Civil registration records are vital records kept by the government. Records of births, marriages, and deaths are commonly referred to as “vital records” because they refer to critical events in a person's life. Civil registration records [Zivilstandsregister or Personenstandsregister] are an excellent source for accurate information on names and on dates and places of births, marriages, and deaths.

Civil authorities began registering births, marriages, and deaths in different time periods in various areas of Germany. The earliest true civil registration records began in 1792. Since 1876 civil registration records have been kept for almost everyone who was born or married or who died in Germany.

Because they cover such a large part of the population and often provide more information than church records, civil registration records are important sources for German genealogical research.

For birth, death, and marriage records created before civil registration began, see the “Church Records” section of this outline.

General Historical Background

Civil registration developed slowly in Germany. In most areas, the earliest vital records were made by the churches. As early as the 1400s, particular cities recognized the need to make vital records for court, military, or taxation purposes. However, these records are incomplete. Records of marriage contracts are the most common early government or court records. Comprehensive, modern German civil registration began with the French Revolution. The first German area to start statewide civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths was Elsaß-Lothringen under French rule in 1792.

Between 1792 and 1876, most German states or provinces developed their own separate laws and civil registration systems. Some registration offices were established later than others. Therefore, the date a particular state began civil registration is only a general guideline and does not always apply to every town within its borders. In 1876 civil registration began in all of Germany, and since 1876 almost every German has been registered with the local civil government authorities.

Regional Differences

Between 1792 and 1798, when France occupied the area west of the Rhein River, the government began civil registration in parts of the Pfalz, Oldenburg, Hessen, and Rheinland west of the Rhein. These records are usually written in French until about 1815. Hamburg began keeping civil registration records in 1799. As France's influence increased in Germany through the Confederation of the Rhein, the states of Braunschweig, Hannover, Westfalen, Bremen, Lippe, more of Hessen, the rest of Oldenburg and Lübeck established civil registration between 1808 and 1812. But when Napoleon's power began to fade in 1814, many of these states suspended civil registration.

By 1838 most of the province of Waldeck was recording marriage contracts. The prime minister of Preußen, Otto von Bismarck, instituted civil registration in all the provinces of Preußen in 1874. The remaining states—Anhalt, Bayern, Lippe, Mecklenburg, Sachsen, Schaumburg-Lippe, Thüringen, and Württemberg—began requiring civil registration in 1876.

In areas under French influence, especially Elsaß-Lothringen, ten-year indexes were usually kept. Duplicate copies of civil registers were also made. The mayor's office [Bürgermeisterei] kept the original copy, and the duplicate was sent to the court [Landesgericht] or another central archive. For example, most of Westfalen and Lippe sent their duplicates to Detmold, and most of Rheinland sent theirs to Brühl.

Information Recorded in Civil Registers

The information recorded in civil registration records varies slightly over time. Each state used a different format for civil registration. Preprinted forms have often been used for civil registration. In these instances, the form determined what information the record contains. The early French records sometimes give slightly more complete information than the later records. The most important civil records are birth, marriage, and death registers.

Births [Geburten]

Birth records usually give the child's name; sex; and birth date, time, and place. The father's name, age, occupation, and residence are also usually listed. The mother's maiden name, age, and marital status are usually given, although her age is sometimes omitted. The names, ages, and residences of witnesses are usually provided. The parents' religion is also listed in some states.

Births were usually registered within a few days of the child's birth by the father, a neighbor, or the midwife. Corrections and additions to a birth record may have been added as marginal notes.

Marriages [Heiraten, or Ehen, or Trauungen]

Marriages were usually recorded where the bride lived. After 1792 a civil marriage ceremony was required in areas of Germany under French control. In 1876 this law was applied to all of Germany. Most couples also had a church wedding, so records may exist for both the civil and church ceremonies. The civil marriage records may include more information than the comparable church records. When possible search both the civil registration and church records.

Records of Intention to Marry. If you believe a marriage took place but cannot find a marriage record, search records that indicate the couple's "intent to be marry." Various records may gave been created to show a couple's intent to marry:

• Proclamations [Aufgebote or Eheverkündigungen] were made a few weeks before a couple planned to marry. The couple may have been required to announce their intentions in order to give other community members the opportunity to object to the marriage.
  
• Marriage Supplements [Heiratsbeilagen] were often filed by the bride or groom to support their marriage application. Information included may document their births, their parents' births and deaths, and the groom's release from military service. Sometimes the records contain information about earlier generations.
  
• Contracts [Ehekontrakte] are documents created to protect legal rights and property of spouses. These may give the same information as the marriage supplements noted above. They also list property and are usually found in court records rather than in civil registration records.