Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg, Cottbus, Miscellaneous City Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Germany Brandenburg

What is in this Collection?
This Collection will include records from 1672 to 1919.

This is a collection of mixed records from the city archives of Cottbus. Most of the records are handwritten in narrative style and, in later years, in formatted forms. The records may include items from Sandow as well as the following:
 * Military records
 * Land and proprety records
 * Citizen rolls
 * Jewish records
 * City directories
 * Wills and estates
 * Land and tenancy records
 * Court records
 * Tax records
 * Funeral sermons and sexton records
 * Voting registers
 * Council meeting protocols
 * Hospital books

Sample Images
Click on images for a larger view.

How Do I Search This Collection?
To browse by image:

⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select “City or Town” ⇒Select “Category” ⇒Select “Record type, Year range, and Volume” which takes you to the images

Look at each image or record 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 or records and compare the information about the individuals listed to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind there may be more than one person in the records with the same name and you will want to look carefully at dates, places and relations to identify your ancestor from another person. You also may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name if they were known by a nickname or changed their name from the original birth record name. Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life and may be listed in records with any of those variations. Search the collection by 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.

I Found Who I was Looking for, Now What?

 * Use the age in the marriage records to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in church or civil records.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been born, married or died nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records in the country.
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900. If the officiator of a marriage or death was a minister, you may be able to determine to which religion or congregation your ancestor belonged. Look for church records of the birth, marriage, or death which may provide more information on the family.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, Now What?

 * Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, German Civil Registration records or German Church records may be more useful.
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Search the indexes and records of local genealogical societies.

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