When the United States population census was taken in 2010, about 49 million Americans identified themselves as having German ancestry. 308.7 million people were identified in that census, making those claiming German ancestry nearly 16% of the whole. That makes for a lot of folks doing German genealogy research.
I spend a good portion of each work day dealing with German ancestry issues – either my own; or as a publisher of German research guides, those of others. I got to thinking that maybe I should compile a detailed listing of the many resources found free of charge at the FamilySearch.org website. Following is a somewhat annotated list that I hope you will find useful. The information is linked, with informational data about the databases from the website, as well as some of my own observations.
The FamilySearch Historical Databases for Germany – as of today, includes 56 collections, twelve of them indexed. Note that a number of the browsable databases have items in alphabetical order by surname, so indexes are not necessarily required. However, the names don’t show up in a “search” at the website. Three of the databases (immediately below) contain German vital records indexes (Births, Baptisms, Deaths, and Burials, records dating from 1558 to 1958). Browsing images isn’t as difficult as you might think. FamilySearch has added “waypoints” within the collections, making them much easier to visually search.
Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 – 37,703,414 records – Index to selected Germany births and baptisms. Only a few localities are included and the time period varies by locality. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. The year range represents most of the records. A few records may be earlier or later. The three Meitzler births I found were all from the town of Kriegsfeld, in the Pfalz, the town where my ancestors resided – Updated as of 24 Mar 2012
Germany, Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958 – 3,507,357 Records – Index to selected Germany deaths and burials. Only a few localities are included and the time period varies by locality. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. The year range represents most of the records. A few records may be earlier or later – I found fifteen Meitzlers, but none said to be from the Pfalz (where my family is from) in this collection – Updated as of 26 Sep 2011
Germany, Marriages, 1558-1929 – 8,521,370 Records – Index to selected Germany marriages. Only a few localities are included and the time period varies by locality. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. The year range represents most of the records. A few records may be earlier or later – I found 113 Meitzler records in the collection, many of them from Kriegsfeld, Pfalz, where my ancestors lived – Updated as of 21 Mar 2012
Germany, Bremen Passenger Departure Lists, 1904-1914 – 44,315 records – These are index cards, arranged alphabetically by place of last residence and then by surname, of German emigrants, based upon the Bremen Passenger Lists. Includes marital status, occupation, ship name, place of last residence, and destination. For some countries, such as Austria, the arrangement is chronological by departure date, with names grouped alphabetically by ship name for that date. Many cards are not in sequence. Includes index cards for Jewish emigrants. The information contained in this index is for the years 1907-1908 and 1913-1914 only. Updated as of 17 Feb 2011
Anhalt
Germany, Anhalt, Dessau, City Directories, 1866-1919 – These city directories are generally arranged alphabetically by surname and by given name and provide the individual’s occupation and address. Often included are classified directories of government offices and other institutions and services of public interest. Original directories are located in the Stadtarchiv Dessau, Saxony Anhalt, Germany. – Browse 8,605 Images by Year – Updated as of 12 Apr 2013.
Germany, Anhalt, Köthen, Miscellaneous City Records, 1630-1921 – The collection includes residence lists, city directories, citizen rolls, and registers of military recruits. Miscellaneous records from the Stadtarchiv Köthen in Köthen, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany – Browse 15,101 Images – Updated as of 18 Jun 2014
Baden
Germany, Baden, Church Book Duplicates, 1800-1870 287,965 indexed records linked to FREE images at the Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg – Civil copies of church books for Baden, Germany. This index currently includes records from Achern and Bonndorf – Updated as of 06 Feb 2014
Bavaria
Germany, Bavaria, Deggendorf, Miscellaneous City Records, 1600-1900 – Miscellaneous city records from Deggendorf, Bavaria, Germany. Includes a card file of marriages extracted from the Catholic Church records of Deggendorf, a card file of residency and marriage applications, a card file of city council records and tax records, a card file of local nobility, and a few land records – Browse 121,152 Images – Updated as of 21 Mar 2012
Germany, Bavaria, Dinkelsbühl Miscellaneous City Records, 1804-1946 – Includes citizenship records, emigration records, residency & marriage applications – Browse 32,488 Images by Surname – Updated as of 28 Jan 2014
Germany, Bavaria, Fürth, Emigration and City Directories, 1805-1913 – Collection of emigration records (1805-1874) and city directories (1884-1913) from the city of Fürth, Bavaria, Germany – Browse 40,390 Images – Updated as of 28 Jan 2014
Germany, Bavaria, Mindelheim Miscellaneous City Records, 1407-1950 – Miscellaneous city records from Mindelheim, Bavaria, Germany. Includes the following record types: city directories, marriage application documents, emigration records, citizen rolls, population registrations, finding aids, and indexes, cemetery inscriptions, genealogical charts, house books, church book duplicates, funeral sermons, military personnel records and conscription lists, locality family books, school matriculation records, census, guardianship and adoption records, guild and apprenticeship records, and tax records. This collection is being published as images become available. The original records are located in the Stadtarchiv Mindelheim, Germany – Browse 119,502 Images – Updated as of 03 Apr 2013
Germany, Bavaria, Neuburg an der Donau Miscellaneous City Records, 1808-1949 – Miscellaneous city records from Neuburg an der Donau, Bavaria, Germany. Includes the following record types: cemetery records, census records, citizenship rolls, city directories, emigration records, Jewish registers, property registers, school records, tax records, and wills. This collection is being published as images become available. The original records are located in the Stadtarchiv Neuburg an der Donau, Germany – Browse 68,339 Images – Updated as of 11 Dec 2012
Germany, Bavaria, Neumarkt Miscellaneous City Records, 1453-1973 – Miscellaneous city records from Neumarkt, Bavaria, Germany. Includes the following record types: cemetery records, court records, funeral home records, guild registers, Jewish records, land records, probate records, school records, tax records, and voting registers. This collection is being published as images become available – Browse 74,517 Images – Updated as of 26 Oct 2012
Germany, Bavaria, Nördlingen, Miscellaneous City Records, 1385-1943 – Miscellaneous city records from Nördlingen, Bavaria, Germany. Records include census, church records, citizenship rolls, city directories, emigration records, family group sheets, funeral sermons, school records, and wills – Browse 40,470 Images – Updated as of 05 Apr 2012
Germany, Bavaria, Passau, Miscellaneous City Records, 1700-1940 – Miscellaneous records from the city of Passau, Bavaria, Germany. Records include business licenses, catholic and protestant church records, residency and marriage application files, and various citizenship-related records – Browse 237,384 Images – Updated as of 18 May 2012
Germany, Bavaria, Straubing, Miscellaneous City Records, 1765-1917 – Miscellaneous city records from the city of Straubing, Bavaria, Germany. Records include burgher rolls (citizens lists) of various types and an alphabetical card file of population registration. Original records are located in the Stadtarchiv Straubing, Germany – Browse 71,092 Images – Updated as of 01 Nov 2012
Germany, Bavaria, Traunstein, Family Group Sheets, 1830-1900 – Collection of family group sheets for residents of Traunstein, Bavaria, Germany – Browse 54,076 Images by surname – Updated as of 22 Oct 2013
Germany, Bavaria, Traunstein, Military Records, 1830-1918 – Various military-related records from the city of Traunstein, Bavaria, Germany. Includes alphabetical lists of re-enlistees, birth lists, conscripts, delinquent lists, presentation lists (extracts from the alphabetical lists), re-enlistments, registers of one-year volunteers, registers of two-year volunteers, and rosters – Browse 7,865 Images – Updated as of 26 Jun 2012
Brandenburg
Germany, Brandenburg, Berlin, Probate Records, 1796-1853 – Probate records from the Superior Court of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. This collection consists of probated wills which will often provide names of family members and their relationships to the testator. The original documents are located in the Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv in Potsdam, Germany – Browse 499,478 Images – Updated as of 11 Apr 2013
Germany, Brandenburg, Bernau bei Berlin, Jewish Records, 1688-1872 – Jewish records from the Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (Brandenburg Main State Archive). Records include censuses, lists of Jewish families, registers of Jewish passports, and certified copies of Jewish birth, marriage, and death certificates – Browse 2,058 Images – Updated as of 05 Feb 2013
Germany, Brandenburg, Wittenberge, City Directories and Citizen Lists, 1851-1921 – Citizen lists and city directories for Wittenberge located in the Stadtarchiv Wittenberge – Browse 3,326 Images – Updated as of 23 Apr 2013
Hesse
Germany, Hesse, Civil Registration, 1874-1927 – Civil registration of births, marriages, and death for Hesse, Germany. Birth records are available for 1874-1901, marriages only for 1874-1877, and deaths for 1874-1927. Also includes index volumes for births 1874-1901, marriages 1874-1927 and deaths 1874-1927. Not all localities are complete but records will continue to be added to this collection over time. Check the wiki or browse the collection to determine current coverage. Original records are located in the Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg – Browse 2,289,166 Images – Updated as of 05 Dec 2012
Germany, Hesse, Frankfurt, Civil Registration, 1811-1814, 1833-1928 – Civil registration of births, marriages, and death for Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. Birth records are available for 1811-1814, 1833-1898, marriages only for 1833-1887, and deaths for 1851-1928. In addition to the actual records there are indexes which extend beyond these ranges, including marriage indexes up to 1932 and death indexes up to 1978. This collection includes a set of records for “Eingemeindete Vororte” (incorporated suburbs) which include records for the following suburbs: Bergen, Bockenheim, Bonames, Bornheim, Eschersheim, Fechenheim, Hausen, Kalbach, Niederrad, Niederursel, Oberrad, Praunheim, Preungesheim, and Seckbach. See the Hesse collection for additional Frankfurt civil registration records. Not all localities are complete but records will continue to be added to this collection over time. Check the wiki or browse the collection to determine current coverage. Original records are located in the Institut für Stadtgeschichte, Frankfurt. – Browse 386,801 Images – Updated as of 10 Jul 2014
Germany, Hesse, Stadtkreis Darmstadt, Darmstadt District, Civil Registration, 1876-1925 – 8,420 records – Indexes to civil registration of births and deaths for the Darmstadt civil registration office. Original records are located in the Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg – Updated as of 13 Jan 2014
Germany, Hessen, Darmstadt City Records, 1627-1940 – Images for records from Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany. Records in this collection include population registers, certificates of citizenship, recordings of citizens and residents, and emigration records. Original records are located at Stadtarchiv Darmstadt, Karolinenplatz 3, Darmstadt – Browse 55,528 Images – Updated as of 12 Oct 2012
Hesse-Nassau
Germany, Hesse-Nassau, Civil Registers and Church Books, 1701-1875 – Civil registers and church books containing births, marriages, and deaths (as well as occasional marriage proclamations) for localities in the historical German state of Hesse-Nassau. Today these localities are primarily in Hesse with some in Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia. The original records are all located in the Hessian State Archives Marburg, Germany – Browse 231,317 Images – Updated as of 28 Nov 2012
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1867 – 507,106 indexed records linked to digitized images – Census records of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany for 1867. Towns are arranged under their enumeration district. The district could be a Ritteramt (R.A.), Domänenamt (D.A.), Klosteramt (K.A.) or Stadt. The 1867 Census contains three separate forms: the Bevölkerungstabelle, the Zählungsliste and the Nachtragsliste. The Bevölkerungstabelle lists heads-of-households and provides a numerical count of other household members. The Zählungsliste provides a complete list of all household members and gives the date of birth, religion, marital status, occupation and nationality. The Nachtragsliste is a supplemental list of individuals who were temporarily absent from their main residence at the time of the census – Updated as of Aug 2014
Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1890 – 126,847 indexed records leading to digitized images – A name index and images for a portion of the 1890 census, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany. Towns are arranged under their enumeration district. Two types of forms are found for each town: Zählkarten and Namenslisten. The Zählkarten list individuals and give the date and place of birth, occupation, residence, gender and marital status, etc. The Namenslisten list the inhabitants of a given household and show relationship to the head of the household. Most of the census did not survive – Updated as of 15 Apr 2014
Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1900 – 1,249,431 indexed records leading to digitized images – Census records of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany for 1900. Towns are arranged under their enumeration district. The district could be a Ritteramt (R.A.), Domänenamt (D.A.), Klosteramt (K.A.) or Stadt. Two types of forms are found for each town: The Zählkarten and the Haushaltungslisten. The Zählkarten list individuals and give the date and place of birth, occupation, residence, gender and marital status, etc. The Haushaltungslisten list the inhabitants of a given household and show relationship to the head of the household – Updated as of 04 Jan 2011
Prussia, Brandenburg and Posen
Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg and Posen, Church Book Duplicates, 1794-1874 – 1,675,056 indexed records, leading to 287,526 images – Images and indexes of births, marriages, and deaths from state copies of some parish registers (Kirchenbuchduplikate) from the provinces of Brandenburg and Posen, Germany. Original records are located in the Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Potsdam, Germany – Updated as of 25 Feb 2013
Prussia, Brandenburg
Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg, Angermünde, Miscellaneous City Records 1706-1922 – Various records from the city of Angermünde, Brandenburg, Germany. Includes city directories, citizen rolls, military records, lists of residents, some birth records, census records, and voter lists – Browse 3,650 Images – Updated as of 11 Jan 2012
Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg, Cottbus, Miscellaneous City Records, 1672-1919 – Miscellaneous records for the city of Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany including military records, land and property records, citizen rolls, Jewish records, and city directories. Includes items from Sandow – Browse 43,256 Images – Updated as of 23 Mar 2012
Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg, Eberswalde, City Directories, 1890-1919 – City directories for the city of Eberswalde. These city directories are generally arranged alphabetically by surname and given name and provide the individual’s occupation and address. Often included are classified directories of government offices and other institutions and services of public interest. Original city directories are located in the Kreisarchiv Barnim, Brandenburg, Germany – Browse 2,836 Images – Updated as of 25 Sep 2013
Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg, Heegermühle, Church Records, 1664-1824 – Church records for the protestant (Evangelische) parish of Heegermühle, Brandenburg, Germany. Includes baptisms, marriages, and deaths – Browse 520 Images – Updated as of 24 Jan 2012
Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg, Landkreis Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Miscellaneous Records, 1559-1945 – Miscellaneous records for various cities in the Landkreis of Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Brandenburg, Prussia. Records include alien registrations, birth registers, citizen rolls, city directories, census records, military records, and population registrations. Original records are located in the Kreisarchiv Ostprignitz-Ruppin – Browse 9,569 Images – Updated as of 18 Jun 2014
Prussia, East Prussia
Germany, Prussia, East Prussia, Königsberg, Index to Funeral Sermons and Memorials, 1700-1900 – Card file index to funeral sermons and memorials pertaining to Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany. Original card file located in the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Browse 8,430 Images – Updated as of 18 Apr 2012
Prussia, Pomerania
Germany, Prussia, Pomerania Church Records, 1544-1945 – Evangelical Lutheran and Roman Catholic church records and transcripts for a portion of historic Pomerania now split between Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany and Szczecin, Poland. Includes births, marriages, and death records. Original records are located in the Landesarchiv Greifswald, Germany – 185,216 records leading to 143,003 images – Updated as of 22 Nov 2013
Germany, Prussia, Pomerania, Labes, Church Records, 1647-1764 – Catholic Church records containing baptisms, marriages, and burials for the parish of Labes in Pomerania, Prussia. The original records are in private possession – Browse 639 Images – Updated as of 10 Sep 2013
Germany, Prussia, Pomerania, Stralsund, Church Book Indexes, 1600-1900 – Images of seven card files of baptisms, marriages, deaths, and burials for Stralsund, Pomerania and the neighboring community of Voigdehagen. There are three separate files for baptisms, marriages, and deaths for Stralsund; a separate file for burials at the Klosterkirche St. Johannis, also in Stralsund; and three additional files for baptisms, marriages, and deaths for the community of Voigdehagen. The cards are arranged alphabetically by surname and then by given name. The original files are located in the Stadtarchiv der Hansestadt Stralsund, Germany – Browse 457,603 Images – Updated as of 05 Dec 2012
Prussia, Saxony
Germany, Prussia, Saxony, Halle, Miscellaneous City Records, 1401-1926 – Collection of records from the city of Halle, Saxony, Prussia. This collection includes burial registers, citizen rolls, a card index to citizens from the city, and city directories. Original records are located in the Stadtarchiv in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. – Browse 125,430 Images – Updated as of 01 Nov 2012
Germany, Prussia, Saxony, Nordhausen, City Directories, 1824-1919 – City directories for Nordhausen, Saxony. These city directories are generally arranged alphabetically by surname and given name and provide the individual’s occupation and address. Often included are classified directories of government offices and other institutions and services of public interest. The original city directories are located in the Nordhausen Stadtarchiv in Nordhausen, Saxony, Germany – Browse 5,119 Images – Updated as of 12 Apr 2013
Germany, Prussia, Saxony, Various Protestant Church Records, 1594-1951 – Handwritten transcriptions of Protestant church records for several parishes in Saxony, Prussia. Parishes include Bibra (Kr. Eckartsberga), Burgholzhausen (Kr. Eckartsberga), Eckartsberga (Kr. Eckartsberga), Gößnitz (Kr. Eckartsberga), Kalbitz (Kr. Naumburg), Lißdorf (Kr. Naumburg), Marienthal (Kr. Naumburg), Niederholzhausen (Kr. Naumburg), Plesimar (Kr. Naumburg), Seena (Kr. Eckartsberga), Taugwitz (Kr. Naumburg), and Wallroda (Kr. Naumburg) – Browse 4,056 Images – Updated as of 18 Jun 2014
Prussia, Westphalia
Germany, Prussia, Westphalia, Minden, Miscellaneous Collections from the Municipal Archives, 1574-1902 – Population registration, citizen rolls, and census records for the city of Minden. Original records are located in the Kommunalarchiv in Minden – 22,580 indexed records leading to 7,251 images – Updated as of 15 Jan 2013
Rheinland-Pfalz
Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate Church Record Extractions and Family Registers, 1600-1925 – Images of church record extractions and indexes, as well as family registers, for the district of Rhine Hesse-Palatinate (Rheinland Hessen-Pfalz) in Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz). Most image sets are arranged chronologically (by year of event) or alphabetically (by surname). Originals are housed in Pfälzisch-Rheinische Familienkunde e.V., Rottstrasse 17, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany – Browse 106,564 Images – Updated as of 12 Oct 2012
Saxe-Meiningen (now in Thüringen)
Germany, Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, Jena, City Directories, 1810-1935 – Collection of city directories for Jena, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, which is now in Thuringia. These city directories are generally arranged alphabetically by surname and by given name and provide the individual’s occupation and address. Often included are classified directories of government offices and other institutions and services of public interest. The original directories are located in the Stadtarchiv Jena, in Jena, Thuringia, Germany – Browse 3,721 Images – Updated as of 11 Apr 2013
Germany, Saxe-Meiningen, Saalfeld an der Saale, Miscellaneous City Records, 1876-1920 – Citizen rolls and city directories for Saalfeld, Saxe-Meiningen (now in Thüringen) and the surrounding localities. Records are arranged by record type and then by year. The original records are located in the Stadtarchiv Saalfeld, Thüringen, Germany – Browse 8,433 Images – Updated as of 18 Jun 2014
Saxony
Germany, Saxony, Bautzen, Church Records, 1699-1915 – Church records from the Lutheran Churches of Bautzen, Saxony, Germany. The records include notices of births, marriages, and deaths as well as marriage applications and documentation – Browse 32,434 Images – Updated as of 12 Oct 2012
Germany, Saxony, Bautzen, Citizen Rolls, 1496-1923 – Citizen rolls, resident lists, and registers of home owners for Bautzen, Saxony, Germany – Browse 3,832 Images – Updated as of 14 Mar 2012
Germany, Saxony, Dresden, Citizens’ Documents and Business Licenses, 1820-1962 – Citizen and Business licenses and related documentation from Dresden, Saxony, Germany. Documents include citizen’s oaths, birth documents, identity certificates, residency documents, passports, occupation licenses, etc. Records are arranged alphabetically by name. Original records located in the Stadtarchiv Landeshauptstadt Dresden, Saxony, Germany – Browse 387,445 Images – Updated as of 12 Oct 2012
Germany, Saxony, Freiberg, Funeral Sermons, 1614-1661 – Funeral sermons in the Andreas-Moller Bibliothek in Freiberg, Saxony, Germany. These sermons were generally given for the wealthier classes and were published. They usually contain information such as names, dates, places, relatives, life histories, and sometimes pedigrees for many generations. The information is subject to error as it was reported by relatives who did not always remember facts accurately – Browse 18,439 Images – Updated as of 12 Oct 2012
Germany, Saxony, Leipzig, Miscellaneous City Records, 1701-1922 – Selected collections from the city archives. This collection includes city directories, registers of aliens, registers of students, registers of thespians, registers of foster children, and civil registrations of births for Leipzig. Original records are located in the Stadtarchiv Leipzig, Germany – Browse 91,076 Images – Updated as of 18 Jun 2014
Germany, Saxony, Meissen, Miscellaneous City Records, 1724-1889 – Miscellaneous city records from Meissen, Saxony, Germany and the surrounding area. Includes items from Coswig, Rittergut Scharfenberg, and Sörnewitz. Records include tax registers and military records – Browse 1,808 Images – Updated as of 12 Oct 2012
Germany, Saxony-Anhalt, Halberstadt Kreisarchiv, City Directories, Citizen Rolls, Residence Lists, and School Directories, 1700-1933 – City directories, citizen rolls, residence lists, renter registrations, and school directories from the Halberstadt Kreisarchiv, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany – Browse 58,139 Images – Updated as of 02 Jan 2015
Westfalen
Germany, Westfalen, Minden, Index to Funeral Sermons, 1580-1740 – Index to funeral sermons from the city archives in Minden – Browse 33,073 Images – Updated as of 05 Feb 2013
Württemberg
Germany, Württemberg, Albstadt, Miscellaneous City Records, 1705-1850 – Probate records for Albstadt, Württemberg, Germany includes the various cities and towns of Albstadt: Ebingen, Laufen an der Eyach, Lautlingen, Onstmettingen, Pfeffingen, Tailfingen, and Truchtelfingen. Record types include account books, census-like records, church record card indexes, citizen rolls, city directories, death records, family registers, probate records, property tax registers, and resident lists – Browse 308,313 Images – Updated as of 21 Mar 2014
Germany, Württemberg, Schwäbisch Hall, Probate Records, 1803-1929 – Probate records for Schwäbisch Hall, Württemberg, Germany including inventories (Inventuren) and divisions (Teilungen). The use of each of these documents was precipitated by different events: the Inventuren by marriage and the Teilungen by death. These records are all arranged in a single chronological sequence. This collection is being published as images become available – Browse 272,394 Images – Updated as of 23 Dec 2014
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