Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, Census, 1900

Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy formed in 1701 through a division of the Duchy of Mecklenburg. In 1815, it became a grand duchy. The area of the former Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg is now part of the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This database contains all of the surviving records of the 1900 Mecklenburg-Schwerin Census that are held by the Schwerin State Archive. It includes an electronic name index and images of the original census records.

About the 1900 Census:

In 1900, Mecklenburg-Schwerin was divided up into different district jurisdictions. These four district types were 1) Ritteramt (R.A.), 2) Domanialamt (D.A.), 3) Klosteramt (K.A.), and 4) Stadt. Each individual district, except for the Stadt districts, encompassed numerous towns. Each Stadt district included the city by the same name and, generally, suburbs.

The 1900 census consists of two form types:

• Haushaltungslisten (Household Lists): lists the members of each household and indicates relationships
  
• Zählkarten (Census Cards): provides more details on each individual of the household, including birth date and birthplace. There were two types of Census Cards – one for individuals present at the time of enumeration, and another for individuals who were absent. Both cards contain the same information, except that the absentee card has an additional line where the individual’s whereabouts could be indicated, if known.
  

If both forms have survived for a given individual, two hits will be returned in a search – one for the individual’s record on a Household List and one for the individual’s Census Card. Please note that discrepancies in information between these two forms for the same individual may exist. For example, a name may be abbreviated on one form, but not on another. Likewise, discrepancies in Ancestry’s indexing of a name between forms may also exist. For example, a name may be clearly decipherable on one form, but more illegible on another, resulting in two different indexed spellings of the same name.

What Information Can I Find?

Information available for an individual will vary according to the form type that they are found on.

Information requested on the Household Lists included:

• Town of enumeration
  
• Enumeration district number
  
• Household list number
  
• Record number
  
• Name of individual
  
• Relationship to head of household
  
• Gender
  

For the Census Cards, the following information was listed:

• Enumeration district number


• Household list number


• Record number


• Name of individual


• Gender


• Marital status


• Birth date


• Birthplace


• Occupation/status

Additional information about an individual may be available on the actual census record (either the Household List or Census Card) and can be obtained by viewing the census record image.

What’s Missing from the Collection?

Fortunately, most of the 1900 Mecklenburg-Schwerin census has survived over the years. Nearly all of the Household Lists are believed to have survived. Fewer of the Census Cards have survived, but it is thought that the majority still exist. This database includes all of the known surviving 1900 census records held by the Schwerin State Archive.