Trier, Germany, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1600-1798

About this collection

This collection contains parish registers and transcripts from Trier covering the years 1580 up to and including 1890. Trier, in the modern German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, is located on the Moselle River about 47 miles northwest of Saarbrücken and 9 miles from the border of Luxembourg. Founded more than 2,000 years ago as the Roman city of Augusta Treverorum, Trier enjoys the distinction of being the oldest city in Germany. Since 1986, many of the Roman monuments in Trier have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among them is the city's notable landmark, the former Roman city gate, the Porta Nigra. During the time period of this collection, Trier first belonged to the Electorate of Trier, then to the French Département de la Sarre until 1815 and thereafter to Rhenish Prussia.

The oldest church records in this collection date from the 16th century. Some registers date to the beginning of, or just before, the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). These parish records primarily contain information about births and baptisms, marriages, and deaths and burials. The time periods covered by individual records sets vary.

What you can find in the records

The records are largely written in Latin. Depending on the time period and on the individual formulations used, you may generally find the following details in these records::

For Births:

• Child: Given Names, Birthdate, Baptism, Witnesses
• Parents: Given Names, Mother's Maiden Name, Parents' residence

For Marriages:

• Groom: Given Names, Last Name, Residence/Birthplace, Age, Parents' Details
• Bride: Given Names, Last Name, Maiden Name, Residence/Birthplace, Age, Parents' Details and Marriage Place and Date

For Deaths:

• Deceased: Given Names, Last Name, Maiden Name, Age, Spouse/Parents, Death Date, Deathplace, Burial Date and Place

More about using this collection

Under "Browse this collection,” select the Civil Registry Office and Year Range of the register desired. The sequence of birth, marriage or death records may not be consistent.