Germany, Hessen, Darmstadt City Records, 1627-1940

What is in This Collection?

This collection contains multiple records created mainly to have a record of people leaving town and to count the number of residents from the city of Darmstadt. This includes:

• Town records, 1716-1884
• Migration records, 1805-1940
• Naturalization and citizenship, 1821-1938
• Population registers, 1627-1939.

To keep a record of the population, the city called heads of households 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). The city also kept a similar register listing all the citizens who moved to other localities. This register was called Abmeldungen (relocation list). If the record was from a citizenship roll, it was called a cancellation list. Although the heads of households were admonished to comply, these procedures were not enforced. Therefore, these records may not cover the entire population.

Aufnahmen von Buergern und Beisassen (Acceptance of citizens and residents)

This collection consists of loose sheets arranged alphabetically by last name and then to some extent by given name. Given names are not in strict alphabetical order. Each numbered batch consists of approximately 40-50 entries and is labeled with a range of names. Each way pointed record set includes several batches. For example, the label "B-E (ST12-11-Nr-64-70)" means that this group includes entries for surnames beginning with "B" through "E" of the archive signature "ST12-11" and batches number 64 to 70.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Reading These Records

These records are written in German. For help reading them see:

• German Genealogical Word List
• Germany Handwriting
• Brigham Young University Script Tutorial: German

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Germany, Hesse, Darmstadt City Records, 1627-1940.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:
Citizenship

Citizenship application

Manumission

• Name of subject
• Place of origin
• Manumission request status

Collection Content

Sample Images

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  Citizenship Application, 1800

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  Status Declaration, 1798

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  Feudal Servitude (Manumission Record), 1758