Vorarlberg, Austria, Catholic Church Registers, 1611-1938

About this collection

This collection contains records and transcripts from more than 100 Catholic parishes in the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg covering the years 1611 up to and including 1938. Some transcripts of Church registers and later related indexes also refer to older documents dating back to the 16th century. Mountainous Vorarlberg is the westernmost state in Austria. It borders Liechtenstein, Germany and Switzerland and is known for its ski areas. The capital city is Bregenz. The name Vorarlberg comes from the Arlberg Pass in the Alps which was once an important trade route. The region's history has long been influenced by the Habsburg Monarchy. The area was part of the Kingdom of Bavaria during the Napoleonic period from 1806 to 1814.

The oldest church records in this collection date from the 17th 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. Occasionally, Confirmation records and Family Registers are also included.

What you can find in the records

In early Church registers, the records are largely written in Latin. Later records were kept in German. 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 Parish and Description of the register desired. The sequence of birth, marriage or death records may not be consistent.