Mainz, Germany, Marriages, 1876-1920

About this collection

This collection contains marriage records and name directories from Mainz covering the years 1876 up to and including 1920. Mainz is located on the Rhine River opposite its confluence with the Main River, about 25 miles from Frankfurt. Since 1946 it has served as the capital of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. In the course of its rich history, Mainz has been an Episcopal see, a part of the Grand Duchy of Hesse and a territory under Napoleonic rule. Historically, the city is known for its connection to Johannes Gutenberg and his printing press. Today, it serves as an important media center for the ZDF television network. In addition to Mainz, the collection includes records from another 10 communities. Records from Drais begin in 1878 and some from Marienborn date back as early as 1872.

Beginning on January 1, 1876, birth, marriage and death records in the former German Empire were created by local registry offices. The collected records are arranged chronologically and usually bound together in the form of yearbooks. These are collectively referred to as "civil registers." Complementary alphabetical directories of names may also have been created. While churches continued to keep traditional records, the State also mandated that the personal or marital status of the entire population be recorded.

What you can find in the records

Marriage records were created using preprinted forms that were filled in by hand by the registrar. Depending on the individual form or on the formulations used by the registrar, you may find:

• Sequential or Certificate Number
• Marriage Date
• Groom: Occupation, Given Names, Last Name, Denomination, Birthdate and Birthplace, Residence as well as details about his Parents and their Place of Residence
• Bride: Occupation, Given Names, Last Name, Maiden Name, Denomination, Birthdate and Birthplace, Residence/Address as well as details about her Parents and their Place of Residence
• Witnesses
• Signatures

The name directories are arranged alphabetically according to the last name of the groom. They are bound either as separate chronological volumes or together with their respective marriage registers. They contain the following details:

• Sequential number
• Last Name, Given Names, Husband's Profession/Trade
• Last Name, Given Names, Wife's Occupation
• Residence
• Cross reference to marriage register

More about using this collection

Each marriage document has a front and back. These are displayed one after the other. Additional events from the life of the couple were sometimes recorded later on in the margins. These notes, sometimes referred to as "narration," can contain very useful information but they have not been indexed. As a result, information from the notes will not found via the search form. To browse the images in this collection by Marriage Registry select "Heiratsregister" as the Register Type under "Browse this collection.” For Alphabeticall name directories select "Namensverzeichnis." Then, select the community and then the time period for the register desired. When name directories are available for a registry office, they are displayed and selectable in the Year Range list. However, when a name directory forms part of a register itself, it can be accessed within that register by selecting the desired time period.