Germany, Prussia, Westphalia, Minden, Miscellaneous Collections from the Municipal Archives - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection of records from the city of Minden includes index and images of citizenship rolls and naturalization for the years 1574 to 1902, population registers for the years 1574-1902, and census records that enumerated citizens for the years 1574-1902. This collection of records from the city of Minden includes index and images of citizenship rolls, population registers, and census records that enumerated citizens over three centuries, 1574-1902. Original records are located in the Kommunalarchiv in Minden. The information is handwritten horizontally through both pages of columns filling in the information as in a ledger type format. These records are written in German. To keep a record of their population, household heads were called 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. They also kept a similar register listing all the citizens that moved away to other localities. This register was called “abmeldungen”, relocation list of their citizens or cancellation list from the citizenship roll of that locality. These procedures were not enforced, but head of households were admonished to do so. Therefore, these records may not cover the entire population. The original records are preserved at the German State Archives in Schwerin. The Family History Library has copies on microfilm also. The census was taken to assess military and taxation capacity, as well as for religious, occupational, and language background. This census collection is a reliable source of information for genealogical purposes; however, it is dependent upon the knowledge of the informant and the way it was written by the civil officer.

Reading These Records
For help reading these German records see the following guides:
 * German Language and Languages
 * German Genealogical Word List
 * German Handwriting Samples
 * FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * Reading German Handwritten Records

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Address
 * Full name
 * Occupation
 * Birth date
 * Religion
 * Birth place
 * Nationality

How Do I Search This Collection?
It is helpful to know:
 * Your ancestor's name
 * Residence
 * Age or birth date
 * Names of family members

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the 


 * 1) Select Record type and year range to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

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

 * Use the age in the citizen 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 moved, been recruited or lived 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
 * When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Consult the Germany Record Finder to find other records
 * Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, either German Civil Registration records or German Church records may be more useful
 * While searching, it is helpful to know such information as the ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as an ancestor and that the ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times
 * Keep in mind that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * 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
 * Search the indexes and records of local genealogical societies

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.