Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Censuses - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Records
Deutschland, Großherzogthum Mecklenburg Volkszählungen 1890

Collection Time Period
This collection of census records pertains to the census of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin conducted in 1867, 1890, and 1900. Mecklenburg censuses were conducted intermittently from 1636 to 1939.

Record Description
This is a collection of censuses 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.

Census of citizens of Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as of 2/3 December 1867. Authorized enumerators, went from house to house in their appointed areas, recording in a “household list” of each person who was present at the time in the apartment or house. Household members who were not physically present at the time of the census were recorded in an addendum. The following information was recorded about each person: first and last name, gender, year of birth, religious affiliation, marital status, occupation or social standing, citizenship, the reason why visitors were in the census area, and distinguishing physical characteristics. Based on the 1867 census, population of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was determined to be 560,668. Of those, 193,882 people lived in the cities.

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 the Record 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 Websites

 * German Census Taking-Before 1871
 * AKVZ Database Menu - In German

Related Wiki Articles

 * German Census Records
 * Germany Census
 * Germany

Citations for This Collection
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Citation Example for a Record Found in Collection

 * "Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1890." index and images, FamilySearch: ( accessed March 24, 2011). entry for Ernst Klinkenstein, born 24 March 1870; citing Census Records, FHL microfilm 1,981,754; Mecklenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Schwerin, Germany.
 * "Germany, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1900." index and images.FamilySearch: ( accessed March 24, 2011. entry for Laura Hafner, born 7 November 1876; citing Census Records, FHL microfilm 4,106,670; Mecklenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Schwerin, Germany.