Online grave search: find a grave at Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg
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Find a deceased person: prepare names and life dates
Start with the name of the person you are looking for. If you are unsure, keep a birth name or another spelling ready. A known year of birth or death can help distinguish people with similar names. You do not need to guess missing dates.
Check existing documents for a reference to Ohlsdorf Cemetery. A person may have been buried somewhere other than their former place of residence. If a section, row or grave number is already recorded, keep that reference exactly as supplied. Enter the details you have in the search form. If no matching record is available, also try another spelling of the name.
Across 389 hectares, a name alone is rarely enough for a search on site. A useful location reference ideally includes the grid square, grave number and a nearby landmark. One grid square measures approximately 50 × 50 metres.
Request a grave search: help finding a grave
Would you like help with the research, or do you not know the exact grave location? Use Request a grave search to contact GraveStay. Keep names, known life dates and any existing grave information ready.
Find a grave using its grave number
Use the grid square, grave number and a nearby landmark together. A grid square is approximately 50 × 50 metres, so the square alone is not a precise grave position. Open the cemetery map and choose a suitable entrance or bus stop.
Save the location reference and PDF map on your device before visiting. The western and eastern sections are several kilometres apart. The interactive orientation map does not replace a complete burial register.
Selected graves at Ohlsdorf Cemetery
Notable graves presents a curated selection of people and grave sites. It is not a list of everyone buried here; a missing entry does not rule out a burial at this cemetery.
Grave search and grave finders: common questions
Can I search without knowing the year of death?
Yes. A last name is enough. First name and year of death are optional. If you know other details, you can add them to help distinguish people with similar names.
What does a missing result in a grave finder mean?
A missing result does not mean that the grave does not exist. Check the spelling and try again with fewer additional details. If you still cannot find the grave, you can request a grave search from GraveStay.
Is online grave search free?
Using the search form does not create a payment or an order. If you would then like GraveStay to carry out research, discuss the scope and cost before commissioning it.
What helps if I do not know the grave number?
Note names, known spelling variants and life dates. Existing family documents may indicate the cemetery, approximate burial period or relatives buried together. Specify Ohlsdorf Cemetery when making an enquiry.
Does the directory include every grave and deceased person?
No. Notable graves contains selected biographies, and the orientation map does not show a complete list of grave locations. A missing search result also does not rule out a burial at this cemetery.
Which details from an existing Hamburg cemetery record are useful?
The Hamburg Cemeteries electronic search describes records for around 400,000 deceased people across Ohlsdorf, Öjendorf, Volksdorf and Wohldorf. This is the operator’s coverage, not the search coverage of this portal. Check which cemetery the result identifies and copy the grid square, grave number and nearest chapel in full.
Can historical archive enquiries carry a charge?
Historical or time-consuming archive enquiries to the cemetery administration may carry a fee. Discuss such research with the responsible office in advance.
How long does a GraveStay search take?
The regular processing time is 20 to 30 days. Express handling is available for an additional charge. No fixed express deadline is promised.
How do the order, payment and search result work?
You provide at least the name as it appears on the memorial, together with all available location clues. Payment is made in full before GraveStay begins the search at Ohlsdorf Cemetery. After a successful search, you receive photographs and precise geographic coordinates. Keep the grave reference as well to help locate the grave on later visits.
When is the payment refunded?
If it is certain that the grave is in the stated cemetery but GraveStay is nevertheless unable to find it, the payment is refunded. No refund is made in other cases.