Austria, Upper Austria, Wels, Census Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Record
Österreich, Oberösterreich, Wels, Volkszählungen, Verlassenschaften und Zunftbücher, 1613-1900

Record Description
The collection consists of several record sets from Wels, Upper Austria. It will include census records, guild records, and probate records for the city of Wels. The census records give the name of the homeowner, head of household, wife, children, ages, and occupations. The guild records are limited to the toolmakers and carpenters. The original records are located in the Wels City Archives, Austria.

Record Content
This collection may include the following information:


 * Name of the homeowner
 * Name of head of household
 * Names of family members
 * Age
 * Place of birth (sometimes)
 * Occupation

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know the name and some other identifying information such as age and occupation.

Search the Collection
To search the collection image by image: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "Quellengattung, Zeitraum, und Bandnummer" (record type, years and number) which takes you to the images.

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

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. 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

 * Look for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life (for example: they may have gone by their middle name).
 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.
 * Search the records of nearby counties places (for example: Linz).

For Help Reading the Records
These records are in German. For help reading the records, see the following wiki articles:


 * German Word List
 * German Language and Languages
 * Germany Handwriting
 * Germany Resources

Related Websites

 * Genealogy Links
 * RootsWeb
 * Austria Websites
 * Research in Austria

Related Wiki Articles

 * Austria
 * Austria Census
 * Research in the Austro-Hungarian Empire
 * Austria, Upper Austria, Linz, Miscellaneous City Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)

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