Mittweida, Germany, Marriages, 1876-1921

About this collection

This collection contains marriage records and name directories from Mittweida covering the years 1876 up to and including 1921. Mittweida is the administrative center of the district of Mittelsachsen (Central Saxony) in the German state of Saxony. This university town is situated on the Zschopau River about 12 miles north of Chemnitz and 38 miles west of Dresden. The first documentary mention of Mittweida was in 1209. Since the Middle Ages this city has been closely linked to the production of textiles. During the time period of this collection until 1918, Mittweida belonged to the Kingdom of Saxony. In addition to Mittweida, another 9 communities are included.

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, Age, Birthdate and Birthplace, Residence/Address as well as details about his Parents and their Place of residence
• Bride: Occupation, Given Names, Last Name, Maiden Name, Denomination, Age, 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 and the maiden name of the bride. Within a letter, entries are chronological. They are generally bound as separate volumes covering several years each. They contain the following details:

• Last Name, Given Names of the Groom / Maiden Name, Given Names of the Bride
• Occupation and Residence of the Groom/Bride
• Cross-reference to marriage register

More about using this collection

Each 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. Under "Browse this collection,” select the Civil Registration Office and Year Range of the register desired. Name directories appear at the end of the Year Range lists.