Germany, Brandenburg, Wittenberge, City Directories and Citizen Lists - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Record
Deutschland, Brandenburg, Wittenberge, Stadt-Verzeichnisse

Record Description
The collection consists of the following records for Wittenberge. The records are located in the Stadtarchiv Wittenberge. The records are in German.


 * Citizen lists (censuses) for the years 1851-1921
 * City directories (burgher rolls) for the years 1851-1921

Record Content
The information varies by year; later years contain more information than the early years. Any of the following detail may be included in the record:


 * Full name
 * Address or residence
 * Birthdate and place
 * Religion
 * Nationality

How to Use the Record
Next to parish registers, citizen rolls provide some of the best family information. To begin your search you need to know at least the name of your ancestor and some identifying information such as birthdate. If you know only the age, you can approximate the birthdate. Use the birthdate and place, to locate your ancestor in church records.

For Help Reading These Records
The records are in written in German Gothic script. For help reading the records see the wiki articles:


 * German Language and Languages
 * German Word List
 * Deciphering German Script (Kurrentschrift)

Search the Collection
To search the collection, ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select "Quellengattung und Zeitraum" which takes you to the images.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

Tips to Keep in Mind
When using these records keep in mind:


 * The information may be incorrect.
 * The ages listed may not be correct.
 * A given name may not be the same as the name used in vital records.
 * Names may be spelled as they sound. Look for variant spellings of the names as well as nicknames.
 * Place-names may be misspelled.
 * Some parts of the record may be illegible.
 * If the family is not at the expected location, you should search the surrounding area.

Related Websites
Germany GenWeb

Related Wiki Articles
Germany Genealogy

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually. Collection Citation:

Image Citation