| Letter | Code | Letter | Code |
| Ä | Alt + 0196 | ä | Alt + 0228 |
| Ö | Alt + 0214 | ö | Alt + 0246 |
| Ü | Alt + 0220 | ü | Alt + 0252 |
| ß | Alt + 0223 | ||
| Ÿ | Alt + 0159 | ÿ | Alt + 0255 |
German letters with diacritic marks will be alphabetized in this publication as though they were a, o, u, and ss. However, many dictionaries and gazetteers will alphabetize these characters as if they were ae, oe, ue, and ss.
Because spelling rules were not standardized in earlier centuries, spelling variations are common. Local dialect often affects the spelling in genealogical records. In German records, the following letters are sometimes used interchangeably:
Examples:
| English | German |
| birth | Geburten, Geburtsregister, Geborene, geboren |
| burial | Beerdigungen, begraben, Begräbnisse, bestattet, beerdigt |
| Catholic | katholisch |
| child | Kind, Kinder |
| christening | Taufe, Taufen, Getaufte |
| confirmations | Konfirmationen, Firmungen |
| civil registry | Standesamt |
| death | Tote, Tod, sterben, starb, verstorben, gestorben, Sterbefall |
| father | Vater |
| husband | Mann, Ehemann, Gatte |
| index | Verzeichnis, Register |
| Jewish | jüdisch, Jude(n), israelitisch |
| marriage banns | Proklamationen, Aufgebote, Verkündigungen |
| marriage | Heiraten, Trauungen, Getraute, Ehe, Kopulation, kopulieren, verheiratet, Verehelichungen, Eheschliessungen |
| month | Monat |
| mother | Mutter |
| name, given | Vorname, Name |
| name, surname | Zuname, Familienname, Geschlechtsname, Name |
| parents | Eltern |
| parish | Pfarrei, Kirchspiel, Gemeinde |
| Protestant | evangelisch, lutherisch, Protestant |
| Reformed | reformiert |
| wife | Frau, Ehegattin, Weib, Ehefrau, Hausfrau, Gattin |
| year | Jahr |
Note: In German, letters with diacritical marks are alphabetized as if they did not have a diacritical mark. In some other languages, they are alphabetized separately.
| German | English |
| A. = Amt, Amtsbezirk | government office, official district |
| Ab., Abe. = Abbaue(e), Ausbau(e) | surface mine(s) |
| Abt. = Abteilung | department |
| a/d = an der, auf der | on the, by the (followed by the name of a river or other geographical feature) |
| A.G. = Amtsgericht | lower court, county court |
| Anh. = Anhalt | duchy |
| ab | from, since |
| Abbauer | tenant on a (new, split-off) farm; heir with a small part of a farm (usually a second son) |
| Abdecker | skinner |
| Abend | evening |
| Abendmahlgast | communicant |
| abends | in the evening |
| Abenteurer | jeweler, jewel trader; adventurer |
| aber | but |
| abgestorben | deceased |
| Ablader | longshoreman |
| Abnahmemann | retired farmer on life estate |
| Abnehmer | photographer |
| Abschiedsmann | man retired on life estate |
| absterben | to die, to die off |
| Abstreifer | renderer; flayer |
| Abzehrung | emaciation, wasting |
| acht | eight |
| achte | eighth |
| Achter | juryman |
| achtundzwanzigste | twenty-eighth |
| achtzehn | eighteen |
| achtzehnhundert | eighteen hundred |
| achtzehnte | eighteenth |
| achtzig | eighty |
| achtzigste | eightieth |
| Ackermann | farmer |
| Adel | gentry, nobleman |
| a.D. = außer Dienst | formerly employed, retired |
| adoptiert | adopted |
| Ahnen | ancestors |
| Ahnentafel | pedigree chart |
| Akten | documents |
| alle | all |
| allhier | in this place |
| alt | old |
| Altbürger | full citizen |
| Alter | age |
| Altersschwäche | weakness of old age |
| ältest | eldest |
| alt-katholisch | old Catholic |
| Amman | bailiff, magistrate |
| Amt | office, district |
| Anbauer | peasant |
| andere | other, next |
| Angeber | informant |
| angeblich | alleged, assumed |
| Anhalt | duchy |
| Anmerkungen | remarks |
| Anspänner | farmer |
| apostolisch | Apostolic |
| April | April |
| Arbeiter | laborer, worker |
| Archiv | archive |
| arm | poor |
| Armut | poverty |
| Arzt | physician |
| auch | also, too |
| auf | on, upon, at |
| aufbieten | post banns |
| Aufenthaltserlaubnis | residence permit |
| Aufenthaltsort | residence |
| Aufgebot | publication of banns |
| Aufnahmebuch | book listing debts |
| Aufnahmeland | country to which one immigrated |
| August | August |
| aus | from, out of |
| außen | outside |
| äußere | outside, outward, external |
| außerehelich | illegitimate |
| Auswanderer | emigrant |
| Auswanderung | emigration |
| Ausweis | identification document |
| Auszehrung | consumption or emaciation (especially from TB) |
| Auszug | extract |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| B. = Bezirk | district or area |
| BA. = Bezirksamt | district office |
| Bay. = Bayern | Bavaria |
| Bd. = Band | volume |
| Bhf. = Bahnhof | railroad station |
| Bkdo. = Bezirkskommando | military district command |
| bz. = beziehungsweise | or, respectively |
| Bäcker | baker |
| Bad | spa, resort |
| Badeort | spa, health resort |
| Band | volume |
| Baptist | Baptist |
| Baron | baron |
| Bauer | farmer, peasant |
| Bayern | Bavaria |
| Beamter | official, registrar |
| Beck(er) | baker |
| beerdigt | buried |
| Beerdigung | burial, interment |
| beglaubigt | certified, attested |
| begraben | buried |
| Begräbnis | burial |
| Beichte | confession |
| beide | both |
| Beilage | supplement |
| Bekannte(r) | acquaintance |
| Bekehrung | conversion |
| Belege | proof, documentation |
| Bemerkungen | remarks |
| Berg | hill, mountain |
| Bergmann | miner |
| Beruf | occupation, profession |
| Beschreibung | description |
| Besitzer | possessor, proprietor, owner |
| bestätigt | confirmed, verified |
| bestattet | buried |
| bettlägerig | bedridden |
| Bettler | beggar |
| Bevölkerungsregister | population register |
| bevorstehend | previously mentioned |
| Bezirk | district |
| Biographie | biography |
| Bischof | bishop |
| Bistum | diocese |
| Blattern | smallpox |
| blutend | bleeding |
| Blütenmonat | May |
| Blutsverwandschaft | blood relationship |
| Böhmen | Bohemia |
| Bootsmann | bargeman, boatman |
| Böttcher | cooper, barrel maker |
| Brauer | brewer |
| Bräune | diptheria |
| Braut | bride |
| Bräutigam | bridegroom |
| Brücke | bridge |
| Bruder | brother |
| Bub | boy |
| Buch | book |
| Büdner | cottager |
| Burg | castle, fortress |
| Bürger | burgher, citizen, citizens |
| Bürgerbuch | citizen register |
| Bürgermeister | mayor |
| Büttner | barrel maker |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| ca. = circa | about |
| Chirug | surgeon |
| Christmonat | December |
| Colonist | settler, tenant farmer |
| Comparent | informant |
| copulieren | to marry |
| cribrarius | sieve maker (Latin) |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| d. = der, dem, des, die, das | the |
| D. = Dorf | village |
| das. = daselbst | residing in this place, there, the previously mentioned place |
| Dachdecker | roofer |
| dänisch | Danish |
| das | the |
| daselbst | residing in this place, there, the previously mentioned place |
| Datum | date |
| Dekanat | deanery |
| dem, den | the |
| der | the, of the |
| derselbe | the same |
| des | of the |
| deutsch | German |
| Deutschland | Germany |
| Dezember | December |
| die | the |
| Diener | servant |
| Dienst | service, employment |
| Dienstag | Tuesday |
| Dienstmagd | servant girl |
| dieser | this, these |
| Distrikt | district |
| Domäne | domain |
| Donnerstag | Thursday |
| Dorf | village |
| dort | there |
| drei | three |
| dreißig | thirty |
| dreißigste | thirtieth |
| dreiundzwanzigste | twenty-third |
| dreizehn | thirteen |
| dreizehnte | thirteenth |
| dritte | third |
| Duplikat | duplicate record |
| durch | through |
| Durchfall | diarrhea |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| E. = Einwohner | residents, population |
| Eis. = Eisenbahn | railroad, train |
| Ev., ev. = Evangelische, evangelisch | Evangelical (Lutheran) |
| ebenda | at the same place |
| Ehe | marriage |
| Ehebrecher | adulterer |
| Ehebruch | adultery |
| Ehefrau | wife, housewife |
| Ehehindernis | hinderance to marriage |
| ehel. = ehelich | legitimate |
| eheleiblich | legitimate |
| Eheleute | married couple |
| ehelich | legitimate |
| ehemals | formerly |
| Ehemann | husband |
| Ehepaar | married couple |
| Ehescheidung | divorce |
| Eheschließung | marriage |
| Ehestand | married state |
| Eheverkündigungen | marriage banns |
| Eheversprechen, Eheverspruch | betrothal, engagement |
| Eidam (Eidmann) | son-in-law |
| Eigentümer | proprietor, property owner |
| ein, eine | a, one, an |
| Einbürgerung | naturalization |
| Einlieger | landless farm laborer |
| eins | one |
| Einsender | informant, declarant |
| eintausendachthundert | eighteen hundred |
| eintausendfünfhundert | fifteen hundred |
| eintausendneunhundert | nineteen hundred |
| eintausendsechshundert | sixteen hundred |
| eintausendsiebenhundert | seventeen hundred |
| einunddreissig | thirty-one |
| einunddreissigste | thirty-first |
| einundzwanzigste | twenty-first |
| Einwanderer | immigrant |
| Einwanderung | immigration |
| Einwilligung | permission |
| Einwohner | inhabitant |
| einzige | only |
| Eisenbahn | railroad |
| Eiterbeule | abscess |
| elf | eleven |
| elfte | eleventh |
| Eltern | parents |
| Enkel | grandson |
| Enkelin | granddaughter |
| Enkelkind | grandchild |
| eod(em) | the same, ditto |
| Epilepsie | epilepsy |
| er | he |
| Erben | heirs |
| Erbschaft | inheritance |
| erhalten | received, receive |
| erklärt | declared |
| Erlassung | dispensation, permission |
| Ermächtigung | authorization |
| Ernting | August |
| errechnet | approximated, calculated |
| erschien | appeared |
| erste | first |
| erstgeboren | firstborn |
| ertrank, ertrunken | drowned |
| erzeugen | beget |
| erzeugt | begat |
| es | it |
| et uxor | and wife (Latin) |
| evangelisch | evangelical |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Fabrikant | manufacturer |
| Familie | family |
| Familienbuch | family register |
| Familienforschung | genealogical research |
| Familienregister | family register |
| Färber | dyer |
| Faßbinder | cooper, barrel maker |
| Fäule | cancer |
| Fayencenhändler | porcelain merchant |
| Februar | February |
| Fehlgeburt | miscarriage |
| Festtag | feast day, festival day, holy day |
| Festung | fortress |
| Fieber | fever |
| Findling | foundling |
| Firmung | confirmation |
| Fischer | fisher |
| Fl. = Florin | standard monetary unit |
| Flecken | hamlet, also measles or spots |
| Fleckfieber | spotted fever, typhus |
| Fleischer | butcher |
| Fleischhauer | butcher |
| Flüchtling | refugee, deserter |
| Fluß | river |
| folgende | following, next |
| Forst | forest |
| Förster | forester |
| Fourier | quartermaster |
| Fraisen | convulsions, epilepsy, seizures, spasms |
| Frankreich | France |
| Frau | Mrs., wife, woman |
| Fräulein | Miss, unmarried woman |
| Freibauer | farmer who owns his own land |
| Freiherr | baron |
| Freitag | Friday |
| fremd | foreign, strange |
| Freund | friend |
| Friedhof | cemetery |
| früh | early (a.m.) |
| früher | former, formerly |
| fünf | five |
| fifth | |
| fünfundzwanzigste | twenty-fifth |
| fünfzehn | fifteen |
| fünfzehnhundert | fifteen hundred |
| fünfzehnte | fifteenth |
| fünfzig | fifty |
| fünfzigste | fiftieth |
| für | for |
| Fürst | prince, count |
| Fürstentum | principality |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| G. = Gericht | court |
| geb. = geboren | born, maiden name |
| Gem. = Gemeinde | community, municipality, parish, town |
| gest. = gestorben | died |
| get. = getauft | baptized, christened |
| Gr. = Groß | Great (part of place name) |
| Gärtner | gardener |
| Gastwirt | innkeeper |
| Gatte | husband |
| Gattin | wife |
| geben, gab | given, gave |
| Gebiet | region, area, zone |
| geboren | born, maiden name |
| Gebühren | fees |
| Geburt | birth |
| Geburtsort | place of birth |
| Geburtsschein | birth certificate |
| Geburtsurkunde | birth certificate |
| gegen | against, towards |
| geheiratet | married |
| gehört | belongs (to) |
| Geistliche(r) | clergyman |
| Gelbsucht | jaundice |
| Geld | money |
| Gemahl(in) | spouse, husband, wife |
| Gemeinde | community, municipality, parish, town |
| Gemeindemann | village official, village resident |
| Gemeindsmann | citizen with full rights |
| gemelli | twins |
| genannt | named, alias, called |
| Genealogie | genealogy |
| Gerber | tanner |
| Gericht | court |
| Gerichtsmann | juryman |
| Gerichtsschreiber | court clerk |
| Gerichtsverwandter | member of the judicial court |
| gesagt | said, stated |
| Geschichte | history |
| geschieden | divorced |
| Geschlecht | gender, sex, lineage |
| Geschlechterbücher | lineage books |
| Geschlechtsname | surname |
| Geschwister | siblings, brothers and sisters |
| Geschwulst | swelling, tumor |
| Geselle | journeyman |
| Gesellschaft | society, group |
| Gesetz | law |
| gesetzlich | legal |
| gestern | yesterday |
| gestorben | died |
| Getaufte | person who was baptized |
| getr. = getraut | married |
| Getraute | married couple |
| Gevatter | godfather |
| Gewerbe | trade, occupation |
| Gicht | gout, arthritis |
| Gilde | guild |
| Glaube | belief, faith |
| Glauben | religious affiliation |
| gleich | same, alike, similar, right away |
| Graf | count (nobleman), earl |
| Grafschaft | county |
| Grenze | border |
| groß | big, great, large |
| Großeltern | grandparents |
| großjährig | of age |
| Großmutter | grandmother |
| Großneffe | great-nephew |
| Großnichte | great-niece |
| Großvater | grandfather |
| Grundbuch | land register |
| Gulden | standard monetary unit, florin |
| Gürtler | maker of straps and belts |
| Gut | property, estate |
| gut | good |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Hann. = Hannover | Hannover |
| Herrsch. = Herrschaft | manor, estate, domain |
| Hessen-N. = Hessen-Nassau | Prussian province |
| hzl. = herzoglich | of the duke |
| Hzt. = Herzogtum | duchy |
| haben | to have |
| halb | half |
| halb drei | half three = 2:30 (time) |
| halb eins | half one = 12:30 (time) |
| halb zwei | half two = 1:30 (time) |
| Halbbauer | small farmer |
| Halbmeier | small farmer |
| Händler | trader, merchant, peddler |
| Hartung | January |
| Haupt- | chief, main |
| Haus | house |
| Hausfrau | housewife |
| Häusler | cottager |
| Hausmädchen | housemaid |
| Hebamme | midwife |
| Heilquelle | spa, bath |
| Heimat | home, native place, homeland |
| Heimatschein | domicile or residency certificate |
| Heimatsort | place of birth, home town |
| Heirat | marriage |
| heiraten | to marry |
| Heiratsantrag | marriage intentions |
| Heiratsbelege | marriage supplements |
| Heiratskontrakt | marriage contracts |
| Heiratsprotokolle | marriage records |
| Heiratsschein | marriage certificate |
| heißt | is named |
| Hektar | hectare (10,000 square meters or 2.47 U.S. acres) |
| Heraldik | heraldry |
| Herkunftsort | place of origin |
| Herr | Mister, Lord, lord |
| Herrschaft | estate, dominion |
| Herzog | duke |
| Herzogtum | duchy |
| Hessische | Hessian |
| Heuerling | dayworker, hireling |
| Heuert, Heumonat | July |
| heute | today |
| hier | here |
| hiesiger Ort | this place |
| Hinterbliebene | survivors |
| hinterlassen | surviving, left behind |
| Hirt | herdsman |
| hitziges Fieber | burning fever, high fever |
| hoch | high |
| Hochzeit | wedding |
| Hof | courtyard, farm, yard, estate |
| Hofprediger | chaplain |
| Holländer | Dutchman, dairykeeper |
| Hornung | February |
| Hüfner | farmer |
| Hufschmied | blacksmith |
| Hügel | hill |
| hundert | hundred |
| Hurenkind | illegitimate child |
| Husten | cough |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| ihr, ihr- | their, her |
| im | in the |
| immer | always |
| in | in, at |
| Inhalt | content(s) |
| innerhalb | inside of |
| Innung | guild |
| Instmann | tenant farmer |
| ist | is |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Jäger | hunter, rifleman in the military |
| Jahr | year |
| Jahrestag | anniversary |
| Jahreszeit | season |
| Jahrhundert | century |
| jährlich | annual, yearly |
| Jahrzehnt | decade |
| Jänner | January |
| Januar | January |
| jeder (jede, jedes) | each, every |
| Jgfr. = Jungfrau, Jungfer | maiden, virgin, unmarried woman |
| jüdisch | Jewish |
| Jugend | youth, adolescence |
| Juli | July |
| Julmonat | December |
| jung | young |
| Junge | a youth (male) |
| Jungfrau, Jungfer | maiden, virgin, unmarried woman |
| Junggeselle | bachelor |
| Jüngling | bachelor, young man |
| Juni | June |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| K.K. = kaiserlich königlich | royal imperial |
| Kammerfrau | lady-in-waiting |
| Kantor | choirmaster, organist |
| Karpe | carpenter |
| Karte | map |
| Karrer | carter |
| Kartei | card index |
| Käthner, Kätner | cottager |
| katholisch | Catholic |
| kaufen | to buy |
| Kaufmann | merchant |
| kein | no, not any, none |
| Keller | wine steward; cellar, basement |
| Kellner | waiter, receiver of revenues; steward |
| Kessler | kettlemaker |
| Keuchhusten | whooping cough |
| Kiefer | cooper, barrel maker |
| Kind | baby |
| Kindbettfieber | childbed fever |
| Kinder | children |
| Kirche | church |
| Kirchenältester | churchwarden, church elder, vestryman |
| Kirchenbuch | parish register |
| Kirchengemeinde | parish |
| Kirchenpfleger | churchwarden |
| Kirchenrodel | parish register |
| Kirchensprengel | parish |
| Kirchenvorsteher | churchwarden |
| kirchlich | pertaining to church |
| Kirchrat | member of a church council |
| Kirchspiel | parish |
| klein | little |
| Knabe | boy |
| Knecht | servant |
| Kolonist | settler, colonist, farmer |
| Kommunikant | communicant |
| Kommunion | communion |
| Konfirmation | confirmation |
| König | king |
| königlich | royal |
| Königreich | kingdom |
| Kopulation | marriage |
| kopulieren | to marry |
| Kossät, Kossath | cottager |
| Kötter, Kötner | small farmer, cottager |
| Krämer | grocer, small retailer |
| Krämpfe | cramps,, convulsions |
| Krankheit | disease, sickness |
| Krebs | cancer |
| Kreis | county |
| Krieg | war |
| Kröger, Krogmann | innkeeper |
| Küfer | cooper, barrel maker |
| Kuhhirte | cowherd |
| Kupferschmied | coppersmith |
| Kurort | spa |
| Kusine | female cousin |
| Kutscher | coachman |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Land | land, country |
| Landarbeiter | farmhand |
| Landkarte | map |
| Landwirt | farmer |
| lassen | to let, leave, allow |
| lebendig | living |
| ledig | single, unmarried |
| legitimiert | made legitimate, legitimized |
| Lehrer | teacher |
| Lehrling | apprentice |
| Leiche | corpse, body |
| Leichenpredigt | funeral sermon |
| Leinenweber | linen weaver |
| Lenz | spring (season) |
| letzte Ölung | last rites, extreme unction |
| letzte Salbung | last rites, extreme unction |
| Letzter | latter, last |
| letzter Wille | last will |
| links | left |
| Lungenentzündung | pneumonia |
| Lungenschwindsucht | consumption, tuberculosis |
| lutherisch | Lutheran |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Mädchen | girl |
| Mädel | girl |
| Magd | maiden, maid, servant girl |
| Mägdlein | girl, little girl |
| Mai | May |
| Maler | painter |
| Mann | husband, man |
| männlich | male |
| Markt | market |
| März | March |
| Masern | measles |
| Matrikel | register |
| Maurer | mason |
| Meister, -meister | master |
| Mennoniten | Mennonites |
| Metzger | butcher |
| Militär | military |
| minderjährig | underaged, minor |
| mit | with, via, by |
| Mitglied | member |
| Mittag | midday |
| mittags | at noon |
| Mitternacht | midnight |
| Mittwoch | Wednesday |
| Monat | month |
| Montag | Monday |
| Morgen | morning, tomorrow |
| Morgen (morgen) | measure of land, 0.6 to 0.9 acres |
| morgens | in the morning |
| Mühle | mill |
| mündlich | verbal, verbally |
| Mutter | Mother |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| N.N. = nomen nescio | name not known |
| nach | to, after, according to |
| Nachbar | neighbor |
| Nachbarschaft | neighborhood |
| nachgelassen | surviving |
| Nachlaß | estate, inheritance |
| Nachmittag | afternoon |
| nachmittags | in the afternoon |
| nächst(e) | next |
| Nacht | night |
| Näherin | seamstress |
| Name | name |
| nat. = natus, nata | born |
| natus, nata | born |
| neben | next to |
| Nebenfrau | concubine |
| Neffe | nephew |
| Nervenfieber | nervous fever |
| neu | new |
| neun | nine |
| neunte | ninth |
| neunundzwanzigte | twenty-ninth |
| neunzehn | nineteen |
| neunzehnhundert | nineteen hundred |
| neunzehnte | nineteenth |
| neunzig | ninety |
| neunzigste | ninetieth |
| Nicht | not |
| Nichte | niece |
| nichts | nothing |
| nie | never |
| nieder | lower |
| niederländisch | Dutch, of the Netherlands |
| noch | still |
| noch lebende | still living |
| noch nicht | not yet |
| Nord | north |
| Notizen | notices, miscellaneous records |
| Nottaufe | emergency baptism |
| November | November |
| Nummer | number |
| nur | only |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| O.A. = Oberamt | governing district office |
| ober | upper, over |
| ober-, Ober- (comb. form) |
chief, head; upper, over |
| Oberamt | governing district office |
| oder | or |
| öffentlich bekanntmachen | make known publicly |
| oft | often |
| Oheim | uncle |
| ohne | without |
| Oktober | October |
| Onkel | uncle |
| Ort | place, town |
| Ortslexikon | gazetteer |
| Osten | east |
| Ostern | Easter (could be March or April) |
| Ostermonat | April |
| Ostern | Easter |
| Österreich | Austria |
| österreichisch | Austrian |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Pächter | leaseholder |
| Pate | godfather |
| Paten | godparents |
| Pest | plague |
| Pfalz | Palatinate |
| Pfarramt | parish office |
| Pfarrbuch | parish register |
| Pfarrei | parish |
| Pfarrer | parish minister, pastor |
| Pfingsten | Pentecost |
| Pflegekind | foster child |
| Pflegesohn | foster son |
| Pflegetochter | foster daughter |
| Platz | place (location) |
| Pocken | pox, smallpox |
| Polen | Poland |
| polnisch | Polish |
| Posamentierer | A worker in the art of Posament. Posament is a technique where metal wires or threads are braided and knotted into ornaments and then sewn onto textiles. Braiding and knotting can be used together or separately. |
| preußisch | Prussia |
| Priester | priest |
| Prinz | prince |
| Prinzessin | princess |
| protestantisch | Protestant |
| Provinz | province |
| provinzial | provincial |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Räbbe | rabies |
| Räcke | stiffness of the limbs |
| Racker | renderer |
| Rademacher, Radmacher | wheelwright |
| Radhauer | wheelwright |
| Rathaus | city hall |
| Ratsherr | alderman |
| Ratsmann | councilman; town councilor |
| Rechnung | account; bill |
| rechtgläubig | orthodox |
| Rechsanwalt | lawyer |
| reformiert | reformed |
| Regierungsbezirk | administrative area (a political jurisdiction) |
| Register | register (a book or list) |
| Reich | empire; kingdom |
| Reifer | ropemaker; rope merchant |
| Reiter | rider; cavalryman |
| relicta | widow |
| relictus | widower |
| Religion | religion |
| ren. = renatus, renata | baptized, christened |
| Rentner | retired person |
| Rheuma | rheumatism |
| Richter | judge |
| Rodel | register |
| Röseler | whitewasher |
| Rössler | horseman; tanner |
| römisch katholisch | Roman Catholic |
| Röt | measles; bloody diarrhea |
| Rotgerber | red tanner |
| Ruhestand | retirement |
| Ruhr | dysentery |
| russisch | Russian |
| Rußland | Russia |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| S. = Seite | page |
| s. = siehe | see the following reference |
| Sachsen | Saxony |
| Sackhuhn | sailmaker |
| Säger | sawyer |
| Salbung | anointing |
| Salzvogt | salt works overseer |
| Samstag | Saturday |
| Sarkhauer | stonemason |
| Satertag | Saturday |
| Sattler | saddler, leather worker |
| Schacherer | peddler |
| Schäfer | shepherd |
| Schaffer | worker; laborer; administrator |
| Schäf(f)ler | cooper |
| Schaffmann | worker |
| Schaffner | conductor |
| Schalck, Schall | servant |
| Scharlach, Scharlachfieber | scarlet fever |
| Scharnemann | merchant in a market |
| Scharrmacher | wagon builder |
| Scharwerker | day laborer on a farm |
| Schatter, Schattmann | tax assessor |
| Schatzmann | moneychanger; treasurer |
| Schatzmeister | treasurer |
| Scheibenreisser | glazier |
| Scheibler | salt carrier |
| Scheiding | September |
| Scheidler | knife-blade maker |
| Scheidung | divorce |
| Schein | certificate |
| Schenkungen | donations |
| Scherer | barber; beardcutter; cloth cutter |
| Schichtmeister | mine paymaster |
| Schiffbauer | shipbuilder |
| Schiffer | shipper; seaman |
| Schiffmann | sailor |
| Schiffsmakler | shipbroker; shipping agent |
| Schilderer | sign painter |
| Schindeldecker | roofer of shingle roofs |
| Schindelmacher | shingle maker |
| Schinner | renderer, skinner |
| Schirmmacher | umbrella maker |
| Schirrmacher | wagon maker |
| Schirrmeister | master wagon maker |
| Schlachter, Schlächter | butcher |
| Schlachtmann | butcher |
| Schlachtwanter | clothing wholesaler |
| Schlafbaas | innkeeper |
| Schlaganfall | stroke, seizure |
| Schlagfluß | stroke |
| Schlieper | knifemaker; cutler |
| Schlieter | merchant |
| Schloß | castle |
| Schlosser | locksmith |
| Schlotfeger | chimneysweep |
| Schlotthauer | locksmith |
| Schmied | smith |
| Schneider | tailor |
| Schnitzer, Schnitzler | woodcarver |
| Schopper | ship's carpenter |
| Schornsteinfeger | chimneysweep |
| Schosserheber | tax collector |
| Schösser | tax collector |
| Schotte | peddler |
| Schottler | turner; key maker |
| Schottilier | turner; carpenter |
| Schreiber | scribe, clerk |
| Schreiner | cabinetmaker, joiner |
| Schriftsetzer | typesetter |
| Schroder, Schröder | tailor |
| Schröer | tailor |
| Schröter | tailor; carter; driver; cooper |
| Schubarth, Schuberth, Schubring | shoemaker |
| Schuchard, Schucherd, Schuchmann, Schuckert | shoemaker |
| Schuhmacher | shoemaker, cobbler |
| Schule | school |
| Schullehrer | schoolteacher |
| Schultheiß, Schulze | village mayor, head of town council |
| Schüssler | bowl maker |
| Schuster | shoemaker, cobbler |
| Schuwarte | shoemaker |
| Schwäche | weakness |
| Schwager | brother-in-law |
| Schwägerin | sister-in-law |
| Schwaiger | shepherd |
| schwanger | pregnant |
| schwarz | black |
| schwarzer Tod | black death; plague |
| Schwarzgiesser | iron smelter |
| Schwein(e)hirt(h) | pigherd |
| Schweisser | welder |
| Schweiz | Switzerland |
| Schweizer | Swiss; also a dairyman |
| Schwendimann | settler on recently burned woodland |
| Schwerdtfeger | armorer |
| Schwester | sister |
| Schwiegermutter | mother-in-law |
| Schwiegersohn | son-in-law |
| Schwiegertochter | daughter-in-law |
| Schwiegervater | father-in-law |
| Schwindsucht | consumption |
| S.d. = Sohn des, der | son of |
| sechs | six |
| sechste | sixth |
| sechsundzwanzig | twenty-six |
| sechsundzwanzigste | twenty-sixth |
| sechzehnhundert | sixteen hundred |
| sechzehn | sixteen |
| sechzehnte | sixteenth |
| sechzig | sixty |
| sechzigste | sixtieth |
| See | lake |
| Seelen | souls |
| Seelenregister | church membership list |
| Seelsorger | minister, chaplain |
| Seemann | sailor |
| Segner | fisherman |
| Seifensieder | soap maker |
| Seigner | fisherman |
| Seiler | rope maker |
| sein | to be; his |
| seit | since |
| Seite | page |
| selige | (the) late, blessed |
| September | September |
| Sibber | sieve maker |
| Sibmacher | sieve maker |
| sich | himself, herself, itself |
| sie | she, they |
| Sie | you |
| sieben | seven |
| siebente | seventh |
| siebenundzwanzigste | twenty-seventh |
| siebte | seventh |
| siebzehn | seventeen |
| siebzehnhundert | seventeen hundred |
| siebzehnte | seventeenth |
| siebzig | seventy |
| siebzigste | seventieth |
| Sieder | soap maker |
| siehe | see |
| Sigrist | sexton |
| sind | are |
| so | as, so, thus, such |
| Sohn | son |
| Söhnlein, Söhnchen | young son |
| Soldat | soldier |
| Söldner | mercenary soldier; day laborer |
| sollen | should |
| Sonnabend | Saturday |
| Sonntag | Sunday |
| spät | late (p.m.) |
| Spengler | plumber; tinsmith |
| spur. = spurius, spuria | illegitimate |
| Staat | state |
| Staatsangehörigkeit | citizenship, nationality |
| Staatsarchiv | state archives |
| Stadt | city |
| Stammbaum | family tree, pedigree |
| Stand | occupation, status, condition |
| Standesamt | civil registrar’s office |
| starb | died |
| Steinhauer | stonecutter |
| Steinmetz | stonemason |
| stellen | place, put, impose |
| Stellmacher | wheelwright |
| Sterbefälle | deaths |
| sterben | to die |
| Steuer | tax |
| Stickfluß | asthma |
| Stiefbruder | half brother, stepbrother |
| Stiefkind | stepchild |
| Stiefmutter | stepmother |
| Stiefschwester | half sister, stepsister |
| Stiefvater | stepfather |
| Stillgeburt | stillbirth |
| Straße | street |
| Stunde | hour |
| Sucht | sickness, mania, rage |
| Süden | south |
| S.v. = Sohn von | son of |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| T.d. = Tochter des, der | daughter of |
| T.v. = Tochter von | daughter of |
| Tabelle | index, table |
| Tag | day |
| Tagelöhner | day laborer |
| Tagner | day laborer |
| Tal, Thal | valley |
| Tante | aunt |
| Tapazier | (wall)paper hanger |
| Taufe | baptism |
| taufen | to baptize |
| Taufpaten | godparents |
| Taufschein | baptismal certificate |
| tausend | thousand |
| Testament | will |
| Tischler | cabinetmaker, furniture maker |
| Tochter | daughter |
| Töchterchen | young daughter |
| Töchterlein | young daughter |
| Tochtermann | son-in-law |
| Tod | death |
| Todesart | manner of death |
| Töpfer | potter |
| tot | dead |
| Totengräber | grave digger |
| totgeboren | stillborn |
| Trauung | marriage |
| Trennung | separation, divorce |
| tschechisch | Czech |
| Tschechoslowakai | Czechoslovakia |
| Tuberkulose | tuberculosis |
| Tuchmacher | cloth maker, draper |
| Tumor | tumor |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
über
| German | English |
| u.d. = und des, und der | and of |
| über | about, concerning, over |
| überleben | survive |
| Uhr | o’clock, clock, watch |
| um | at, about, around, concerning |
| unbekannt | unknown |
| und | and |
| und der | and of |
| und des | and of |
| unehelich | illegitimate |
| ungarisch | Hungarian |
| Ungarn | Hungary |
| ungefähr | about, circa, approximately |
| uns | us |
| unter | under, lower |
| Unterleib | abdomen |
| Unterleibsentzündung | abdominal inflammation, peritonitis |
| Unterleibstyphus | typhoid fever |
| Unterleibsverhärtung | abdomenal hardening |
| Unterrichter | judge |
| Unterschrieben | signed |
| Unterschrift | signature |
| Unterzeichnete | the undersigned |
| unverheiratet | unmarried |
| Urenkelkind | great-grandchild |
| Urgroßmutter | great-grandmother |
| Urgroßvater | great-grandfather |
| Urkunde | record, document |
| Ururgroßmutter | great-great-grandmother |
| Ururgroßvater | great-great-grandfather |
| ux. = uxor | wife |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Vater | father |
| verehelicht | married |
| Verehelichung | marriage |
| vergangen | past |
| vergraben | buried |
| verh. = verheiratet | married |
| Verkäufer | seller, vendor |
| verl. = verlobt | engaged |
| verlebte | deceased |
| verloben, sich | to become engaged |
| Verlobte | fiancée |
| Verlobter | fiancé |
| Verlobung | betrothal, engagement |
| Vermieter | landlord, lessor |
| Vermögen | estate, assets |
| Verpächter | landlord, lessor |
| verrichtet | performed |
| verschiedene | various |
| versehen | given the last rights, extreme unction (e.g., dates in context of a death record) |
| Verstopfung | constipation |
| verstorben | deceased, defunct |
| Verstorbene | the deceased |
| Verwaltung | administration |
| Verwandten | relatives |
| Verwandtschaft | relationship |
| verwitwet | widowed |
| Verzeichnis | register, list, index |
| Vetter | male cousin |
| vid. = viduus, vidua | widower, widow |
| vielleicht | perhaps, maybe |
| vier | four |
| vierte | fourth |
| vierundzwanzigste | twenty-fourth |
| vierzehn | fourteen |
| vierzehnte | fourteenth |
| vierzig | forty |
| vierzigste | fortieth |
| Vogt | steward, overseer |
| Voigt | steward, overseer |
| Volkszählung | census |
| volljährig | of age, of legal age |
| vollzogen | performed |
| von | of, from, by |
| vor | before; ago |
| vorherig | previous, preceding |
| vorheriger Tag | the previous day |
| vorläufig | for the time being |
| vormals | formerly |
| Vormittags | in the morning |
| Vormund | guardian |
| Vorname | given name |
| Vorstadt | suburbs, outskirts of town |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Wagner | cartwright |
| Waise | orphan |
| Wald | forest, woods |
| wann | when |
| Wappen | coat of arms |
| Wappenkunde | heraldry |
| war | was |
| waren | were |
| warum | why |
| was | what |
| Wassersucht | dropsy, edema |
| Weber | weaver |
| Weduwe | widow |
| wegen | because of |
| Wehmutter | midwife |
| Weib | wife, woman |
| weiblich | female |
| weil. = weiland | deceased |
| weiland | deceased |
| Weiland | the deceased |
| Weiler | hamlet |
| weiß | white |
| Weißgerber | tanner |
| welche | which |
| wer | who |
| werden | to become |
| West | west |
| weyland | deceased |
| wie | how |
| Windpocken | chicken pox |
| Wintermonat | November |
| Wirt | innkeeper |
| Wittib | widow |
| Wittiber | widower |
| Witwer | widower |
| wo | where |
| Woche | week |
| Wochenbett | childbed |
| woher | from where |
| wohnen | to live, residing |
| Wohnort | place of residence |
| Wohnplatz | place of residence |
| Wohnung | domicile, residence |
| wollen | to want |
| Wonnemonat | May |
| Wörterbuch | dictionary |
| wurde geboren | was born |
| wurde getauft | was baptized |
| würdig | worthy |
| Wwe. = Witwe | widow |
| Wwer. = Witwer | widower |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| Xber, Xbris | December |
| Words starting with: |
|---|
| German | English |
| zählen | to count |
| Zahnkrämpfe | teething |
| Zahnung | teething |
| zehn | ten |
| Zehnt(en)buch | tithing book |
| zehnte | tenth |
| Zehnten | tithes |
| zehrendes Fieber | consumptive fever |
| Zehrung | consuption |
| Zeit | time |
| Zeuge | witness |
| Ziegler | brick maker |
| Ziehmutter, -sohn, -tochter |
foster mother, son, daughter |
| Zimmermann | Carpenter |
| Zivilstandsamt | civil registrar's office |
| Zöllner | publican, tax collector |
| zu Hause | at home |
| Zukunft | future |
| Zuname | surname, last name |
| zusammen | together |
| zwanzig | twenty |
| zwanzigte | twentieth |
| zwei | two |
| zweihundert | two hundred |
| zwei tausend | two thousand |
| zweite | second |
| zweiundzwanzigste | twenty-second |
| Zwilling(e) | twin, twins |
| zwischen | between |
| zwölf | twelve |
| Zwölfer | member of a council |
| zwölfte | twelfth |
| Words starting with: |
|---|