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Geographical Regions for the JewishGen Lithuania Database

Russian Empire (until 1918):
      · Kovno Gubernia
      · Vilna Gubernia
      · Suwałki Gubernia
Inter-War Lithuania (1918-1939)

Russian Empire (until 1918)

Gubernias and Uyezds:
Prior to WWI (1917), the area that is now Lithuania was in the Russian Empire, and was part of three губерния gubernias (provinces): Kovno, Vilna, and Suwałki.  Each gubernia was in turn divided into seven уезд uyezds (districts).  These gubernia and uyezd divisions are as follows:

Kovno Gubernia:

The area that was Kovno Gubernia (Ковенская губеpния) is today in the northern half of modern Lithuania.  The seven uyezds (districts) of Kovno Gubernia were:

Russian Lithuanian Yiddish Polish Notes, Major Towns
Kovno
Ковно
Kaunas קאָװנע
Kovna
Kowno Towns: Ariogala, Grinkiškis (Grinkishok), Kėdainiai (Keidan), Krakės (Krok), Jonava, Seredžius (Srednik), Vandžiogala, Vilijampolė (Slobodka), Vilkija.
Ponevezh
Поневеж
Panevėžys פּאָנעװעזש
Ponevez
Poniewież Towns: Biržai, Joniškėlis (Yanishkel), Linkuva, Krekenava, Pakruojis (Pokroi), Pasvalys (Posvol), Pumpėnai, Pušalotas (Pushelat), Vabalninkas (Vabolnik), Žeimelis (Zheimel). A tiny northern portion is now in Latvia.
Rossieny
Россены
Raseiniai ראַסײן
Rasein
Rosienie Towns: Darbėnai (Dorbyan), Jurbarkas (Yurburg), Kelmė, Kražiai (Krozh), Rietavas, Skaudvile, Tauragė (Tavrig), Žemaičių Naumiestis (Neishtat Sugind).
Shavli
Шавли
Šiauliai שאָװל
Shavl
Szawle Towns: Akmenė, Baisogala, Joniškis (Yanishok), Klykoliai, Kuršėnai, Leckava, Luokė, Mažeikiai, Papilė, Radviliškis, Šeduva, Šilalė, Tryškiai, Viekšniai, Žagarė.
Telshi
Тельши
Telšiai טעלז
Telz
Telsze Towns: Gargždai (Gorzd), Kretinga, Pikeliai (Pikeln), Plungė (Plungian), Salantai (Salant), Seda (Shad), Skuodas (Shkod), Varniai (Vorne).
Vilkomir
Вилькомир
Ukmergė װילקאָמיר
Vilkomir
Wiłkomierz Towns: Anykščiai (Anykst), Kavarskas, Kupiškis (Kupishuk), Raguva, Šeta (Shat), Troškūnai (Troshkin), Užpaliai (Ushpol), Utena (Utsian).
Novo-Aleksandrovsk
Ново-Александровск
Zarasai עזערעני
Ezhereni
Jeziorosy Easternmost quarter was in Poland between the two world wars, and is in Belarus today.  Also one tiny piece now in Latvia (Oknista/Aknīste).  Towns: Braslav (Brasław) [Bel], Dūkštas (Dukszty), Dusetos (Dusiat), Obeliai (Abel), Pandėlys (Ponedel), Rokiškis (Rakishok), Salakas (Soloki), Skapiškis (Skopishok), Vidzy (Widze) [Bel].

Vilna Gubernia:

The area that was Vilna Gubernia (Виленская губерния) is today the south-eastern part of modern Lithuania, and in the north-western part of Belarus.

Between the two world wars (1919-1939), most of Vilna Gubernia was in Poland (Wilno province).  The inter-war Polish names of the towns are in italics.  Today, the four southern uyezds are in Belarus.  Here are the seven uyezds of Vilna Gubernia:

Russian Lithuanian / Belarusian Yiddish Polish Notes, Major Towns
Disna
Дисна
Disna דיסנע
Disna
Dzisna Today, in Belarus.  Towns: Druya (Druja) [Bel], Germanovichi (Hermanowicze) [Bel], Hlybokaye (Głębokie) [Bel], Luzhki (Łużki) [Bel], Pastavy (Postawy) [Bel], Sharkowshchyna (Szarkowszczyzna) [Bel].
Lida
Лида
Lyda /
Ліда   Lida
לידע
Lida
Lida Today, mostly in Belarus.  Towns: Belitsa (Bielica) [Bel], Eišiškes (Ejszyszki), Novyy Dvor (Nowy Dwór) [Bel], Ostryna [Bel], Radun (Raduń) [Bel], Rozhanka (Różanka) [Bel], Schuchyn (Szczuczyn) [Bel], Vasilishki (Wasiliszki) [Bel], Voranava (Woronów) [Bel], Zheludok (Żołudek) [Bel].
Oshmyany
Ошмяны
Ašmena /
Ашмяны   Ashmyany
אָשמענע
Oshmene
Oszmiana Today, mostly in Belarus.  Towns: Dieveniškės (Dziewieniszki), Golshany (Holszany) [Bel], Ivye (Iwje) [Bel], Krevo (Krewo) [Bel], Lipnishki (Lipniszki) [Bel], Smarhon (Smorgonie) [Bel], Soly (Soły) [Bel], Traby [Bel], Valozhyn (Wołożyn) [Bel], Vishnevo (Wiszniew) [Bel].
Vilejka
Вилейка
Vileika /
Вiлейка   Vilyeyka
װילייקע
Vileika
Wilejka Today, in Belarus.  Towns: Dolginovo (Dołhinów) [Bel], Dunilovichi (Duniłowicze) [Bel], Gorodok (Gródek) [Bel], Ilya (Ilja) [Bel], Krivichi (Krzywicze) [Bel], Kurenets (Kurzeniec) [Bel], Lebedevo (Lebiedziew) [Bel], Maladzyechna (Mołodeczno) [Bel], Myadzyel (Miadzoł Nowy) [Bel], Radoshkovichi (Radoszkowicze) [Bel], Vyazyn (Wiażyń) [Bel].
Sventsyany
Свенцяны
Švenčionys סװענציאַן
Sventzian
Święciany Today, parts in Belarus.  Towns: Adutiškis (Hoduciszki), Ignalina (Ignalino), Linkmenys (Łyngmiany), Narach (Kobylnik) [Bel], Švenčionėliai (Nowo-Święciany), Svir (Świr) [Bel].
Troki
Троки
Trakai טראָק
Trok
Troki Towns: Alytus (Olita), Daugai, Butrimonys, Merkinė (Meretch), Stakliškės (Stoklishki), Valkininkai (Olkieniki), Varėna (Orany), Vievis, Žasliai (Zhosli), Žiežmariai (Zhezmir).
Vilna
Вильна
Vilnius װילנע
Vilne
Wilno Towns: Maišiagola (Mejszagoła), Mikhalishki (Michaliszki) [Bel], Molėtai (Malaty), Nemenčinė (Niemenczyn), Šalčininkai (Soleczniki Wielkie), Širvintos (Shirvint).

Suwałki Gubernia:

Suwałki (Suvalk) Gubernia (Сувальская Губения), located in southwestern Lithuania and northeastern Poland, was one of the ten gubernias of the Russian “Kingdom of Poland”.  Since WWI, the northern part is in Lithuania, and the southern part in Poland.  In the town lists below, the modern native placenames are used, with the pre-WWI Polish town names in parenthesis.

Russian Lithuanian Yiddish Polish Notes, Major Towns
Kalvaria
Калвария
Kalvarija קאַלװאָריע
Kalvaria
Kalwarya Towns: Krosna (Krasna), Liubavas (Lubowo), Liudvinavas (Ludwinów), Alytus (Olita), Simnas (Simno), Rudamina (Urdomin).
Mariampol
Марiамполь
Marijampolė מאַריאַמפּאָל
Mariampol
Marjampol Towns: Aleksotas (Aleksota), Balbieriškis (Balwierzyszki), Garliava (Godlewo), Pilviškiai (Pilwiszki), Panemunis (Poniemoń), Prienai (Preny), Zapyškis (Sapieżyszki).
Vladislavov
Владиславов
Kudirkos Naumiestis נײַשטאָט־שאַקי
Neishtat-Shaki
Władysławów Towns: Sudargas (Sudarg), Šakiai (Szaki).
Vilkovishki
Вылковышки
Vilkaviškis װילקאָװישק
Vilkovishk
Wyłkowyszki Towns: Kybartai (Kibarty), Virbalis (Wierzbołowo), Vištytis (Wysztyniec).
Seiny
Сейны
Seinai סײני
Seini
Sejny Today, partially in Poland.   Towns: Berżniki [Pol], Kapčiamiestis (Kopciowo), Krasnopol [Pol], Lazdijai (Łożdzieje), Leipalingis (Lejpuny), Seirijai (Sereje), Veisiejai (Wiejsieje).
Suvalki
Сувалки
Suvalkai סוּװאַלק
Suvalk
Suwałki Today, in Poland.  Towns: Bakałarzewo [Pol], Filipów [Pol], Jeleniewo [Pol], Puńsk [Pol], Przerośl [Pol], Wiżany [Pol].
Augustov
Аугустов / Августов
Augustavas אױגוסטאװע
Ogustove
Augustów Today, in Poland, with the eastern quarter in Belarus.  Towns: Галынка Hałynka (Hołynka) [Bel], Lipsk [Pol], Raczki [Pol], Сапоцкін Sapotskin (Sopoćkinie) [Bel], Sztabin [Pol].


Inter-war Lithuania:

After World War I, Lithuania became an independent country.  Its capital was Kaunas. (The city of Vilnius was in Poland between the wars).  Independent Lithuania was divided into 23 districts (singular: apskritis, plural: apskritys), and further subdivided into sub-districts (singular: valsčius, plural: valsčiai).

The 23 districts of inter-war Lithuania were:

  • Alytus
  • Biržai
  • Kaunas
  • Kėdainiai
  • Klaipėda *
  • Kretinga

  • Marijampolė
  • Mažeikiai
  • Pagėgiai *
  • Panevėžys
  • Raseiniai
  • Rokiškis

  • Šakiai
  • Seinai
  • Šiauliai
  • Šilutė *
  • Tauragė
  • Telšiai

  • Trakai
  • Ukmergė
  • Utena
  • Vilkaviškis
  • Zarasai

The capital city of each district was the same as the name of the district, with the exception of Seinai (capital city was Lazdijai) and Trakai (capital city was Kaišiadorys), because the cities of Sejny and Troki were in Poland at that time.

The former Prussian territory of Memel (Ger. Memelland) became an autonomous part of Lithuania under the Memel Statute in January, 1923.  It comprised the three districts of Klaipėda (Ger. Memel), Pagėgiai (Ger. Pogegen), and Šilutė (Ger. Heydekrug).  This area was re-annexed by Germany in March 1939.


JewishGen Database Sharing:

Because of overlapping political borders over time, some regions are shared with other JewishGen databases.


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