Researching family history

The increasingly popular research into one's own family history brings new visitors to the archives every year, who, by studying old registers, land books, and other materials, set out on a long journey tracing their ancestors´ lives. The Prague City Archives are mainly a destination for researchers whose ancestors lived, worked, or otherwise connected their lives to the capital.

For most ordinary individuals, archival records are relatively limited. Unless the person held a public office, was active in a significant association, worked for a municipal institution, or left behind a personal archive or probate file, the surviving records usually consist only of information created as part of official administrative documentation. For beginner genealogists, we have prepared basic information about the sources they will most often encounter in their research, along with a few useful tips on how to work with them.

Parish and Civil Registers Church registers, and later also civil registers, are a primary source for genealogy.  more ...

Prague Population Registers The Prague Population Registers record the residents of Prague and people living in the territory of what was then Prague between 1830 and 1949. The Registers were kept by the descriptive department of the Prague City Hall for the purposes of tracking residency rights and military duties.  more ...

Census Records The Prague City Archives keep census sheets for Prague and some neighboring municipalities from the years 1869, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, and 1921.  more ...

School Attendance Records School catalogs and class records as a source for genealogical research.  more ...

Trade Records Information about sources for trade and business activities in Prague. more...