Mecklenburg-Schwerin Emigration and Immigration

Emigration Records

Between 1850 and 1890, Mecklenburg with a population of only 420,000 people had some 148,000 people emigrate, the majority to the United States.  Most of these emigrants were peasants, struggling in poverty, looking for opportunities for a better life.

Most Mecklenburg emigrants left through the port of Hamburg.  The port of Hamburg maintained records of departures starting in 1850.  These departure records are called the Hamburg passenger lists.  The records of Hamburg have been microfilmed and are available in the collection of the Family History Library. 

Emigrants were required to request permission from the government to leave.  There are some emigration records available at the following address:

Staatsarchiv Schwerin

Graf-Schack-Allee 2

19053 Schwerin

Germany