HUNGARIAN FAMILY HISTORY TUTORIAL
Church Marriage Registers

1847 Roman Catholic Marriage Register with Mixed Marriage

This register is from the Roman Catholic Church in the village of Sandorfalva in Csongrád county. At the time, this entire area was owned by the Pallavicini family (who were related to the immensely wealthy Zichy family) whose manor house was in nearby Algyö. This page is included as an example of a mixed marriage -- in this case my third-great-grandfather (who was Lutheran, though he had for decades been associated with this RC parish) and his second wife.

For translation of the text at the top of the page: Click to See Note.

Format: Detailed Hand-drawn Tabular Marriage Register. A relatively early example of a Roman Catholic register in the Magyar language.
Preview of 1847 Mixed Marriage Register.
Click to See Enlarged Document.

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Content of Register by Column.


  • Day of the Month: in this case the 13th (of May).
  • Christian and surname of the marriage couple:(kereszt és vezeték neve). Note that after the groom's name -- Palásti Jos. -- the title Úr is used. This is a term of respect for a gentleman. When you find it used in the pre-1867 period, rest assured the man referred to was a big-shot.
  • For these people: (Ezeknek)
    • Age: (életkora) Note that he was much older -- though the fact that he was a widower is not mentioned.
    • Denomination: (hitvallása). He was born a Lutheran (Agos) and she a Roman Catholic (RCath). My ancestor never converted and chose that his sons be nominally Lutherans. I'm sure his wealth and prominence played a role in his acceptance in the Algyö Roman Catholic parish. For more information about the children of mixed marriages: Click to See Note.
    • Occupation: As is normal, given only for the man -- my ancestor is listed as an Estate Manager. He was superintendent of all the Pallavicini family estates in southern Hungary.
    • Places of Birth: (Született helyek) Unfortunately not given here.
    • Places of Residence: (Lak helyek) Both live in Algyö.
  • Parents: (Szülöik) They are not given for the groom, perhaps because he was a widower ... but more likely because he didn't want them listed -- he was reputedly the illegitimate son of an Austrian Count. The parents of the bride, who was previously unmarried, are listed.
  • Witnesses: Násznagy is an infrequently used word for a witness to a marriage.
  • Notice given (banns) or not?: in this case with a notice given (hidetésel).
  • Wedding officiant: the name of the priest is given and his office (in this case plébán the parish priest in charge; alternatively the title may be káplán which is an assisting priest.