Bayern (Bavaria) genealogy relates to the study of family history in the modern-state of Bayern, also known as Bavaria, which lies in southeastern Germany.
It is the largest state in Germany with more than 70,000 square kilometers of land area. More than 13 million people reside in Bayern. Its capital city is Munich (München).
It is known for its hospitality and open-mindedness with a philosophy of "live and let live," characterized by a white and blue sky on its coat of arms.[1]
Bavarians have a strong sense of identity and have long been associated with the Roman Catholic faith. Bayern is famous for its Oktoberfest, held in Munich annually from September to October.[2]
History of BayernHistory of Bayern
Bayern is one of the oldest states in Europe, dating back to the 6th century when Garibald I ruled as the first Duke of Bavaria.[1]
It was ruled by the House of Wittelsbach from the 12th century until 7 November 1918, when a revolution organized by Kurt Eisner formally ended the house's rule.[3] At that time, Bayern became a free state.
While a Wittelsbach territory, the Electorate of Bayern merged with the Electoral Palatinate, ruled by Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bavaria. Bayern was part of the Holy Roman Empire until it dissolved and it became known as the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1806. It joined the German Empire in 1871 before becoming a free state in 1918.
Munich was targeted in significant bombing campaigns during World War II and much of the city was destroyed. Bayern became part of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949. During the Cold War it belonged to West Germany.
Geography of BayernGeography of Bayern
Bayern shares international borders with the Czech Republic and Austria. It borders the German states of Saxony and Thuringia to the north and Baden-Württemberg and Hessen to the west.
It is characterized by "high plateaus and medium-sized mountains" geographically.[4] Rivers that run through Bayern include the Main, which flows into the Rhine, the Danube, the Inn and the Isar.
Bayern is also known for its forests, particularly the Bavarian Forest in the eastern part of the state. In the southern part of Bayern, the Bavarian Alps reach their highest point at 2,962 meters (9,718 feet).[4]
Administrative DistrictsAdministrative Districts
Bayern is made up of seven administrative districts (Regierungsbezirke or RB):
- Mittelfranken (Middle Franconia)
- Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria)
- Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria)
- Oberfranken (Upper Franconia)
- Oberpfalz (Upper Palatinate)
- Schwaben (Swabia)
- Unterfranken (Lower Franconia)
The largest district by population is Oberbayern, home to more than 4 million people[5] and the capital city of Munich. Oberfranken is the smallest by both population and area (square kilometers).
Meyers Gazetteer lists the administrative district (RB) for each town or village in Bayern. The District Office (BA) and Standesamt (StdA) is also provided, which can be helpful for genealogy purposes.
Bayern breaks down further into 71 rural districts (Landkreise) and 25 independent cities (Kreisfreie Städte). These are not provided in Meyers Gazetteer.
Bayern surnamesBayern surnames
Notable people from BayernNotable people from Bayern
Well-known people from Bayern include:
- Alois Alzheimer, Psychiatrist, Neurologist
- Benedict XVI, Pope
- Albrecht Dürer, Painter, Mathematician
- Werner Heisenberg, Theoretical Physicist, Nuclear Physicist
- Michael Herbig, Film Director, Actor
- Henry Kissinger, Politician, Political Scientist
- Max Morlock, Football Player
- Thomas Nast, Caricaturist, Artist, Journalist
- Dirk Nowitzki, Basketball Player
- Bastian Schweinsteiger, Football Player
- Michael Von Faulhaber, Roman Catholic Cardinal
- Victor II, Pope
Types of recordsTypes of records
Bavarian families may appear in the following MyHeritage collections:
- Germany, Births and Baptisms (1558-1898)
- Germany, Marriages (1558-1929)
- Germany, Deaths and Burials (1558-1958)
Church records and civil registrations are comprehensive for the state of Bayern, containing a wealth of information about its residents dating back to about the 17th century.
The majority of Bavarian Catholic Church records have been digitized at Matricula Online. This includes more than 2,500 parishes, covering the following:
- Augsburg diocese
- Bamberg diocese
- Eichstätt diocese
- München & Freising diocese
- Passau diocese
- Regensburg diocese
The Würzburg diocese is expected to be digitized in the next few years and it has appeared as a submenu of the Matricula site.[6]
Evangelical-Lutheran Church records for the state are available at the Landeskirchliches Archiv in Nürnberg and many of them are digitized at Archion.de.
For civil records, utilize Meyers Gazetteer to determine the Standesamt for the town or village of your ancestor. This is where the civil registration records should be kept. Once you have this location, look for an official website for that location to find an address to contact them.
The Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv (Bavarian Main State Archive) in Münich has some records of genealogical interest such as deeds and maps.
Many trees on MyHeritage contain families from Bayern. Search those in the box below.
See alsoSee also
Explore more about Bayern genealogyExplore more about Bayern genealogy
- Researching German Ancestors on MyHeritage by James Beidler on MyHeritage
- Borders, Maps and Gazetteers for German Genealogists by Legacy Family Tree Webinars
- Ask The Expert – German Records by Daniel Horowitz on MyHeritage
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Free State of Bavaria. Bayerische Staatsregierung. https://www.bayern.de/der-freistaat/the-free-state-of-bavaria/
- ↑ Oktoberfest München, "the largest folk festival in the world". https://www.oktoberfest.de/en
- ↑ Revolution and Soviet Republics in Bavaria 1918/19. Bavarikon. https://www.bavarikon.de/revolution-bavaria-1918
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bavaria. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/place/Bavaria
- ↑ Regierung von Oberbayern, General Information about our Administrative Authority. Regierung von Oberbayern.https://www.regierung.oberbayern.bayern.de/mam/dokumente/presse/leistungspapiere/rob_leistungspapier-wissenswertes-englisch.pdf
- ↑ The Catholic Diocese of Regensburg has started putting its records online for free! (+Würzburg update). Reddit.https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/comments/13pnqkf/the_catholic_diocese_of_regensburg_has_started/