The nobility is a class of people who had special political and social status. Members of this class had titles such as Baron [Freiherr], Duke [Herzog], Count [Graf], Margrave [Markgraf], and Knight (Sir) [Ritter]. Noble status was usually inherited. It originated with people who had power, influence, and land in ancient times or who received a grant of nobility from a king.

Most family traditions about a noble ancestor prove to be untrue. Members of the noble class seldom left their country or disowned their children. Illegitimate children of nobility, though not entitled to noble status, were often recorded (although the father may not have been named) and can be found in the records.

The noble class formed only a small percentage of Germany's population, and Germany limited the growth of the noble class. Laws specified which children of the nobility inherited their parents' status.

Although some original records such as grants of nobility still exist, you can often research your noble ancestors by using compiled sources. German nobility was frequently associated with the military and a mobile lifestyle. When the family moved frequently, compiled sources become especially helpful. The compiled sources for German nobility include both published and manuscript genealogies. If your ancestor was of the noble class, the following books may help you in your research:

Hefner, Otto Titian von. Stammbuch des blühenden und abgestorbenen Adels in Deutschland (Lineages of flourishing and extinct nobles in Germany). 4 vols. in 2. Regensburg: Georg Joseph Mainz, 1860-1866. (FHL book 943 D22h; film 491136; computer number 273733.) This is a quick reference list of German noble families.

Fritsch, Thomas, Freiherr von. Die Gothaischen Taschenbücher, Hofkalender, und Almanach (The gotha pocketbooks, calendar and almanac). Limburg/Lahn: C. A. Starke, 1968. (FHL book Ref 943 B4da vol. 2; computer number 129897.) A comprehensive index of four published serials on German nobility is found on pages 187 to 349. Pages 350 to 415 index six other published serials on German nobility.

Führende Persönlichkeiten (Leading personalities). See the “Genealogy” section of this outline.

In addition to “Genealogy,” see the “Biography” and “Heraldry” sections of this outline. The Family History Library has collected some records of noble families. These records are listed in the Locality Search of the catalog under:

GERMANY - NOBILITYGERMANY, [STATE] - NOBILITYGERMANY, [STATE], [TOWN] - NOBILITY

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