Schleswig-Holstein Census

Census Years
Denmark ruled all of Schleswig-Holstein, including Lübeck and parts of Hamburg and Oldenburg, until 1864. Denmark took several censuses of this area. The first census was made in 1769, and subsequent censuses were taken in 1803, 1835, 1840, 1845, 1855, 1860, and 1864.

Census of 1769 (only for the royal parts of the Duchies)

Census of 1803 (both Duchies)

Census of 1835 (both Duchies)

Census of 1840 (both Duchies and Lauenburg. Lauenburg census is missing)

Census of 1845 (both Duchies and Lauenburg)

Census of 1855 (both Duchies and Lauenburg)

Census of 1860 (both Duchies and Lauenburg. Lauenburg census is missing)

Census of 1864 (Duchy of Holstein and Lauenburg)

Content
The censuses are written in either German or Danish, sometimes with both on the same page. The information contained in the censuses varies according to which year it was taken:


 * 1769. This census names the head of each household and the number of people in the house, grouped by age and sex. It did not take military personnel into account, neither will the researcher find information from estates, monestaries and the Gottorf areas. Most of these lists were lost.
 * 1803-1864. Censuses taken from 1803 to 1864 list each person's name, residence, position in the family, age, marital status, and occupation.
 * 1845 and later censuses. From 1845 on, each census also lists birthplace, the parish of the birthplace, and the length of residency at the census place.

The original records are in different archives today. The 1769 census information is in different local archives. The records for the 1803, 1860 (Holstein), and 1864 are in the State Archive Schleswig-Holstein. The originals of other censuses are in the State Archive Copenhagen.

It is often difficult to determine which village belongs to what census district. A good source to find jurisdictions are the two volumes v. Schröder and Biernatzki published: "Topographie des Herzogthums Schleswig" (1854) and "Topographie der Herzogthümer Holstein und Lauenburg" (1855) which can also be found online

Finding Census Records
Censuses are microfilmed but not indexed. They are arranged by district and city. These census records are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:

GERMANY, PREUßEN, SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN - CENSUS

There are efforts underway to extract census records from Schleswig-Holstein. The results can be searched online at http://www.akvz.de or http://www.aggsh.de and http://www.aggsh.de/myscripts/vz_witt_start4.html for the 1803 census for the Duchy of Schleswig. http://www.genealogienetz.de/vereine/SHFam//publikationen/OLSchles.pdf

http://www.genealogienetz.de/vereine/SHFam//publikationen/KspSchles.pdf

Some indexes are available online at:http://www.ddd.dda.dk/ddd_en.htm

and http://www.akvz.de as well as http://www.aggsh.de/myscripts/vz_witt_start4.html for the 1803 census for the Duchy of Schleswig.

The Family History Library also has census records from other German states, notably Mecklenburg-Schwerin and portions of Hannover. These are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under:

GERMANY, [STATE] - CENSUS

Searching Census Records
When searching census records, remember the following:


 * 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.
 * Place-names may be misspelled.
 * Some parts of the census may be illegible.
 * If the family is not at the expected location, you should search the surrounding area.

To understand what is being asked for in Schleswig-Holstein censuses see the three examples below:

Family History Library Film number 039249
Census films can be difficult to use if you are not acquainted with the language and the handwriting of the scribe. This film summary will be helpful in locating a particular village within the census film. It shows the order of the small places as they appear on this particular census film. The names underlined and in bold appear as headings (or divisions) on the census film. The spelling of the town name has been retained as originally written by the scribe. Comments have been added in brackets.

List on the film 039249 of the 1845 Schleswig-Holstein Census
Ballum Sogn, Ballum Birk, Ribe Amt Westerende Osterende Mölleby Bodsbüll Husum [Ballum Parish] Lademarkmølle Harknag Reisby Nørhuus Bundti

Kringelum Bye, Ballum Sogn and Birk, Ribe Amt  Kringelum

(Statistics)  Brede Sogn, Lo Herred, Ribe Amt  Bredebro Brede Aasp Borrig Harres Bosholm Apterp Abterp S[onder] Volen N[order] Volen Vollum

Döstrup Sogn, Lo Herred, Ribe Amt  Lourup Overbye Laurup Drengstedt ___im Bye Döstrup

Medolden Sogn, Loe Herred, Ribe Amt  Medolden By [Mjolden] Hybjerg [Hoibjerg] Ottesbøll

Førballum Bye Medolden Sogn, Lov Herred, Ribe Amt Førballum

Randerup Sogn, Løve Herred, Ribe Amt Randerup Bye Lunde Bye

Romoe Sogn, Løe Herred, Ribe Amt Cromose [Kromose] Østerhede Westerhede Vraae Vestergaard Sønderbye Mølby Østerbye Duhn Havnebye

Romoe Sogn, Loe Herred, Ribe Amt  Juvre Toftum Nørtvismark Tvismark Kongsmark Tagholm

St.Clemens Sogn, Westerland Føhr og Amrum, Ribe Amt Nebel Süddorf Norddorf

St. Johannes Sogn, Westerland Føhr  Nieblum Vester Deel Goting Witzum [Witsum]

Borgsum

St. Laurentii Sogn, Loe Herred, Westerland Föhrer Birk, Ribe Amt Süderende Oldsum Auf Boddem Ottersum Heddeshusum Gross Dunzum Klein Sunzum Tüftum [Toftum] Klintum

Wisby Sogn, Løve Herred, Ribe Amt  Wisbye [Visby] Nørbye Molderup [probably Mollerup] Troiberg Gjerrup Gammelbye

[Black page] Mogeltonder Herred; Sogn: Daler, Emmerlev, Mögeltonder

Emmerlef Sogn, Møgeltønder Herred, Ribe Amt  Seierslef Nyland Hemme Kjargaard Emmerlef Bye Søndergaard

Dahler Sogn, Mögeltönder Birk, Ribe Amt  Dahler Bye Osterbye Gjerup Dahler Mølle

Møgeltønder Birk, Ribe Amt  Toghale Lindschau Mølle Gallehuus Sondertoft Nørtoft Stokkebro Bönderby Brink Kannikhus ved Aaen Markhedegaard Pokkenbüll Schackenberg ____tgaden Thinghuset Møgeltønder ____tegaarden Møgeltønder Midtfeldt ? Mohrmark Jaegerhuset Friedfeldt Østergaard Mohrfeldt Siebskoog ? Altona ___Roi Slotfeld Grippenfeldt Gammeldige Lust Westeranflod Brodersmark Sjødamgaard [Sødamgaard] Feldswarf Sjödam (Sødam) Kjargaardshof Sudfeld Emmerløkke Hegelgaard? [Hegnsgaard] Møgeltønder

Black Page - Hoyer Herred Sogne: Abild,Hoier Jerpsted, Skads

Abild Sogn, Møgeltønder Birk, Ribe Amt  Abild (Abel) Abildgaard Höyer Rettebøl [Ruttebüll] Statistics – Jerpsted Sogn Statistics – Schads Schads Schakkenborg __iiborg? Schads Jerpstedt

'''Black Page Sogn: List, Keitum; Hvidding Herred and Riberhus Birk; Sogne: Arrild, Brön, Hvidding,Höjrup, Reisby, Roager, Skaerbek, Spandet. N.B. Vester Vedsted, Vodder'''

Statistics = Keitum Keitum Sogn paa List, Ribe Amt  __-Bye

Statistics - Arrild Sogn Arrild Sogn, Ribe Birk, Ribe Amt  Hönning Bye

Statistics – Brons Sogn Bröns Sogn, Ribe Herred, Ribe Amt  Obling Bye Havervad (Haverwatt) Søndernaes Astrup

Statistics – Hvidding Hvidding Sogn, Riberhuus Birk, Ribe Amt  Hvidding Bye ___hede

Statistics – Höjrup Höyrup Sogn, Lustrup Birk, Ribe Amt  Höyrup Arnum

Statistics - Reisbye, Hvidding Herred, Haderslev Amt Reisbye Sogn, Riberhuus Birk, Ribe Amt  Reisbye Haued Kjerbölling

Statistics – Roager Roager Sogn, Ribe Birk, Ribe Amt  Kirkebye Obling Roager

Statistics – Skjerbek Sogn Skjerbek Sogn, Ballum Birk, Ribe Amt  Hiemsted Giesing Nör-Skjerbek Hundegad Østergjesing Mosböl Ullerup Øster Gasse Wester Gasse

Statistics – Spandet Spandet Sogn, Ribehuus Birk, Ribe Amt  Fjersted Bye Spandet Bye

Statistics –Vodder Vodder Sogn, Ballum Birk, Ribe Amt  Birkelöv Vodder Bye

Vodder Sogn, Riberhuus Birk, Ribe Amt  Wodder By

Statistics – Vester Vedsted Vester Vedsted, Riberhuus Birk, Ribe Amt (den deel af Vestervedsted Sogn som hörer til Riberhuus Birk, Ribe Amt)  Vester Vedsted Ydre Bjerrum Sönder Fardrup (Farup)

Black Page: Norrangstrup Herred; Sogn: Toftlund Frøs Herred and Riberhus Birk; Sogne: Foel, Hygom, Rödding, Skodberg Kalslund Herred and Riberhus Birk; Sogne: Fardrup, Hierting, Hiortlund, Kalslund, Lintrup, Oster Hierting se Hierting.

Statistics – Toftlund Sogn Toftlund Sogn, Norre Rangstrup Herred, Ribe Amt  Toftlund

Statistics = Fohl Fohl Sogn, Riberhuus Birk, Ribe Amt  Ganderup By Obbekjer

Statistics = Hygum Sogn  Hygum Sogn, Frös Herred eller Ribe Birk, Ribe Amt  Fedstedtoft ___lling Bröstrup

Statistics - Rödding Rödding Sogn, Ribe Birk, Ribe Amt  Rödding Statistics  Skodborg Sogn, Ribe Birk, Ribe Amt  Skodborg

Statistics – Fardrup Sogn Fardrup Sogn, Riberhuus Birk, Ribe Amt  Kjaerböll Kirkebye Tanderup Fardrup Meilbye Lundgaard Udflöttern [Outlying farms] Hillerup

Statistics – Østerhjerting Sogn Østerhjerting Sogn, Calslund Herred eller Riberhuus Birk, Ribe Amt  Hjerting

Statistics – Hjortlund Sogn  Hjortlund Sogn, Ribe Herred eller Birk, Ribe Amt Hedegaard Hjortlund Bye Steens Bye (Stens)

Statistics – Calslund Sogn  Calslund Sogn, Ribehuus Birk, Ribe Amt  Calslund Statistics – Lintrup Sign Hjortvad By

 Lintrup Sogn, Riberhuus Birk, Ribe Amt Lintrup Bye Lintrup Mark Dauer (Dover)

End of film

Other Websites

 * Jane's Genealogy Jigsaw may have more information including a link to Northern Germany register for 1769 to 1881.
 * Danish National Archives Censuses are a good source for finding information about ancestors. You can find information about age, occupation, civil status and whom a person lived with. From 1834 the censuses were often conducted every 5th year. At the moment we have the largest amount of data transcribed from censuses and it is more likely to find the individuals you are looking for here. Data is divided between counties as they were before 1970. You can choose between multiple search options: with or without place suggestion, simple or more advanced search, in one or more counties, and finally you can search for a household/family at the same time, when you know who have lived together.