Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1819 Online at Ancestry (in German)

Allgemeine Ansicht, Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Deutschland The Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was formed in 1815 through a division of the Duchy of Mecklenburg. It was the larger of the two resulting Mecklenburg Grand Duchies. Now, Ancestry.de and Ancestry World Deluxe members can search the 1819 census of Mecklenburg-Schwerin online.

In 1819 the German Confederation (an organization created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna to organize the remaining states of the German Nation) ordered, by a law passed on 18 June 1819, that a census of Mecklenburg-Schwerin be conducted. The purpose of this census was to determine each Confederation territory’s exact military quota. It was taken in August of that year.

The 1819 census was the first general census of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The complete census has survived and the entirety of it is contained in this database, including an electronic every-name index to it, as well as images of the original census records.

Census Instructions:

According to the law, the census was to include everyone in Mecklenburg-Schwerin “who was living on the day of the census, as young or as old as they may be, of every gender, religion, occupation, or status.”

It recorded the following information about each resident:

  • Entry number
  • Name
  • Gender
  • Birth date
  • Birthplace
  • Name of parish in which the birthplace belongs
  • Occupation
  • Relationship to head of household (usually given)
  • Whether owned land
  • How many years the person lived in the present place of residence
  • Marital status
  • Religion

Click here to learn more about using these records.

(Note: The image is from the Library of Congress Photochrom Print Collection: Germany, Austria, & Switzerland, 1890-1910, and is of Allgemeine Ansicht, Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Deutschland.)

5 thoughts on “Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census, 1819 Online at Ancestry (in German)

  1. I am looking for the Niekranz family before 1880. The name may have varient spellings, especially Niekrenz. I will appreciate any help in finding my ancestors. Thank you.

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