Sterbebuch

Sterbebuch, plural Sterbebücher, refers to parish death registers in German-speaking parts of Europe. These records were kept by Catholic and Protestant churches as part of the parish book system that also included baptism and marriage registers. Sterbebücher typically document individual deaths and burial details, and in many cases include the deceased’s name, date of death, age, place of residence, marital status, and occupation. Additional notes may record birthplaces, names of parents or spouse, and occasionally the cause of death or remarks by the pastor.

Historically, Sterbebücher date from the late medieval period into the 19th or early 20th century, depending on local practice. They were created because civil vital records were not uniformly maintained in many regions for long periods. After civil registration became established in various territories, the use of Sterbebücher declined, though some parishes continued to maintain them for a time. Today they are especially valuable for genealogical research and local history, providing data that can supplement or predate civil records and helping to reconstruct family lineages and demographic patterns.

Access and preservation: Many Sterbebücher are preserved in church archives, diocesan archives, state archives, or national libraries, with some having been published, microfilmed, or digitized. Digitization and indexing projects have made parts of these records more accessible, though readability varies by script, language (German, Latin, Czech, Polish), and region. Researchers should note potential gaps, inconsistent spellings, and changes in parish boundaries when using Sterbebücher for historical or genealogical work.