1. Topographic Maps of Ukraine
One of the most valuable resources for Ukrainian genealogists is the collection of 1:100,000 topographic maps of Ukraine hosted by the Berkeley Library. These maps are dated 1942 and show remarkable detail, including villages that had fewer than a thousand people at the time.
These maps are invaluable for locating the exact position of ancestral villages, many of which may have been renamed or no longer exist. The level of detail allows researchers to identify small settlements, rivers, and geographic features that can help confirm family origins.
2. JewishGen ShtetlSeeker
The JewishGen ShtetlSeeker is an indispensable tool for researchers of all backgrounds working in Central and Eastern Europe. Using data from the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) Geographic Names Database (GNDB), this tool provides foreign geographic names approved by the US Board on Geographic Names.
Key features of ShtetlSeeker include:
- Search towns using exact spelling or the Daitch-Mokotoff Soundex system
- Display latitude and longitude for each location
- Show distance to the country’s capital city
- List all towns within a certain distance of given coordinates
- Cross-reference multiple spellings and historical names
This is particularly useful for Ukrainian research since village names have changed frequently with shifting borders and administrations over the centuries.
3. Historical Atlas of Ukraine
“Ukraine: A Historical Atlas” by Paul Robert Magocsi is an excellent resource for anyone beginning Ukrainian genealogy research. This atlas provides a visual understanding of the complexity of Ukraine’s changing borders throughout history.
Understanding the historical boundaries is crucial for genealogical research because:
- Administrative divisions changed frequently under different empires (Austro-Hungarian, Russian, Polish, Soviet)
- Village names were transliterated differently depending on the ruling power
- Church and civil records were kept by different jurisdictions at different times
- Provincial boundaries affected where records were stored
4. Rootsweb Ukrainian Genealogy Resources
Rootsweb hosts a comprehensive Ukrainian genealogy section with both old and new maps of Ukraine, surname searches, and extensive genealogy information and research tools.
Resources available through Rootsweb include:
- Historical and modern maps of Ukraine
- Surname search databases
- Links to genealogy mailing lists and forums
- Research guides and methodology articles
- Connection to other Ukrainian researchers worldwide
5. MapQuest and Global Gazetteer
For modern-day location research, MapQuest remains a useful tool for locating towns whether for family tree research or finding local addresses in Ukraine and Canada.
The Global Gazetteer is a directory of 2,880,532 of the world’s cities and towns, sorted by country and linked to a map for each town. This resource is particularly helpful for:
- Confirming the current status of ancestral villages
- Finding nearby towns that may hold relevant records
- Understanding the geographic relationship between settlements
- Downloading tabulated data for each country
6. Church Records in the LDS Family History Library
Cities, Regions/Oblasts and Church Records found in the LDS Family History Library Catalog represent one of the most important resources for Ukrainian genealogists. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has microfilmed millions of records from Ukraine, including:
- Birth, marriage, and death records from various churches
- Greek Catholic (Uniate) parish records
- Orthodox church registers
- Roman Catholic records from mixed communities
- Civil registration records
These records are organized by region and can be accessed through local Family History Centers worldwide or increasingly through the FamilySearch website.
7. Tips for Using Map Resources Effectively
When conducting Ukrainian genealogy research using maps, keep these important tips in mind:
- Record multiple spellings of village names, as they may appear differently on maps from different eras
- Note the administrative divisions (oblast, raion, powiat) as these help locate records
- Cross-reference with neighboring villages to confirm you have the correct location
- Check maps from different periods as borders shifted between the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russian Empire, Poland, and the Soviet Union
- Use both Latin and Cyrillic spellings when searching databases
Understanding the geographic context of your ancestors’ lives enriches your genealogical research and helps you locate the records that tell their stories. If you are planning a research trip to Ukraine to visit ancestral villages in person, this travel guide to Ukraine offers practical advice for navigating the country and its regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Berkeley Library hosts 1:100,000 topographic maps of Ukraine dated 1942, showing villages with fewer than 1,000 people. The JewishGen ShtetlSeeker database and the Global Gazetteer with over 2.8 million cities and towns are also excellent resources for locating ancestral villages.
The JewishGen ShtetlSeeker allows you to search towns in Central and Eastern Europe using exact spelling or the Daitch-Mokotoff Soundex system. It displays latitude and longitude for each location, as well as the distance to the country's capital city.
Yes, the LDS Family History Library Catalog contains church records organized by cities, regions, and oblasts in Ukraine. These can be accessed through the Rootsweb Ukrainian genealogy resources page.
Ukraine: A Historical Atlas by Paul Robert Magocsi is considered an excellent resource for beginners. It provides a visual understanding of the complexity of Ukraine's changing borders and administrative divisions over the centuries.
