Genealogical Research in Ukraine and Eastern Europe
Expert-Driven Research in Ukrainian and Eastern European archives

Step-by-step research genealogy in Ukraine and Eastern Europe based on archival documents with information about your ancestors.
Each step is a study of documents for 1 decade that may contain information about your ancestors.

250 EUR

Information
in genealogical research

The following information will be found during researching your genealogy in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

Ancestors’ names

surname, given name, patronymic name*, maiden name** of ancestors

Date of birth

birth year or date of your ancesstors

Place of birth/residence

your ancestors’ birthplace or place of residence

Social status

ancestors’ social estate or class, occupation

Religion

ancestors’ confession

Family ties

information about spouses, parents, siblings and other relatives***

* Patronymic↗ name

is not always displayed in archival documents. Specifically, for men, patronymic names are practically absent in documents of the XVII – mid XVIII century. Meanwhile, for women, the patronymic name was often not indicated in documents of the XVIII – mid XIX century.

** Maiden name

additionally, the maiden name for women cannot always be established during the study. For example, archival birth records (especially for the 1860s – 1930s) are much better preserved than marriage records.

*** Family ties

consequently, family ties may not always be established during genealogical research. This is because the ancestor could be the only child in the family; moreover, his brothers/sisters could not live to a conscious age (due to the high infant mortality in those times) and not leave significant historical information about themselves.

Results
of genealogical research

Copies of records

copies of archival documents (in digital form, pdf files) with information about your ancestors; if you are looking for an official document, e.g. birth certificate, please follow Documents menu section

Family history report

a report (in digital form, pdf files) outlining the texts of archival documents with comments and explanations to it

Pedigree chart

a pedigree chart (in digital form, pdf files) showing family ties, lineages and kinship

Family tree

a designed family tree (in the final step of research) in digital form, ready to print in any your nearest print shop (size A0, pdf file format)

How It Works
Terms & Conditions on Receiving Birth Certificates / Documents

1

Input info

Please, contact me and provide all input information you have about the person. Even an approximate data could have a big positive impact on results

2

Analysis

Using archival inventories and my long-term experience, I will analyze the information you provided and determine whether it is possible do genealogical research in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, did original records were preserved, and if is there any possible risks. Consequently, I will inform you about possibilities to obtain birth documents, cost & terms, list of documents required from you.

3

Invoice

You pay the invoice.

4

Researching

Thereupon, I’m checking all genealogical sources for one specific decade regarding your ancestors and, certainly provide you with copies of documents and comprehensive report and genealogical chart.

5

Repeat if you want more

We can repeat Researching stage as much time as you want, need or it’s possible to continue our travel in the past.

Samples
of archival documents for research your genealogy in Ukraine


Genealogical sources vital records birth ukraine 1943

Vital Records, Ukraine [USSR], 1943 — Birth Records, front

UA DAZhO (State archive of Zhytomyr region), fonds R-5069, series 26, file 26, page 48


Genealogical sources Jewish records birth ukraine 1917

Metrical (synagogue) book, Jewish, Ukraine [russian Empire], 1917 — Birth Records

UA DAZhO (State archive of Zhytomyr region), fonds 67, series 3, file 620, page 373 back — 374


Genealogical sources orthodox records birth ukraine 1914

Metrical (church) book, Orthodox, Ukraine [russian Empire], 1914 — Birth Records

UA TsDIAK (Central state historical archive of Ukraine, Kyiv), fonds 2011, series 1, file 150, page 196 back — 197


Jewish Genealogy Synagogue records marriage ukraine 1906 records

Metrical (synagogue) books, Jewish, Ukraine [russian empire], 1906 — Marriage Records

UA TsDIAK (Central state historical archive of Ukraine, Kyiv), fonds 1167, series 1, file 503, page 1 reverse — 2


genealogy in ukraine marriage record 1925 front

Vital Records, Ukraine [USSR], 1925 — Marriage Record

UA DAKO (State archive of Kyiv region), fonds R-5634, series 1, file 372, page 70


Jewish genealogical records death 1915 ukraine records

Metrical (synagogue) book, Jewish, Ukraine [russian Empire], 1915 — Death Records

UA TsDIAK (Central state historical archive of Ukraine, Kyiv), fonds 1167, series 1, file 373, page 2 reverse

What is genealogy?

Genealogy or Genealogical Research
refers to the process of collecting, systematizing, and analyzing information about an ancestor’s origin and their family relationships. Researchers use archival sources and published materials to gather as much detail as possible.

What is a family tree?

Family tree
is essentially a schematic representation that illustrates the family relationships between a specific person, their ancestors, and descendants.

What is a genealogical line?

In simple terms, a genealogical line refers to one branch of a genealogical tree. For example, this could either be the paternal (father’s) or maternal (mother’s) line, depending on the ancestor being traced.

What does the success and timeframe of genealogical research depend on?

The success and timeframe of genealogical research rely on several factors. Specifically, it depends on the following key considerations:

Completeness of the initial information

To determine this, a straightforward formula is useful: name — date — location, or who? where? when? The more complete the information about the ancestor, the more precise the search becomes. A complete name helps pinpoint the individual with accuracy, eliminating potential errors or confusion. Additionally, having an approximate date, such as the time of birth, marriage, or death, will determine what types of historical sources will be useful for research. Furthermore, knowing the location where a significant event occurred gives you insight into where these relevant sources can be found.

Reliability of the initial information

The reliability of the data has a considerable impact on how quickly progress is made. If there is an error in the initial data, it will significantly slow down the search. However, when there are available documents about the last known ancestor, the research process not only accelerates but also improves in terms of completeness and clarity.

Place of birth (residence) of the last known to you ancestor

Significantly, in genealogical research, one important principle is territorial grouping of archival documents. Certainly, he preservation of documents can differ based on geography. For example, World War II destroyed many records. Particularly, the Poltava region faced great losses, where significant documents were destroyed during military actions.

Social status of the ancestor

Another factor to consider is that the Russian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire operated as estates-based states. Consequently, this had an impact on how each person’s life was structured. Archives stored documents from different estates in various collections, but they did not preserve these records consistently.

Religious affiliation of the ancestor

Before 1919, religious institutions such as churches, synagogues, mosques, and prayer houses typically handled birth, marriage, and death registrations. The law of the Russian Empire regulated religion during this period. Knowing the religion of an ancestor can help identify what type of documents survive, the depth of the search required, and the potential volume of information collected.

How far back can I trace my family tree?

In most cases, genealogical research can trace a family tree back to the late 17th or early 18th century, typically between the 1680s and 1720s. However, in some rare instances, it might be possible to extend it back to the 16th century.