How to Translate Old German, Polish, and Russian Records for Genealogy Research
Tracing your family history often means working with records written in languages you don’t speak. If your ancestors came from Germany, Poland, or Russia, you’ll likely encounter birth, marriage, and death records in those languages—and sometimes in old handwriting styles that can be challenging to read.
Start with What You Know
Before diving into a search for new records or emailing archives to ask them to find your ancestors, gather all the family information you can:
Talk to your oldest living relatives. They may remember names, dates, or even the hometown of your ancestors.
Collect family documents, letters, and photographs.
Record oral histories—sometimes a single detail like a village name can unlock entire branches of your family tree.
Build your family tree either in a desktop app or in an online platform. This will help you organize your information to figure out what you know and what you want to find out.
Learn Key Genealogy Terms
Understanding common words in records is essential. Here are the top keywords you’ll encounter in birth, marriage, and death records:
German
Geburt – Birth
Geburtsdatum – Birth date
Geburtsort – Birthplace
Taufe – Baptism
Eltern – Parents
Vater – Father
Mutter – Mother
Ehe – Marriage
Trauung – Wedding
Bräutigam – Groom
Braut – Bride
Tod – Death
Sterbedatum – Date of death
Sterbeort – Place of death
Kind – Child
Sohn – Son
Tochter – Daughter
Witwe – Widow
Witwer – Widower
Beruf – Occupation
Wohnort – Residence
Polish
Urodzenie – Birth
Data urodzenia – Birth date
Miejsce urodzenia – Birthplace
Chrzest – Baptism
Rodzice – Parents
Ojciec – Father
Matka – Mother
Małżeństwo – Marriage
Ślub – Wedding
Pan młody – Groom
Panna młoda – Bride
Śmierć – Death
Data śmierci – Date of death
Miejsce śmierci – Place of death
Dziecko – Child
Syn – Son
Córka – Daughter
Wdowa – Widow
Wdowiec – Widower
Zawód – Occupation
Miejsce zamieszkania – Residence
Russian
Рождение (Rozhdenie) – Birth
Дата рождения – Birth date
Место рождения – Birthplace
Крещение – Baptism
Родители – Parents
Отец – Father
Мать – Mother
Брак – Marriage
Свадьба – Wedding
Жених – Groom
Невеста – Bride
Смерть – Death
Дата смерти – Date of death
Место смерти – Place of death
Ребёнок – Child
Сын – Son
Дочь – Daughter
Вдова – Widow
Вдовец – Widower
Профессия – Occupation
Место жительства – Residence
Handwriting and Other Challenges
German Gothic Script (Kurrent/Sütterlin): Letters look very different from modern handwriting and require practice to recognize.
Polish Records Under Foreign Rule: Between 1795 and 1918, Poland was partitioned and governed by the German, Russian, and Austro-Hungarian Empires. During this time, Polish records may appear in German, Russian, or Latin, depending on the region.
Russian Cyrillic Alphabet: If you’re unfamiliar with Cyrillic, start by learning the alphabet and common letter forms before tackling handwritten records.
Helpful Resources
FamilySearch has some helpful guides for learning to interpret the handwriting and research your ancestors in Eastern Europe.
Final Tips for Success
Patience is key—but so is persistence. Translating old records may feel daunting at first, but every word you learn is a bridge to the past. Each name, date, and place you uncover connects you to real lives and stories that shaped who you are today. Think of it as solving a mystery where the reward is rediscovering your family’s legacy. Take it one record at a time, and celebrate every breakthrough—you’re not just reading history, you’re bringing it back to life.
******************************
Need help translating Old German, Polish, or Russian records? Our experts can guide you through handwriting challenges, language barriers, and historical context. Contact Treasured Ancestors today to make sense of your family’s story.
