Germany, Schleswig-Holstein, Kreis Steinburg, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Germany Schleswig-Holstein

Title in the Language of the Record
Deutschland, Schleswig-Holstein, Schleswig-Flensburg, Zivilstandsregister, 1874-1983

Record Description
This collection consists of civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths for the district of Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Original records are located in the Gemeinschaftsarchiv Schleswig-Flensburg, Germany.

Schleswig-Holstein is the northern most state in Germany. Flensburg is an independent town within the Schleswig-Holstein state. For centuries Prussia and Denmark disputed over the Schleswig-Holstein territory. By 1871 the German Empire held Holstein with diplomatic ties to Denmark who held Schleswig.

Record Content
Civil Registrations consist of births, marriages and deaths. They may contain any of the following:

Birth records may contain the following information:


 * Birth date
 * Name at birth
 * Parents’ names
 * Parents’ residence

Marriage records may contain the following information:


 * Name and status of groom
 * Name and status of bride
 * Place of residence
 * Name of bride’s parents
 * Name of groom’s parents
 * Groom’s date of birth and birthplace
 * Bride’s date of birth and birthplace

Death records may contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Age at death
 * Place of residence
 * Date of death

How to Use the Record
To begin your search, it is helpful to know:


 * Your ancestor's full name
 * Some identifying information such as residence, age, estimated [event] year, and family relationships

Search the Collection
To browse the collection: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the 'Civil Registration Office' category ⇒ Select the 'Standesamt' category ⇒ Select the 'Record Type and Year Range' category ⇒ Select the 'Quellengattung und Zeitraum' category 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. Keep in mind:


 * 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 Help Reading These Records
These records are in German. For help with reading the records, see the following resources:


 * German Word List
 * German Language and Languages

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. For example:


 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.
 * Use the county code and the certificate number to obtain a copy of the original death certificate from the county.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * 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.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.

Related Websites

 * German Roots
 * Schleswig-Holstein Archive

Related Wiki Articles

 * [Germany]
 * [Germany Archives and Libraries]

Citations for This Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Collection Citation:

Image Citation: