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Pre-printed civil register forms in old German Fraktur print

02/11/2017 1 Comment

divider [www.lovablehistory.com]

Between 1870 and 1876 the German “Standesämter” (= offices of vital records) were established throughout the German Empire. To perform their tasks to register births, marriages and deaths, they almost always used official pre-printed civil register forms in Fraktur print (until this font was banned in 1941). Being able to read the wording of those forms in Fraktur print might be a challenge of its own. 

I’ve prepared empty birth, marriage and death register forms in Fraktur print for you, like they were used in the German Empire around 1890. Those forms have slightly changed over time though. In the 1920s for example they often didn’t require the names of the couple’s parents any longer. But in general most forms will request the same information, in one form or another.

For each register form I’ll give you the original text with the omissions (in the first line), an example of what might have be added in writing (in the second line), and a translation (in the third line). But keep in mind that the German text probably is too antiquated to translate it properly into modern English. I’ll try my best, though.

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Civil register forms for births (1890 ff.)

The birth register form usually had the capital letter “A” in one of the upper corners as you can see here. Each year the consecutive numbering (“Nr.”) started new with 1. Birth records usually consist of one page.

Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
First part of a 1890s pre-printed birth register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: [place] am [day/month] 189[last digit of year]
    Example: Berlin, am 2. November 1891
    Translation: Berlin, on November 2nd, 1891


  • Text: Vor dem unterzeichneten Standesbeamten erschien heute [name],
    Example: Vor dem unterzeichneten Standesbeamten erschien heute Fred Meyer,
    Translation: Today Fred Meyer appeared before the undersigned recording official,


  • Text: der Persönlichkeit nach [prefix]kannt, wohnhaft zu [place]
    Example: der Persönlichkeit nach durch Reisepaß anerkannt, wohnhaft zu Berlin
    Translation: identity acknowledged by passport, resident at Berlin.


Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
Second part of a 1890s pre-printed birth register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: [religious denomination] Religion, und zeigte an, daß von der [name of baby’s mother],
    Example: katholischer Religion, und zeigte an, daß von der Catherine Meyer, seiner Ehefrau,
    Translation: catholic, and reported that by his wife Catherine Meyer,


  • Text: [religious denomination] Religion, wohnhaft [place]
    Example: katholisch, wohnhaft in seiner Behausung in Berlin, Hauptstraße 345
    Translation: catholic, resident at his dwelling in Berlin, Hauptstraße 345


Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
Third part of a 1890s pre-printed birth register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: zu [place] am [day]ten [month] des Jahres tausend acht hundert neunzig [last digit of year]
    Example: zu Berlin am ersten November des Jahres tausend acht hundert neunzig und eins
    Translation: at Berlin, on the first of November of the year thousand eight hundred ninety and one


  • Text: um [time] Uhr ein Kind [gender]lichen Geschlechts geboren worden sei,
    Example: um Viertel vor sieben Uhr ein Kind männlichen Geschlechts geboren worden sei,
    Translation: at a quarter to eight a child of male gender was born


  • Text: welches [definite article singular or plural] Vornamen [baby’s given name/-s] erhalten habe.
    Example: welches die Vornamen Johann Friedrich Wilhelm erhalten habe.
    Translation: which was given the forenames Johann Friedrich Wilhelm.


Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
Fourth part of a 1890s pre-printed birth register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: Vorgelesen, genehmigt und [verb]
    Example: Vorgelesen, genehmigt und unterschrieben
    Translation: Read out, approved and signed


  • Text: Der Standesbeamte [recording official’s signature]

divider [www.lovablehistory.com]

Civil register forms for marriages (1890 ff.)

The marriage register form usually had the capital letter “B” in one of the upper corners as you can see here. Each year the consecutive numbering (“Nr.”) started new with 1. Marriage records usually consist of two pages.

Page 1

Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
First part on page 1 of a 1890s pre-printed marriage register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: [place] am [day]ten [month] tausend acht hundert neunzig [last digit of year]
    Example: Berlin am zweitenten Februar tausend acht hundert neunzig und eins
    Translation: Berlin, on February 2nd, 1891


  • Text: Vor dem unterzeichneten Standesbeamten erschien heute zum Zweck der Eheschließung:
    Translation: Today appeared before the undersigned recording official for the purpose of marriage:


Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
Second part on page 1 of a 1890s pre-printed marriage register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: der [groom’s name], der Persönlichkeit nach [prefix]kannt,
    Example: der Fred Meyer, der Persönlichkeit nach durch Zeugen # 4 bekannt,
    Translation: Fred Meyer, identity attested by witness at #4,


  • Text: [religious denomination] Religion, geboren den [day] des Jahres tausend acht hundert [last digits of the year] zu [place],
    Example: katholischer Religion, geboren den ersten April des Jahres tausend acht hundert sechzig und acht zu Berlin,
    Translation: catholic, born on April 1st of the year thousand eight hundred sixty and eight in Berlin,


  • Text: wohnhaft zu [place],
    Example: wohnhaft zu Berlin,
    Translation: resident at Berlin,


  • Text: Sohn de[word ending], wohnhaft zu [place],
    Example: Sohn der unverhelichten Dienstmagd Anna Meyer, wohnhaft zu [Berlin],
    Translation: son of the unmarried Anna Meyer, resident at Berlin,


Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
Third part on page 1 of a 1890s pre-printed marriage register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: der [bride’s name], der Persönlichkeit nach [prefix]kannt,
    Example: die Jane Müller, der Persönlichkeit nach durch Zeugen zu 3 bekannt
    Translation: Jane Müller, identity attested by witness at #3


  • Text: [religious denomination] Religion, geboren den [day] des Jahres tausend acht hundert [last digits of the year] zu [place],
    Example: katholischer Religion, geboren den zweiten April des Jahres tausend acht hundert siebenzig zu Berlin,
    Translation: catholic, born on April 2nd of the year thousand eight hundred seventy in Berlin,


  • Text: wohnhaft zu [place],
    Example: wohnhaft zu Berlin,
    Translation: resident at Berlin,


  • Text: Tochter de[word ending], wohnhaft zu [place],
    Example: Tochter des verstorbenen Schuhmachers Peter Müller und seiner noch lebenden Ehefrau Maria Schmidt, wohnhaft zu [Berlin],
    Translation: daughter of the deceased shoemaker Peter Müller and his still living wife Maria née Schmidt, resident at Berlin,


Page 2

Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
First part on page 2 of a 1890s pre-printed marriage register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: Als Zeugen waren zugezogen und erschienen:
    Translation: As witnesses were summoned and had appeared:


  • Text: 3. d[definite article] [witness’ name], der Persönlichkeit nach [prefix]kannt, [age] Jahre alt, wohnhaft zu [place]
    Example: 3. der Michael Schmidt, der Persönlichkeit nach durch Taufschein anerkannt, 70 Jahre alt, wohnhaft zu Berlin
    Translation: 3. Michael Schmidt, identity acknowledged by certificate of baptism, 70 years old, resident at Berlin.


  • Text: 4. d[definite article] [witness’ name], der Persönlichkeit nach [prefix]kannt, [age] Jahre alt, wohnhaft zu [place]
    Example: 4. der Will Meyer, der Persönlichkeit nach durch Geburtsschein anerkannt, 20 Jahre alt, wohnhaft zu Berlin
    Translation: 4. Will Meyer, identity acknowledged by birth certificate, 20 years old, resident at Berlin.


Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
Second part on page 2 of a 1890s pre-printed marriage register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: In Gegenwart der Zeugen richtete der Standesbeamte an die Verlobten einzeln und nach einander die Frage:
    Translation: In the presence of the witnesses, the recording official addressed the betrothed individually and one after another with the question:


  • Text: ob sie erklären, daß sie die Ehe miteinander eingehen wollen.
    Translation: whether they declare that they want to enter into marriage with each other.


  • Text: Die Verlobten beantworteten diese Frage bejahend
    Translation: The fiancées answered this question positive


  • Text: und erfolgte hierauf der Ausspruch des Standesbeamten, daß er sie nunmehr kraft des Gesetzes für rechtmäßig verbundene Eheleute erkläre.
    Translation: and it was followed by the decree of the recording official that he now by virtue of the law declares them for lawfully married spouses.


  • Text: Vorgelesen, genehmigt und [verb]
    Example: Vorgelesen, genehmigt und unterschrieben
    Translation: Read out, approved and signed


  • Text: Der Standesbeamte [recording official’s signature]

divider [www.lovablehistory.com]

Civil register forms for deaths (1890 ff.)

The death register form usually had the capital letter “C” in one of the upper corners as you can see here. Each year the consecutive numbering (“Nr.”) started new with 1. Death records usually consist of one page.

Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
First part of a 1890s pre-printed death register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: [place] am [day and month] 189[last digit of the year]
    Example: Berlin, am zweiten November 189 zwei
    Translation: Berlin, on Nov 2nd, 1892


  • Text: Vor dem unterzeichneten Standesbeamten erschien heute, der Persönlichkeit nach [prefix]kannt, [reporting person’s name], wohnhaft zu [place]
    Example: Vor dem unterzeichneten Standesbeamten erschien heute, der Persönlichkeit nach durch Reisepaß anerkannt, Fred Meyer, wohnhaft zu Berlin
    Translation: Today Fred Meyer appeared before the undersigned recording official, his identity acknowledged by passport, resident at Berlin


Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
Second part of a 1890s pre-printed death register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: und zeigte an, daß [deceased’s name], [deceased’s age] alt, [religion denomination] Religion, wohnhaft zu [place]
    Example: und zeigte an, daß Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Meyer, ein Jahr und ein Tag alt, katholischer Religion, wohnhaft zu Berlin
    Translation: and reported that Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Meyer, one year and one day old, catholic, resident at Berlin


  • Text: geboren zu [birth place], [son/daughter] de[word ending] [parents’ names] zu [parents’ residence]
    Example: geboren zu Berlin, Sohn des Anzeigenden und seiner Ehefrau Jane geborene Müller zu Berlin
    Translation: born at Berlin, son of the reporting person and his wife Jane née Müller at Berlin


Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register forms [www.lovablehistory.com]
Third part of a 1890s pre-printed death register in Fraktur print.

  • Text: am [day]ten [month] des Jahres tausend acht hundert neunzig [last digit of the year]
    Example: am zweiten November des Jahres tausend acht hundert neunzig zwei
    Translation: on Nov 2nd of the year thousand eight hundred ninety two


  • Text: [time of day]s um [time] Uhr verstorben sei.
    Example: abends um acht Uhr verstorben sei.
    Translation: died at eight in the evening.


  • Text: Vorgelesen, genehmigt und [verb]
    Example: Vorgelesen, genehmigt und unterschrieben
    Translation: Read out, approved and signed


  • Text: Der Standesbeamte [recording official’s signature]

divider [www.lovablehistory.com]

Did you stumble over any civil register forms in old German Fraktur print that contain parts I haven’t described which you aren’t able to read? Let me have a look at them to help you out.

Empty 1890s pre-printed civil register form [www.lovablehistory.com]
The first civil register forms were printed in the old German Fraktur print.
divider [www.lovablehistory.com]

Lovable History - Signature

Filed Under: German Script & Language, German Sources

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laurie says

    24/02/2018 at 06:43

    Your website just keeps getting better. I would love to have a complete blank form instead of all the little boxes that you’ve cut them into, though. It’s surprisingly difficult to find online …

    Reply

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