Groningen is a province in the North-East of the Netherlands. On the east it borders on Germany, on the west on Friesland, on the south on Drenthe and on the north on the North Sea.

The capital of Groningen is also called Groningen, sometimes called Groningen stad (Groningen city) to make the distinction clear.

The largest towns in Groningen are:

• Groningen
• Hoogezand-Sappemeer
• Veendam
• Winschoten
• Delfzijl

Genealogy in Groningen

Before 1811, most people in Groningen did not use any last names but used patronymics instead. If someone was called Bonne and his father was called Jan, he would be called Bonne Jans.

A rich source of information for Groningen before 1811 are the marriage contracts that were often drawn up. The marriage contracts often list a long list of relatives of the bride and groom te be. They can be found at the provincial archives, the Groninger Archieven. Some marriage contracts are available online. Check the Groningen section of the Digital Resources website for more information.

Most of the genealogical information for Groningen for the nineteenth century can be found in Genlias. Background information can also be found at the website of the Groninger Archieven.

Emigration from Groningen

At the end of the 19th century, the crops were very poor in Groningen. That's one of the reasons why many people emigrated to the United States. Most up them ended up around the Great Lakes, predominantly in Michigan.

Online images

There are a few online sources for images of Groningen:

• Groningen atlas of about 1865-1870. This atlas includes both a map of the entire province and detailed maps of all the municipalities.

Map of Groningen, about 1865.