Bessarabia (now Moldova), Marriage and Divorce Records, 1879-1915

Source Information

JewishGen.org volunteers, comp. Bessarabia (now Moldova), Marriage and Divorce Records, 1879-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, 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.

This database contains Jewish marriage and divorce 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 (Chişinău), 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 Chişinău, Moldova).

About the Database:

Below is a list showing the years for each record type included in this database. The years specified do not imply full coverage so there will gaps in the years available.

• Marriages: 1880-1915


• Divorces: 1879-1897, 1899

The Register of Marriages and Divorces 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


• Record number of marriage or divorce


• Day, month, and year of marriage or divorce, according to the Julian calendar


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


• Groom or husband’s place


• Groom or husband’s given and surname


• Groom or husband’s father’s name


• Groom or husband’s age


• Bride or wife’s place


• Bride or wife’s given and surname


• Bride or wife’s father’s name


• Bride or wife’s age


• Rabbi


• Witnesses


• Comments


• 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.