Geographical Regions for the JewishGen Lithuania Database

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:

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.

• Regions shared with the JewishGen Poland Database: Suwałki gubernia.  [See details: Poland regions].
• Regions shared with the JewishGen Belarus Database: the four southern districts of Vilna gubernia: Disna, Lida, Oshmyany, Vilejka.  [See details: Belarus regions].