How to Find Old Family Records in Ukraine

Suggestions for Genealogical Research in Ukraine

How to Find Family Records in Ukraine: What to Look For and Where

This guide offers practical advice for tracing your family history in Ukraine, including how to locate records, what types of documents to search for, and where to find them. Below, you’ll find information about the most common types of records, their significance, and how to access them. Contact information for state archives in Western Ukraine is also provided.

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Challenges in Accessing Genealogical Records

Locating genealogical records in Ukraine can be challenging due to the region’s complex history. Many records are dispersed across archives in Ukraine and Poland, reflecting the shifting national borders and administrative boundaries of Western Ukraine over time.

For example, parish boundaries often didn’t align with state administrative borders, meaning records were sometimes stored far from their communities of origin. Wars, mismanagement, and the age of records have also led to gaps and losses in these documents.

Despite these challenges, it’s highly likely that your ancestors left a paper trail. With the right information—such as a name, a birth or marriage date, and a hometown—you can begin to uncover your family’s history.

Types of Records

Metrical Records (Birth, Marriage, and Death Records)

Metrical records, also known as vital records, are among the most valuable resources for genealogical research. These records were typically maintained by clergy for each community and vary based on religious affiliation:

• Greek Catholic (Ukrainian)

• Roman Catholic (Polish)

• Judaic (Jewish)

• Protestant (German, Czech, Hungarian)

• Christian Orthodox (Ukrainian, Romanian)

A typical birth record includes:

• Name and gender of the child

• Birth and baptism dates

• Parents’ names, social status, and residence

• House number of the birth location

• Names of godparents and the obstetrician

• Name of the officiating priest

These records are usually stored in:

• State Archives of Ukraine (for records older than 70 years)

• Civil Registry Offices (for newer records, requiring proof of kinship)

Keep in mind:

• Metrical records may not exist for all communities due to destruction, neglect, or gaps in record-keeping.

• Vital records for Western Ukraine generally date from the late 1700s to the 1940s.

• Archives often hold records from areas outside their administrative boundaries, reflecting historical changes.

Occasionally, older records may still be held by local churches or private individuals. These records may eventually be transferred to state archives, so it’s worth checking periodically.

Cadastral Maps

After Galicia became part of Austria-Hungary, extensive land surveys were conducted, resulting in cadastral maps. These maps detail numbered parcels of land and buildings, along with lists of property owners.

How they help:

• Identify family homes and land locations.

• Cross-reference old maps with modern satellite images to pinpoint current locations.

Cadastral maps are typically found in historical archives for each oblast.

School Records

School records can provide valuable insights, listing students from specific schools or universities. However, these records are often poorly organized and stored separately from metrical records. For example:

• In Lviv, school records are housed at the State Archives of Lviv Oblast.

• In Uzhhorod, they are stored in separate branches of the State Archives.

Voter Lists

During the 2nd Polish Republic, voter lists recorded names, birth dates, addresses, and occupations of eligible voters in each community. These records provide a snapshot of residents during that time.

Phone and Business Directories

Phone directories from Lviv are available for the interwar period but include only a limited number of families, usually wealthier households or business owners.

Additional Research Tips

Talking to Locals

Visiting ancestral towns and speaking with local residents can yield surprising results. For example, meeting a local historian or clergy member, like the Rabbi of Ivano-Frankivsk, can lead to discoveries unavailable in official archives.

Online Records

Many genealogical records are becoming available online through paid membership websites. These platforms are valuable resources for researchers who cannot visit Ukraine in person.

Useful Links

Here are links to archives that can assist with genealogical research in Western Ukraine:

• Central Historical Archives of Lviv

• State Archives of Lviv Oblast

• State Archives of Ternopil Oblast

• State Archives of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast

• State Archives of Volyn Oblast in Lutsk

• State Archives of Transcarpathian Oblast in Uzhhorod

This comprehensive guide provides the tools and resources you need to begin or enhance your genealogical research in Ukraine.