Russian Genealogy
Russia Genealogy Introduction
Welcome to our extensive guide on Russian genealogy, crafted to help you trace your Russian ancestry with ease. This page serves as a central hub for anyone interested in exploring their Russian roots, offering a comprehensive collection of Russian genealogy resources. Here, you’ll find valuable links to various tools and information, including detailed guides on accessing Russian military service records, engaging with Russian genealogy forums, and exploring databases on repressed individuals in Russian history.
In addition to these resources, we provide Russian archives contact details, making it easier for you to obtain essential documents and records. Whether you’re seeking birth, marriage, death certificates, or more specialized records, our curated list will guide you to the right sources.
Our page also features links to relevant articles that delve into specific aspects of Russian genealogy, offering insights and tips to enhance your research. From understanding the historical context of your ancestors’ lives to navigating the complexities of Russian naming conventions, these articles are invaluable resources for both beginners and seasoned genealogists.
We are committed to keeping this guide up-to-date with the latest information and newly discovered resources. New links and articles are added regularly, so we encourage you to check back often to stay informed about the latest developments in Russian genealogy.
Content
Please refer to the Table of Contents below to easily navigate through this page. Our selection of Russian genealogy links covers a wide range of topics, ensuring you have access to the best resources for tracing your Russian ancestry. Within this section, you will find links dedicated to Russian military service records, active Russian genealogy forums, including Russian Jews and Russian Germans forums and more!
Table of Contents
Links
War records
| Resource Name | Website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pamyat Naroda "Memory of the People" | www.pamyat-naroda.ru | The database contains information about Soviet soldiers in WW2, including awards, hospital and death records, mobilization records and more. |
| OBD Memorial | obd-memorial.ru | The database of Soviet soldiers who died or went missing during the WW2. |
| Podvig Naroda "The Feat of the People" | podvignaroda.ru | The database of documents about awards given to Soviet soldiers during and after WW2. |
| Doroga Pamyati "The Road of the Memory" | 1418museum.ru | The database which contains information about Soviet soldiers in WW2. |
| Bessmertniy Polk "Immortal Regiment" | moypolk.ru | A memory-based social movement with a website that contains profiles of Soviet soldiers, where you can add profile of a veteran or search for existing one. |
| Memory of the Heroes of the WW1 | gwar.mil.ru | The section "Heroes of the War" allows searching for Russian soldiers who participated in WW1. Website also contains useful information about WW1, chronology of the battles and more. |
| Cavalier | cavalier.rusarchives.ru | The database of Georgian Cavaliers (award) of the WW1. |
| Numismat | numismat.ru | The database of Russian soldiers who received various awards in WW1. |
| Russian Civil War (White Army) | swolkov.org | The database of people who participated in White Movement during Civil War in Russia. |
| Russian Civil War (Red Army) | t.ly/Z19Go | Losses of the Red Army in the Russian Civil War. |
| Russian Civil War (Red Army) | t.ly/VC2w2 | A list of participants in the Civil War who were awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Listed in four volumes of the collection. |
| Russian Civil War (Red Army) | t.ly/D5mZp | Monument to the fighters of the proletarian revolution who died in 1917–1921. |
| OST-West | ost-west.memo.ru | Lists of individuals deported to work in Germany during the WW2. |
| Stalingrad | stalingrad.rusarchives.ru | The "Stalingrad" online project is a virtual exhibition featuring over 450 documents and multimedia that commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet counteroffensive and the city's defense. |
| STSG | ru.stsg.de | Databases with information about Soviet soldiers who died in captivity in Germany. |
| STSG | ru.stsg.de | Database of Soviet citizens/soldiers buried in Saxony. |
| RF Poisk | rf-poisk.ru | Books which list Soviet soldiers who died in WW2, with names identified through medallions, personal items, and archive research. |
| Polk | polk.ru | The database includes information on missing persons, unawarded medals, and soldiers found by search teams, covering not only WWII but also conflicts in Afghanistan, the Caucasus, and other local conflicts. |
Repressed and executed
| Resource Name | Website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Openlist | ru.openlist.wiki | The most comprehensive database of victims of political repression in the USSR (1917–1991) |
| Memorial lists | lists.memo.ru | Victims of Political Terror in the USSR |
| Memorial base | base.memo.ru | Victims of Political Terror in the USSR |
| Bessmertny Barak "Immortal Barrack" | bessmertnybarak.ru | Victims of Political Terror in the USSR |
| Stalin lists | stalin.memo.ru | Stalin's Execution Lists |
| Returned Names | visz.nlr.ru | Victims of Political Terror in the USSR |
| Posledny Adres "Last address" | poslednyadres.ru | Search by Address of the Repressed |
| Sakharov Center | sakharov-center.ru | List of Victims of Political Repressions, Executed and Buried in Moscow and the Moscow Region from 1918 to 1953 |
| Moscow lists | mos.memo.ru | Executed people in Moscow |
Forums
| Resource Name | Website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| VGD | www.vgd.ru | The largest Russian genealogy forum, covering information about all countries that were once part of the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union. |
| J-roots | www.forum.j-roots.info | Jewish Russian genealogy forum, which covers information about all countries that were once part of the Russian Empire or Soviet Union. |
| Wolgadeutsche | https://forum.wolgadeutsche.net | History of the Volga Germans: Historical, Local History, and Genealogical Forum |
| Yar Genealogy | https://forum.yar-genealogy.ru/ | The Forum of the Yaroslavl Historical and Genealogical Society |
| Ural Genealogy | https://rodgersforum.borda.ru/ | The Forum of the Ural Historical and Genealogical Society |
| Genoua | http://forum.genoua.name/ | Ukrainian genealogy forum which has section of Russian genealogy |
Records Online
| Resource Name | Website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Myheritage | www.myheritage.com | Family tree builder with various records. |
| Familysearch | www.familysearch.org | Millions of global records including naturalization, immigration, birth, death, and marriage records. |
| Ancestry | www.ancestry.com | Millions of global records including naturalization, immigration, birth, death, and marriage records. |
| Geni | www.geni.com | Family tree builder with connections to other trees. |
| SPB Archives | spbarchives.ru | Saint Petersburg archive with digitalized vital records, accessible only to Russian citizens. |
| Archives of Canada | library-archives.canada.ca | Records of immigrants from the Russian Empire to Canada. |
| Geneteka | geneteka.genealodzy.pl | Database of records from Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and some from Russia. |
| Genealogy Indexer | genealogyindexer.org | Indexed and scanned records from Russia and Eastern Europe. |
| Yandex Archive | yandex.ru/archive/search | Millions of scanned and indexed vital records from various Russian regions. |
| Altarchives | altarchives.ru/census1917 | 1917 census records from the Altai region. |
| GAKO Kirov | gako-kirov.ru | 1857-1859 census records from the Kirov region. |
| RSL | search.rsl.ru | Russian library with thousands of scanned documents, including dissertations. |
| SHPL | elib.shpl.ru | Electronic Library of the State Public Historical Library of Russia, containing documents on history, genealogy, and heraldry. |
| CBS NOVOCH | cbs-novoch.ru | Digitized records of the Don Cossacks at the Novocherkassk Library. |
| Altai Krai Archives | archiv.ab.ru | Documents on WWII evacuation to the Altai Territory. |
| Altai Krai Archives | altarchives.ru/reestr | Unique documents from the Altai Krai Archives. |
| Regional Studies of the Republic of Bashkortostan | basharchive.ru | Historical and documentary project of the Society of Regional Studies of Bashkortostan. |
| State Archive of Ivanovo Region | af.ivarh.ru | Plan to upload over 300,000 pages of records online in 2023. |
| Izhevsk Archives | udmkorni.ru | Portal opened in 2022 with registry office books (1918-1924) and other records. |
| State Archive of Kemerovo Oblast | arhiv42.ru | Free access to scanned records (registration required). |
| Kostroma Regional Archives | chitalnyj-zal.kosarchive.ru | Registration and payment required for scanned documents in the online reading room. |
| Belogorod Records | belarchive.ru | Belogorod Regional Registry Records from 1925. |
| Belogorod Records | belarchive.ru | Belogorod Regional Revision Tales. |
| Chelyabinsk Regional Archives | ais.archive74.ru | Portal with fully scanned metric records (registration required). |
| Moscow Archives | cgamos.ru | Nearly 7 million pages scanned from various religious metric books (1744-1920). |
| Tambov Regional Archives | tambovarchiv.ru | "Patriotic Initiative of the Tambov Collective Farmers" project. |
| Tver Regional Archives | archives.tverreg.ru | Registration required and payment accepted by credit card. |
| Tomsk Regional Archives | pereselenie.gato.tomica.ru | Name search available for 5,800 scanned records. |
| Novgorod Regional Archive | gano.altsoft.spb.ru | Over 1,500 fonds available online. |
| Tambov Regional Archives | tambovarchiv.ru | "Childhood Taken Away by the War" project. |
| Oryol Regional Archive | catalog.gaorel.ru | Advanced search capabilities for archive records. |
| Perm Regional Archives | pokolenia.permkrai.ru | Scanned metric records and revision tales (registration required). |
| Saint Petersburg Civil Registration Books | spbarchives.ru | Birth, marriage, and death records (1918-1924) scanned from over 7,700 books. |
| Saint Petersburg Metric Books | spbarchives.ru | Pre-1917 birth, marriage, and death records scanned from over 7,700 books. |
| Samara Regional Archives | archive.samregion.ru | Online reading room with birth, marriage, and death records (1780-1918). |
| Vologda Regional Archives | gosarchive.gov35.ru | Some records available on the portal (registration required). |
| Tula Regional Archives | gato.tularegion.ru | Only 10% of records are online. Registration and payment required for the online reading room. |
| Vologda Regional Archives | arhiv-vologda.ru | WWII evacuation records. |
| Ulyanovsk Regional Archives | ogugauo.ru | Online records searchable by keyword, listed page by page. |
Cemeteries
| Resource Name | Website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cemeteries of Russia | kladbisharossii | Burial records |
| Find a Grave | findagrave.com | Burial records |
| Pomnim | pomnim.online | Burial records |
| Billion Graves | billiongraves.com | Burial records |