the Habsburg Monarchy or Austro-Hungarian Empire. The boundaries of Austria have changed over time, so it is important to understand which country your ancestors came from according to today's borders.
The WorldGenWeb Project is a non-profit, volunteer-based organisation dedicated to providing genealogical and historical records and resources for worldwide access. FamilySearch is another website that provides access to genealogical records, but it requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Centre or Affiliate Library.
In Austria, civil registry offices were only introduced on 1 January 1939. Before that, religious denominations were responsible for recording births, marriages, and deaths. The church registers on baptisms, marriages, and deaths are, therefore, the main source of information for genealogical research. The church registers of almost all Austrian dioceses are now digitised, making it possible to conduct research from afar.
For births and deaths after 1 January 1939, as well as marriages after 1 August 1938, contact the respective Austrian civil office. The civil offices can be either the "Standesamt" or the "Standesamtsverband" of an individual community or, in the case of larger cities, the "Standesamt" of the "Magistrat".
The Gazetteer for Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia is another valuable source of information. It is available for free at www.genteam.eu (registration is required). The Gazetteer contains 72,000 places in Austria (with South Tyrol), the Czech Republic, and Slovenia, with today's and former names, the respective parishes (status: 1938), the year the registers begin, the respective archives, the political district, and the Crown Land. If the registers of the respective archives are online, the record is linked with the website.
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Oral history
When conducting oral history interviews, let your relatives talk freely about their lives and experiences. Even if the stories seem unrelated to your initial search, they may provide unexpected leads and valuable insights. Bring writing materials or a laptop to take notes and consider bringing a camera or scanner to capture important documents or photos. Ask about specific names, dates, and places to gain a deeper understanding of your family history.
To build upon the information gathered through oral history, it's essential to explore additional sources. Church registers, civil registry offices, and archives can provide valuable records on births, marriages, and deaths. Keep in mind that civil registry offices in Austria were introduced on January 1, 1939, so records before that date will be found with religious communities. The Austrian State Archives and its sub-entities, such as the Archive of the Republic and the War Archive, are excellent resources for genealogical research. Additionally, don't forget to utilize online databases and digitization projects that have made church registers and diocesan archives more accessible.
Remember to be cautious when dealing with international genealogical research, as your ancestor's stated country of origin may not align with modern boundaries. Austria's borders have changed over time due to wars and political realignments, so your ancestors may have originated from countries within the former Habsburg Monarchy or Austro-Hungarian Empire. This is important to consider when interpreting oral histories and conducting further research.
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Frequently asked questions
Start by talking to your living relatives and writing down what they say. Then, consult the main sources first, working backwards in time from the most recent information. Remember, your ancestor may have said they were from Austria, but they may have actually come from any of the countries that once belonged to the Habsburg Monarchy or Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Civil registration of these life events was introduced in Austria in 1938 or 1939. Before this, the religious communities (parishes) were responsible for recording them and they still keep these documents in their own archives. You can also find information on births, marriages, and deaths in church registers.
You will need to do some research to establish this. You can consult genealogical records online, via websites such as FamilySearch, or in archives and libraries.
The Meldearchiv in the Vienna city archives holds information from historical residence registration records. The Municipal and Provincial Archives of Vienna keep records of Viennese inhabitants. You can also consult military records up until 1918 in the Kriegsarchiv.
