Matriken#

Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Since the 16th century (Council of Trent) parishes have compiled such records; from 1785 the officially recognized religious communities (Catholics, Protestants, Jews etc.) were legally bound to draw up such registers; from 1868 district commissions were in charge of registers in which the births, deaths and marriages of persons not belonging to any denomination had to be listed. Since January 1, 1939 registrars have kept the official records, while the parishes have continued to compile their own registers. Diocesan archives have often preserved older registers which today constitute an important source of information regarding historical developments.