Familienname Änderung aufgrund der Erklärung von Vertriebenen, Spätaussiedlern, deren Ehegatten und Abkömmlinge

Names do not change as a result of admission to the federal territory and the acquisition of German citizenship. Each person continues to use their name in the form in which they received it under their original home country law.

However, the spelling of names acquired under foreign law can be adapted to German naming law. Parts of names that are not recognized by German law can be deleted, e.g. patronymics.

Which names can be changed?

• Parts of names that are not recognized by German law
  • Parts of names that are not recognized by German law can be dropped.
  • Example: Russian patronymics, Filipino middle names, Indian name affixes

• Original form of a name
  • A family name is often modified according to gender or relationship. In this case, the original form of the name can be assumed.
  • Example: Bergerova in Berger

• German form of the first name
  • The German-language form of the first name can be adopted. If there is no such form of the first name, new (other) first names can be chosen.
  • Examples: Piotr to Peter, Stjepan to Stefan

• German-language form of the family name
  • The German-language form of the surname can be adopted. It is not possible to choose a new surname.
  • Example: Miller in Müller, German in Hermann

• Choice of a new married name
  • If the spouses have chosen the name of one spouse as their married name in the country of origin, they can choose the name of the other spouse as their married name by means of a joint declaration.

• Proper names/chains of names
  • If a person has several proper names that are not differentiated by first name and surname, these must be used to determine first names and surnames. If only one proper name is used, this can be declared as a forename or surname, in which case the missing name must be determined.
  • Example: Omar Yussuf Mohammed (proper names) in Omar Yussuf (first names) and Mohammed (family name)

• Birth certificate and, if applicable, marriage certificate
• Translation of foreign-language documents
  • Certificates in Russian must be translated in accordance with ISO standard R 9

• Identity card or passport or proof of identity from the migration office
• Proof of admission as a displaced person or late repatriate or the certificate of naturalisation

• late repatriate or expellee status or German citizenship through naturalization
• no name change may have been made yet
• Each person is entitled to declare their own name; in the case of a declaration of a married name during an existing marriage, only a joint declaration is possible.

The relevant declarations must be made in person at the registry office.

An appointment is required for this.

An appointment can be requested at the registry office using the form "Name change alignment".

You can call in an interpreter at your own expense.