Germany, Prussia, Westphalia, Minden, Miscellaneous Collections from the Municipal Archives - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection of records from the city of Minden includes index and images of citizenship rolls and naturalization for the years 1574 to 1850, population registers for the years 1882-1902, and census records that enumerated citizens for the years 1880-1900.

Collection History
To keep a record of their population, household heads were called to assemble at the local civil office, almost yearly, to provide their personal information, which was counted as a basic unit. This listing is called “volkszahlung”, local population census.

They also kept a similar register listing all the citizens that moved away to other localities. This register was called “abmeldungen”, relocation list of their citizens or cancellation list from the citizenship roll of that locality.

These procedures were not enforced, but head of households were admonished to do so. Therefore, these records may not cover the entire population.

The original records are preserved at the German State Archives in Schwerin. The Family History Library has copies on microfilm also.

Why This Collection Was Created
The census was taken to assess military and taxation capacity, as well as for religious, occupational, and language background.

Collection Reliability
This census collection is a reliable source of information for genealogical purposes; however it is dependent upon the knowledge of the informant and the way it was written by the civil officer.

Collection Description
This collection of records from the city of Minden includes index and images of citizenship rolls, population registers, and census records that enumerated citizens over three centuries, which is 1574-1902. The information is handwritten horizontally through both pages of columns filling in the information as in a ledger type format.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found on most local population census lists are: • Address • Full name • Occupation • Birth date • Religion • Birth place • Nationality

How to Use the Collection
Next to parish registers, census records provide good family information, which could be used to research in other vital records. You must know how to read German Gothic script. You also need to know at least the name of your ancestor and the approximate place of residence at the time of the census.

Related Wiki Articles
Germany Census

Related Websites
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Sources of Information for This Collection
Bestände der Stadtarchiv Minden, Germany.

How To Cite Your Sources
[https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/How_to_Cite_FamilySearch_Collections Instructions on citing specific records or images within this collection. ]A full bibliographic record is available in the Family History Library Catalog.