Germany, Prussia, Saxony, Magdeburg, Miscellaneous Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains miscellaneous records from various entities in the city of Magdeburg, Saxony, Prussia from 1686 to 1900. Records include


 * Account books
 * Burgher rolls
 * Census records
 * Church records
 * Citizenship records
 * Lists of foreigners with passports
 * Guild records
 * Immunization records
 * Lists of officials
 * Military rosters
 * Population registration
 * Lists of potential school children
 * Registers of foreigners
 * School records
 * Tax records
 * Voter lists

The original records are located in the Stadtarchiv Magdeburg in Magdeburg, Saxony- (Sachsen-) Anhalt, Germany. Records are in German and French.

Sample Images
Click on images for a larger view.

Reading These Records
These records are written in German. Many of the records are written in the German Gothic script; for help reading this style of writing, see the Germany Handwriting page.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Given the variety of records contained within this collection, it is difficult to say what information is provided in any given record. Generally though, these records at least contain the following information:
 * Name
 * Residence
 * Birth date
 * Occupation

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching, it is best to know the following information: As you search, look for a record which matches this information.
 * Name of the person
 * Date of the record

View the Images

 * 1) Go to the 
 * 2) Click on the correct Autor link
 * 3) Click on the correct Ereignistyp und Jahre link to open the image viewer
 * 4) Use the onscreen controls to move between images as you look for a match

I Found the Person I Was Looking for, What Now?

 * Copy down all the information from the record.
 * Cite the record; see below for help citing this records in this collection.
 * Use the information to find your ancestors in census records. These can help you find additional family members.
 * Use the age in the record to find an approximate birth year.

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

 * When looking for an individual with a common name, look at all the search results before deciding which is the correct person. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to help with this decision. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records.
 * Try variations of given names and surnames. An individual might appear under a different name in a record for a variety of reasons:
 * -They might have been listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name.
 * -Spelling was not standardized for much of the period of this collection, so names were often spelled as recorders heard them. Pay attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try spelling variations that could have that pronunciation.
 * -Some women returned to their maiden names after the death of their husbands.


 * Vary the search terms. For example, expand the date range or search by either the given name or surname to return a broader list search results.
 * Search the records of nearby locations. While a person in this period rarely ever lived more than about 20 miles from their place of birth, moves within this range were common.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Germany.
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Germany Record Finder

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.


 * Image Citation: