Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Censuses - FamilySearch Historical Records

Foreign Language Title
Großherzogthum Mecklenburg Volkszählungen 1900

Collection Time Period
Mecklenburg censuses were conducted intermittently from 1636 to 1939. This information pertains to the 1900 census.

Collection History
The census covers territory controlled by the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Census takers went to each house in each of the 2,559 census districts and recorded all the inhabitants as of December 1, 1900. This collection of the 1900 census covers 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 census was taken to assess military and taxation capacity, as well as for religious, occupational, and language background.

Collection Reliability
This census information could be given by any member of the household, but the census taker had to return if information given on the first visit was incomplete. Each record was signed by the census taker as verification of its accuracy.

Collection Description
The 1900 census population schedules 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).

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 Collection
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.

Related Wiki Articles
Germany Census

Related Websites
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Sources of Information for This Collection
• Digital images of original records housed at the State Archive of Schwerin, Germany • Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Großherzogtum). Volkszählungsamt. Volkszählung am 1. Dezember 1900.

How To Cite Your Sources
Instructions for citing this source can be found at: Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)