Bessarabia, Russia, Jewish Birth Records from Various Towns, 1829-1910

Source Information

JewishGen
JewishGen.org volunteers, comp. Bessarabia, Russia, Jewish Birth Records from Various Towns, 1829-1910 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
Original data: Jewish Congregations and Orthodox Consistory. Metrical books and Alphabetical Book of Marriages. Chişinău, Moldova: National Archives of the Republic of Moldova and Central State Archive of Moldova. These records are also available on microfilm through the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Specific microfilm information provided with each record. This data is provided in partnership with JewishGen.org.

About Bessarabia, Russia, Jewish Birth Records from Various Towns, 1829-1910

This database contains Jewish birth records from the former Russian Gubernia of Bessarabia.

These records were originally created by the Jewish Congregations of the various towns where the records were recorded, i.e. the Jewish Congregation of Kishinev (Chisinau), etc. The text is both in Russian (Cyrillic alphabet) and Hebrew script, although some records are in Russian only.

The vast majority of the records are for the city of Kishinev (now Chisinau, Moldova).

About the Database:

Below is a list showing the years and cities included in this database. The years specified do not imply full coverage so there will gaps in the records.

  • Beltsy: 1845, 1867, 1869-1870

  • Bendery: 1866, 1871, 1874

  • Gancheshty: 1859

  • Kaushany: 1866, 1876, 1878, 1887

  • Kishinev: 1829-1857, 1863-1869, 1877-1908

The Register of Births records may contain the following information:

  • Family History Library microfilm number

  • Item number on microfilm

  • Image number on microfilm, if available, or the page number located at the top right on the record itself (this will enable you to locate the record on the film)

  • The place and year that the record was registered

  • Registration number of birth (number is proceeded by "F" for female or "M" for male)

  • Surname (no surname is given if mother is not married)

  • Given name

  • Father

  • Paternal grandfather

  • Mother

  • Maternal grandfather

  • Mother’s maiden surname (usually given if mother is not married)

  • Day, month, and year of birth, according to the Julian calendar

  • Day and month of birth, according to the Jewish calendar

  • Place of birth

  • Comments, which may include the status of the father and who performed the circumcision if a boy. In the early years three people performed the circumcision - Mohel (cutting), Porea (tearing) and Motzetz (sucking a drop of blood). Today these functions are usually but not always performed by one person.

  • The archive where this original record is located, along with the fond, list and item number where the record is stored.

    • Additional records (more localities and years) are availble on microfilm from the Family History Library. Check their online catalog for specific holdings.