Germany, Hesse, Darmstadt City Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Foreign Language Title
You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying a translation of the title in German here.

Collection Time Period
This collection of city records includes: Town records for 1716-1884; Emigration and immigration records for 1805-1940; Naturalization/Citizenship for 1821-1938; and Population registers for 1627-1939.

Record History
To keep a record of the population, the city called heads of households 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).

The city also kept a similar register listing all the citizens who moved to other localities. This register was called “abmeldungen” (relocation list). If the record was from a citizenship roll, it was called a cancellation list.

Although the heads of households were admonished to comply, these procedures were not enforced. Therefore, these records may not cover the entire population.

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

Why This Collection Was Created
These records were created mainly to have a record of people leaving town and to count the number of residents.

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

Record Description
Records in this collection include population registers, certificates of citizenship, recordings of citizens and residents, and emigration records. The information is handwritten horizontally in two pages of columns in a ledger-type format.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found on most citizenship/naturalization records include:


 * Name of applicant [[Image:Germany Hessen Darmstadt City Records (09-0245) Citizenship DGS 4352549 3.jpg|thumb|right]]
 * Age of applicant
 * Occupation of applicant
 * Reasons for citizenship application
 * Date and place of issue

The key genealogical facts found on most citizenship application status records include:


 * Name of applicant [[Image:Germany Hessen Darmstadt City Records (09-0245) Simple Status DGS 4352549 23.jpg|thumb|right]]
 * Place of origin
 * Status of application
 * Date and place of issue

The key genealogical facts found on most manumission records include: 


 * Name of subject
 * Place of origin
 * Manumission request status

How to Use the Record
Next to parish and civil registers, this collection of city records provides good family information, which can be used to research the family in other vital records. To use these records, you must know how to read German Gothic script. You also need to know at least the name of your ancestor, an event date, and the approximate place of residence.

Related Wiki Articles
Germany Emigration and Immigration

Germany Naturalization and Citizenship

Germany Court Records

Related Websites
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. 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.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Create Source Citations for FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection
• 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.

Sources of This Collection
“Germany, Hassen, Darmstadt City Records”, database, FamilySearch Historical Records, 2010; from Stadtarchiv Darmstadt, Germany. “Germany, Damstadt, city records”. Stadtarchiv Darmstadt, Germany. FHL digital images, 119 folders. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Style Guide Link
A style guide for this article.