Change surnames of expellees, late repatriates, their spouses or descendants

As a displaced person or late repatriate, you, your spouse or your descendants can discard components of your previous name if these are not customary in Germany. You can also adopt the original form of a modified name. This applies to names that have been modified according to gender or relationship.

Furthermore, you can also adopt German-language forms of your first or family name. If such German-language forms do not exist, you can also adopt new given names.

If you are married, you can also determine a common family name or adopt your family name in a German translation.

You can submit the declaration on the use of the name to the Federal Office of Administration in the distribution procedure or at any German registry office. For the procedure at the Federal Office of Administration, please contact this office.

If the declaration is made in connection with the birth of a child, the registry office that keeps the child's birth register is responsible.

If the declaration is made in connection with a declaration on the naming of spouses, the registry office that keeps the marriage register is responsible for checking and validly receiving it. If this does not result in jurisdiction, the registry office in whose jurisdiction the declarant has or last had his or her residence or habitual abode is responsible for checking and validly receiving the declaration.

• Acquisition of the name under German law. Your name or parts of your name are unknown under German law
• Displaced persons or ethnic German repatriates or a spouse or descendant

• Identity card or passport
• Birth certificate with official translation
• Registration certificate
• if available:
  • Spätaussiedler certificate
  • Expellees' identity card

It is possible that further documents are required in your specific case. To find out about this, it is best to call your registry office beforehand.

The declaration on the name change is free of charge. Fees may apply for the certificate of name change.

You may have an interpreter present at your expense.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content per DeepL.

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs

30.08.2022