Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Censuses - FamilySearch Historical Records

Foreign Language Title
Großherzogthum Mecklenburg Volkszählungen

Collection Time Period
This collection of census records pertain to the census of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin conducted in 1900 and 1890. Mecklenburg censuses were conducted intermittently from 1636 to 1939.

Record Description
This is a collection of censuses records of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany.

The 1900 census consist of two forms: the individual forms (Zählkarten), which lists information about each person, and the household lists (Haushaltungslisten), which identify the members of a family and their relationship to the head of household. Both forms are filed by place. These places are then arranged alphabetically by each manorial district or city (Ritteramt, Domänenamt, Klosteramt, Stadt).

A name index and images for a portion of The 1890 census consist of a name index arranged by towns 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.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found on most census lists are: 


 * Full name
 * Marital status
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Place of residence
 * Occupation
 * Relationship to the head of household
 * Street address

How to Use the Records
Next to parish registers, census records provide more family information than any other Mecklenburg record for the time period. 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.



Record History
The censuses cover territory controlled by the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. For the 1900 census, takers went to each house in each of the 2,559 districts and recorded all the inhabitants as of December 1, 1900, therefore covering about 95 to 98 percent of the population living in Mecklenburg-Schwerin in December of 1900.

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 censuses were taken to assess military and taxation capacity, as well as for religious, occupational, and language background.

Record Reliability
Census information was provided by any member of the household. If some information was incomplete, the census taker had to return to the houseold to complete the information. Each record was signed by the census taker as verification of its accuracy.

Related Web Sites
Germany Census

Related Wiki Articles
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Sources of Information for This Collection:
"Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1900", database, FamilySearch (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch), 2009; from Mecklenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Schwerin, Germany. "Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1900 census"; Mecklenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Schwerin, Germany. FHL digital folders. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah,USA

"Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1890", database, FamilySearch (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch), 2009; from Mecklenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Schwerin, Germany. "Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1890 census"; Mecklenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Schwerin, Germany. FHL digital folders. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah,USA.

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Examples of Source Citations for a Record

 * United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org): September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71
 * Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org): April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023