Erfurt, Germany, Deaths, 1874-1935

About this collection

This collection contains death records from Erfurt covering the years 1874 up to and including 1935. Erfurt is the capital of the German state of Thüringen and is situated approximately at Germany's geographic center. The city was first mentioned in documents from 742. During the time period of this collection it was part of Prussia. Notable landmarks in Erfurt include the medieval Krämerbrücke covered footbridge, the Erfurt Cathedral, and the university that Martin Luther attended, founded in 1392.

This collection includes records from 20 communities which are today part of modern Erfurt. Unlike Prussian Erfurt, some of these other communities belonged to the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, which is why their records begin in 1876.

Beginning on October 1, 1874 in the former Prussian provinces, and on January 1, 1876 in the former German Empire, local goverment registry offices were ordered to keep birth, marriage and death records. The collected records are arranged chronologically and usually in bound yearbook form which 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

Death records were created using preprinted forms that were filled in by hand by the registrar. In each record the date of death usually differs from the date it was registered. Depending on the individual form or on the formulations used by the registrar, you may find:

• Sequential or Certificate Number
• Informant: Given Names, Last Name, Maiden Name, Occupation, Residence/Address, Denomination
• Deceased: Occupation, Given Names, Last Name, Maiden Name, Age, Denomination, Residence/Address, Place/Date of Birth, Spouse/Parents, Place/Date of Death, Time of Death
• Signatures

More about using this collection

Each record comprises one page. Additional events from the life of the deceased 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. The “Informant” was usually a relative of the deceased.

Under "Browse this collection,” select the Civil Registration Office and Year Range of the register desired.