Bad Doberan, Germany, Residence Registers, 1884-1918

About this collection

This collection contains residence records from Bad Doberan covering the years 1884 up to and including 1918. Bad Doberan lies on the Baltic Sea about 9 miles west of Rostock and about 28 miles northeast of Wismar in the modern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was first mentioned in a document from the year 1177. Its principal landmarks are the old town, the racecourse and the Heiligendamm seaside spa. The city's notable architectural attraction is the Doberan Minster Church at Doberan Abbey which was consecrated in 1232. During the time period of this collection Doberan was (until 1918) part of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Since 1921, the city's official name has been Bad Doberan.

Compiled by municipal authorities, these registration documents capture details about citizens' temporary and permanent residences and provide important historical insights into local economies and social structures.

What you can find in the records

These registers primarily document new arrivals to the city. Initially, the information was hand-written. Later it was recorded on preprinted forms filled in by hand. The following details are included.

• Place, Registration Date
• Personal Details: Last Name, First Names, Profession/Occupation/Trade (sometimes including Employer), Age/Birth Date, Military Status, Relationship to Head of Family, Denomination, Nationality/Citizenship, Former Residence, Move-in Day, Residence/Current Address, Details about Children (Name, Age, if Baptized and Immunized, sometimes including details about Spouses, Housemates or Other Family Menmbers)
• Remarks from municipal authorities (for example, Move-outs, Shop openings, etc.)

More about using this collection

The records usually consist of two pages, which are displayed one after the other. Page one usually records details about the person moving in, page two usually contains remarks from municipal authorities.

Under "Browse this collection,” select the appropriate Year Range of the registers desired.