Illustration of locating a German ancestral village using the Meyers Gazetteer

How to Find Your Ancestor’s Village in Germany (Meyers Gazetteer Guide)

German records are local, so the village name is everything. Using the Meyers Gazetteer to pinpoint the place, parish, and registry district.

Illustration of visiting an ancestral German village church and cemetery

How to Visit Your Ancestral Village in Germany

Confirm the village, write ahead to the parish and town office, and know what to see and bring. How to make a visit to your ancestral German village count.

Illustration of tracing a German family tree from an old document

How to Trace Your German Ancestry: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

German records are local, so finding the ancestral town comes first. The complete beginner’s path from home sources to German church and civil records.