The Würzburger Adressbücher (Würzburg Address Directories) constitute a source series documenting the history of the city and its population over more than two centuries. Far more than simple lists of residents, they contain alphabetical indexes of inhabitants with information on occupations, trades, places of residence, and business premises. Many editions also include street and house directories, overviews of public authorities, associations, and institutions, as well as commercial and trade advertisements. In addition, numerous volumes feature maps, city plans, advertisements, illustrations, and local historical material. As a result, the directories are invaluable sources not only for the study of individuals and public administration, but also for the economic, social, and urban history of Würzburg.

From a bibliographic perspective, however, the Würzburg address directories are not recorded in the German Union Catalogue of Serials (ZDB) as a single continuing publication. Instead, repeated title changes have resulted in the series being distributed across several separate serial records. The different titles are outlined below.

1806: Vollständiges Adreß-Buch der churfürstlichen Haupt- und Residenzstadt Würzburg

1838–1846; Nachtrag 1848: Umfassendes Adreßbuch für Würzburg

1846 (parallel): Neuestes Adreß-Buch für Würzburg : königl. bayer. Universitäts- und Kreis-Hauptstadt von Unterfranken und Aschaffenburg

1852; 1870–1872: Adreß-Handbuch für die kgl. bayer. Kreis-Haupt- und Universitäts-Stadt Würzburg

1859–1865: Adreßbuch für Würzburg

1868: Adreßbuch für die königlich bayrische Kreishaupt- und Universitäts-Stadt Würzburg 

1876–1896: Adreß- und Geschäfts-Handbuch für die kgl. bayer. Kreis-Haupt- und Universitäts-Stadt Würzburg 

1897–1917: Würzburger Adreßbuch 

1918–1939: Würzburger Wohnungsbuch 

1940–1956: Würzburger Adreßbuch

1957–1961: Adreßbuch der Stadt Würzburg 

1962–1986: Adreßbuch Stadt Würzburg und Umgebung

1987–2002: Amtliches Adreßbuch Stadt Würzburg und Umgebung 

The series begins with the Vollständige Adreß-Buch der churfürstlichen Haupt- und Residenzstadt Würzburg (1806), followed by the Vollständiges Adreß-Buch der Königlichen Kreishauptstadt Würzburg (1829–1835). These were succeeded by Umfassendes Adreßbuch für Würzburg (1838–1846; supplement 1848), Adreß-Handbuch für die kgl. bayer. Kreis-Haupt- und Universitäts-Stadt Würzburg (1852; 1870–1872), Adreßbuch für Würzburg (1859–1865), and Adreßbuch für die königlich bayrische Kreishaupt- und Universitäts-Stadt Würzburg (1868). From 1876 onwards, the city's commercial life became more prominent, a development reflected in the new title Adreß- und Geschäfts-Handbuch für die kgl. bayer. Kreis-Haupt- und Universitäts-Stadt Würzburg (1876–1896). At the end of the nineteenth century, this was replaced by the more concise title Würzburger Adreßbuch (1897–1917; 1940–1956), which also expanded its geographical scope to include communities surrounding Würzburg. During the interwar period, the publication appeared under the title Würzburger Wohnungsbuch (1918–1939), before reverting to Würzburger Adreßbuch in 1940. After the Second World War, the series continued as Adreßbuch der Stadt Würzburg (1957–1961), Adreßbuch Stadt Würzburg und Umgebung (1962–1986), and finally Amtliches Adreßbuch Stadt Würzburg und Umgebung (1987–2002).

Alongside these principal editions, more compact companion publications were introduced, including Wegweiser (1987–1988; 1997–2002; 2004/05–2006/07; 2010/11–2023/2024), Würzburger Wegweiser (1989–1996), and Alles über Würzburg und Umgebung (2004/05–2006/07). The final stage in the series' development was Adressbuch Würzburg und Umgebung mit Wegweiser / Stadt Würzburg, published from the 2008/09 edition until the series was discontinued in 2025.

Despite their numerous title changes, the Würzburg Address Directories therefore constitute a historically continuous source series. Their division into multiple bibliographic records reflects changes in the official publication title over time rather than any interruption in the continuity of the publication itself.