“Family Names of Jews” issued by the Prussian Government [Prussia / Present-day Germany, Poland, Denmark, Czech Republic]: “According to the edict of March 11, 1812, all Jews are required to pick and keep Family names and to make them publicly know. They are also required to maintain all legal and trade documents in either the German or any other living language and to only make use of the German or Latin alphabet. In addition, the following is to be made official to people of Jewish faiths: 2) The decision to grant citizenship is left to the local authorities. All Jews are to report to their local police authorities where they reside legally as of March 24, 1812. Those who are not present in their place of residency are allowed to report to the nearest police station which is required to send the report to the police station where he is resident. This is to be done quickly, so that the protocol reaches the local authorities by September 24 of the same year. 3) Registration has to commence immediately and be finished by September 24, 1812. It’s the duty of each head of a family to report to their local station without being prompted in that time. Those who fail to do so, are assumed to have abdicated their rights for citizenship. 5) Jew are allowed to chose their own family names; however, the government reservers the right to turn down a name a request that another be chosen instead. Only heads of families [as defined earlier] are allowed to chose family names; all other family members have to accept and carry that name from now on. 6) This register determines which Jews are considered a citizen – namely: a) if they have proven their residency according to the outlines of the edict and if there were no objections. b) if they have registered with the local police authorities. c) if they have taken on a permanent family name within the 6 months – as dictated by edict. d) if they are not known for using a language other than German or other living language to maintain their legal documents or for using another alphabet other than German or Latin. 8) Each autonomous Jew is required to produce a credible certificate proving their citizenship when requested. 9) In order to ensure proof of residency, all Jews who consider themselves to be legal Prussian citizens, are required to report birth, wedding, divorces and deaths to the local authorities – within 24 hours in cities and 3 days in rural areas.”
Heinemann, Jeremias.: Sammlung der die religiösen und bürgerliche Verfassung der Juden in den königl. Preuß Staaten betreffend den Gesetze, Vervordnungen, Gutaschten, Berichte und Erkenntinisse. 1831, p. 16-22, Researched and Translated by Ziba Shadjaani 11/29/2015
Heinemann, Jeremias.: Sammlung der die religiösen und bürgerliche Verfassung der Juden in den königl. Preuß Staaten betreffend den Gesetze, Vervordnungen, Gutaschten, Berichte und Erkenntinisse. 1831, p. 16-22, Researched and Translated by Ziba Shadjaani 11/29/2015