Hessen genealogy relates to the study of family history in the modern-day state of Hesse (Hessen in German), located in west-central Germany. People from Hesse are commonly referred to as Hessians. The capital of Hesse is Wiesbaden. The major airport hub in Frankfurt am Main, one of the world's largest, belongs to the state of Hesse. Hesse is bordered by the German states of Lower Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria, Rheinland-Pfalz, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The state is known today as an economic powerhouse, focusing on new technologies and financial services, with its central location in Europe and robust transportation infrastructure.[1]
MyHeritage has searchable birth records (1874-1911), marriage records (1849-1931), and death records (1848-1990) for communities that are part of today's state of Hesse.
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History of Hesse
Hessians are believed to be descended of a specific Frankish tribe known as the Chatti, who were Christianized by St. Boniface in the 8th century.[2]
The political leadership of Hesse embraced Lutheranism in the 16th century, leading to a strong Protestant presence in the following centuries. Parts of Hesse returned to its Catholic roots, such as around Fulda, Mainz, and Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg.[3]
The region was significantly impacted by the Hessian War (Hessenkrieg), which lasted from the late 1500s to 1648, including as part of the Thirty Years War. The root of this conflict was a dispute over inheritance following the death of Philip I, the last landgrave of all Hesse, in 1567.[4]
Hessians are known for their role in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) with the British hiring more than 30,000 German troops, mostly from Hesse-Cassel, to fight on their behalf.[5] Thousands of Hessians decided to remain in America after the conflict, resulting in a significant emigration.[5]
Historical territories like Hesse-Kassel, Hesse-Nassau, and Hesse-Darmstadt largely fall in the modern-day state of Hesse. Some former Hessen territory became part of the newly-created state of Rheinland-Pfalz after World War II.
Geography of Hesse
Hesse is made up of hills and upland forests, nestled between the Upper Rhine (Oberrhein) and Thuringian Forest.[6] Wheat and potatoes are common agricultural crops.
The Rhine and Main rivers are surrounded by a bustling of industrial activity, including Frankfurt am Main, Mainz, and Wiesbaden.[6] The Lahn, Eder, and Fulda rivers also flow in the state of Hesse.
Hesse's forests, resorts, and mineral springs are frequent tourist destinations, including the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park near Kassel.[7] The state is also home to castles and palaces in between its wooded areas.[8]
Administrative districts
Hesse divides up into three administrative provinces (Regierungsbezirke):
- Darmstadt
- Kassel
- Gießen
It breaks down further into 21 districts (Kreise) and five independent cities. From largest to smallest, the cities are:
- Frankfurt am Main
- Wiesbaden
- Kassel
- Darmstadt
- Offenbach am Main
Meyers Gazetteer provides administrative information for each town or village. Look for provinces with "Hess", and take note of the Kreis (Kr), BKdo (District Military Command), and StdA (Standesamt), which can be used to find records (military and civil). The Ecclesiastical tab lists the Catholic and Protestant Parish, if known.
Hessen surnames
Notable people from Hesse
Well-known people who come from Hesse include:
- Otto Frank, businessman and father of Anne Frank
- Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm, children's books author, librarian, anthropologist
- Wilhelm Karl Grimm, children's books author, librarian, university teacher
- Otto Hahn, chemist, nuclear physicist, radioactivity pioneer
- Martin Lawrence, actor, comedian, film director
- Henri Nestlé, entrepreneuer, pharmacist, chemist
- Adam Opel, inventor, machinist, automobile company founder
- Paul Reuter, entrepreneuer, news agency founder
- Sebastian Vettel, auto racing driver
- Hans Zimmer, musician, film score composer
Types of records
These collections contain millions of births, marriages, and deaths for the state of Hesse, including civil registration records for the relevant years:
- Germany, Hesse Birth Index, 1874-1911 on MyHeritage
- Germany, Hesse Marriage Index, 1849-1931 on MyHeritage
- Germany, Hesse, Deaths, 1848-1990 on MyHeritage
For records dating back to the 1500s, check the general German collections of births, marriages, and deaths, which also contain Hessen families.
Evangelical Church records from the central archives for Hesse und Nassau (south) and Kurhessen-Waldeck (north) are available at Archion.de.
Roman Catholic Church records for more than 100 parishes in Hesse's diocese of Fulda are digitized at Matricula Online.
Emigration records for Hessens are searchable online through the Hessian Regional History Information System. Searches can be conducted by surname or location, and the results may include a link to digital images if available.
Explore more about Hessen genealogy
- Researching a Hessian Soldier by Craig Scott on Legacy Family Tree Webinars
- Ask The Expert – German Records by Daniel Horowitz on MyHeritage
- A la Karte: Borders, Maps and Gazetteers for German Genealogists by Legacy Family Tree Webinars
- Researching German Ancestors on MyHeritage by James Beidler on MyHeritage
- German Surnames: Where They Come From and What They Mean on MyHeritage Blog
References
- ↑ State of Hesse. https://www.wiesbaden.de/en/living-in-wiesbaden/state-of-hesse/index.php
- ↑ Hesse summary. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/summary/Hessen
- ↑ Hesse, Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07298c.htm
- ↑ Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel. European Royal History. https://europeanroyalhistory.wordpress.com/tag/landgrave-of-hesse-cassel/
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hessians. George Washington's Mount Vernon. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/hessians
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hesse. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/place/Hessen
- ↑ Kellerwald-Edersee National Park. Hessen, The Land And Its People. https://www.hessen-tourismus.de/en/das-ist-hessen/the-land-and-its-people/kellerwald-edersee-national-park/
- ↑ Strong cities: Hessen's diverse cultural landscape. Entdecke Deutschalnd. https://entdecke-deutschland.de/en/bundeslaender/hessen/strong-cities-hessen-multiple-cultural-landscape/