Todesdatum

Todesdatum is the date on which a person is known to have died. In German-language biographical, genealogical, and historical sources, it is a standard biographical datum alongside Geburtsdatum (birth date) and, when relevant, Todesort (place of death). In archival practice, the Todesdatum may be exact or approximate, with annotations such as ca. 1789 (circa) or um 1800, or the term Todesjahr used when only the year is known.

Dates are typically recorded in the common German formats, for example 12. März 1843 or 12.03.1843. In older records or non-German contexts, variations can occur, and some archives may use Latin or vernacular forms. When the exact date is unknown, researchers may rely on a Todesjahr or a date range inferred from related documents, such as parish registers, obituaries, wills, or probate records.

The Todesdatum is essential for constructing accurate genealogies, lifespans, and historical timelines. Its precision affects demographic analyses, generation intervals, and the interpretation of contemporary sources. Because dates can be uncertain or disputed, corroboration from multiple sources—civil registers (Standesamt), church books (Kirchenbücher), gravestones, and archival notes—is common in scholarly work.

Related terms include Geburtsdatum (birth date), Sterbedatum (another widely used term for date of death), and Todestag (the day of death). See also archival records and the study of genealogical methods for further context.