What are the names of German States over time?

Question

I'm going to be entering much material from my German ancestors.  Is there a a table, or list of what current german states were called in the past so I can enter the correct locations for the times?

Comments

Dave:

States and territories changed so much and so often that a list alone would not help. Plus the numbers are overwhelming (in the 18th century the Holy Roman Empire consisted of over 1,800 territories and states). The best approach in my opinion is still to start with the town and work backwards through the history. For many places the German Wikipedia is a good staring point (much more detail in the history sections).

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It's possible that there is a list of what current German states were called in the past, but I am not aware of it. 

Answer 1

You could do a search for    German states over the centuries

Then click on images. You will see lots of maps of Germany in different eras.

Comments

So does that mean you don't know of a list or table which would have the information?  I didn't have much hope, but I'm joining the German_Roots project, so perhaps I'll find something there which will help.  Otherwise, I'll just have to use WelchemStatt, Germany and change when I figure out what it should be.

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@Dave Dardinger;  That is not a fair question in this respect.  Unlike the USA, the sovereign territories and boundaries of Germany continuously changed throughout a very long and complicated history.  Dynasties died out, marriages took place between royals, conquests extinguished mini- or larger-states, and even churches and cathederals had rights.  It's much more complicated than you are used to dealing with, so I would take Helmut's advice, and Frank's too, if I were you.  I live in a town in Germany of about 8600 people, and at one point in time parts of it belonged to 4 different "nations",  all within 20 minutes' walking distance of each other.  Not simple, of course, but Germany was never a simple land at all.

Answer 2

Take a look at this information:

A) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_historic_states_of_Germany

B) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Germany