MyHeritage Adds Two Record Collections from Hesse, Germany

Two significant historical record collections from Germany have been added to MyHeritage: the Hesse Birth Index (1874–1911) and the Hesse Marriage Index (1849–1931). These collections contain 8.5 million historical records.

Located in the center of Germany and at the crossroads of Europe, the state of Hesse, which includes the city of Frankfurt, has historically been among the most densely populated and economically strong regions in Germany.

Starting in 1874, the state mandated that new local civil registry offices be responsible for creating civil registers of birth, marriage, and death records in the former Prussian provinces, among them many communities in Hesse.

The Hesse Birth Index and the Hesse Marriage Index are important resources for German genealogical research centered around the state of Hesse, as they contain information relating to around 98% of the population of the region during the late 19th to early 20th century, including names, dates, and places of birth, marriage, and death.

Germany, Hesse Birth Index 1874–1911

This collection includes 3.78 million birth records from several communities within the area now known as Hesse, Germany. The records include the child’s given name, date of birth, and sex. They may also include information about the mother, such as her given name, maiden name, last name, address, spouse, and an informant — who was often the father of the child or a midwife.

As an example, the collection contains the birth record of Heinrich Werlé, a music and choral professor at the Pädagogisches Institut of Leipzig University. Werlé is famous for developing a method of teaching music based on our innate capacity to learn music at a developmental pace. This birth record reveals that Heinrich’s full name was Heinrich Peter Jakob Werlé, he was born on May 2, 1887, and he lived in the Bensheim area of Hesse, Germany. It also lists his parents’ names: his mother was Anna Maria Blum, and his father’s name was also Heinrich Werlé.

Birth record of Heinrich Werlé from the Germany, Hesse Birth Index, 1874–1911

Search the Germany, Hesse Birth Index, 1874–1911

Germany, Hesse Marriage Index: 1849–1931

The 4.77 million marriage records in the Hesse Marriage Index may include the bride or groom’s given name and surname, age or birthdate, birthplace, residence, occupation, marriage date, and information about their parents.

The collection includes the marriage record of the famous German silent film actor, Wilhelm Diegelmann, to Marie Franziska Auguste Karoline Baldenecker.

Picture of Wilhelm Diegelmann from the German film, “Lebenden Leichnam.”

Wilhelm appeared in over 100 silent films from the years 1915 to 1934. He was cast in a variety of roles, including a farmer, a physician, and even a mayor.

In addition to details about their wedding, which took place on January 3, 1885 in Bockenheim, Hesse, Germany, the marriage record lists where and when Wilhelm and Marie were born, as well as the full names of their parents.

Marriage record of Wilhelm Diegelmann and Marie Franziska Auguste Karoline Baldenecker from the Germany, Hesse Marriage Index, 1849–1931

Search the Germany, Hesse Marriage Index: 1849–1931

Summary

The addition of these exciting collections to MyHeritage SuperSearch™ is the product of many months of hard work to index the records and make them searchable. There are now more than 166 million German historical records from 58 collections on MyHeritage.

Searching the Hesse Birth and Marriage Indexes is free. Our Record Matching technology will automatically find relevant historical records revealing new information about any ancestors who appear in these records. A Data or Complete subscription is required to view the full records, save them to your family tree, and fully access Record Matches.

Enjoy searching, and let us know what treasures you discover!