DANISH RESEARCH OUTLINE
by Aurelia Clemons
LANGUAGE:
1. Alphabet - A-Z, Æ Ø Å
C = CH = K = Q
I = J = Y
V = W
2. Handwriting - German Script (see pg. 71 "Early Handwriting in America")
3. Grammar - Irregular Verbs change form like our (is, are, was, were)
en et - before a word = a (house)
attached to end of a word = the (house)
Singular to plural - change (barn to børn) like (child to children)
4. WORD LIST - gives the most commonly used words.
EXAMPLE: baptism: Døbte
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NAMES:
1. Surnames - Patronymic (fathers name + .sen sdatter )
Added Surnames:
Occupations; Descriptive names; Locations - farm, village, etc. (usually the place of birth)
note: wife retains her surname throughout her lifetime, usually.
2. Given names - 25 commonly used, change from area to area.
GENERALLY - SONS: 1- his father 2- her father
DAUS: 1- her mother 2- his mother (or the reverse order)
1st child after a deceased spouse - named after the deceased.
Be aware that there are often more than 1 living child with same name.
3. Fixed Surname - nobility, upper-class, clergy used these earlier.
DENMARK: 1828 and by 1856 all must use fixed surnames.
4. Illegitimate children - No set rule. Often taken patronymic name if father's name is known. Some take a surname when marry or leave home, source unknown.
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GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH:
1. Prayer - which line to work on
2. Always work from the known to the unknown.
3. Don't be hesitant about asking for help - WE ALL NEED HELP.
4. Collect stories & information from:
Relatives - Ancestral File (careful) - Old Records - IGI (careful) - Submitters - Church Records Historical Societies - Genealogies
5. Document Research & Analyze at each step.
6. Plan - "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail".
7. Keep good records of research to avoid duplication.
8. Never loan your original research records. Make copies to loan out.
9. Pray often and follow the spirit.
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CROSSING THE OCEAN:
1. LDS:
Ward Records in USA - Temple Records - Crossing the Plains - Crossing the Ocean - Emigration
from Liverpool - Emigration from the Scandinavian Mission - Scandinavian LDS Branch Records
2. NON-LDS:
Church Records in USA (probably Lutheran) - Application for Naturalization - Death Certificate - Obituary (in newspaper) - Family Records - small book brought with Ancestor - US Census (1900 on lists year immigrated to USA) - Emigration from you ancestors homeland or Hamburg - Immigration through known or suspected port of entry in USA
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LOCATE PARISH
1. Postal Book - ties farm, village etc. to a parish
2. Map (parish boundary)
3. Guidebook & Atlas of Denmark
Note: birth place may be name of house, farm, village, general area, or largest town in vicinity or the whole country.
ALSO: many places have same name but are located in different parish or areas of the country.
4. Make a research binder for the area containing: Map, parish film #'s, etc.
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CIVIL REGISTRATION:
DENMARK (Tonder, Haderslev, Aabenra & Sonderborg) 1863-on
Marriages in Copenhagen 1851-on
Death Certificates in Larger cities 1857-1932 (upper class)
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RESEARCH: Four Major Sources:
1. Church Records - Lutheran Church
2. Census (1787-1926)
3. Probates
4. Military Levying Rolls (Denmark - 1789 on)
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CHURCH RECORDS: (earliest known 1573)
1. * Christening - in date order - Godparents are important.(Intro)
2. Confirmation (age 14-20) - pass catechism & leave home.(Vacc.)
3. = Marriages - Sponsors important (closest male relative of each listed) (Engagement)
4. Arrival/Removal - usually start in mid 1800's.
5. + Burial
6. General Index (if kept right are great) - be sure to check it out.
RESEARCH TECHNIQUES:
Witness charts - helps identify relatives
Start with ancestor's birth to find his/her parents names.
Search forward & backward to pick up bros./sis. - children of same parents.
Locate marriage of parents about. time of 1st child.
Locate death after last child.
"Marry or Bury" all children - Confirmation at age 14+ is a good step.
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CENSUS: (filed under County/Amt)
DENMARK: 1771 islands, 1787, 1801, 1834, 1840, 1845, 1850, 1855, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1901, 1906, 1911, 1916, 1921, 1926 etc.
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MILITARY LEVYING ROLLS: (Males only) - (1789-on ) by Amt, Laegd #
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PROBATE:
Usually indexed by 1st name, only hard to determine which jurisdiction is might be under.
LAW:
Must probate if there are minor children when either parent dies;
Guardian/guardians set up for minor children (his/her relatives);
Inventory of the estate taken;
Surviving spouse gets ½ of estate - children split other ½.;
Sons receive twice the amount of the daughters
DENMARK:
Must probate before can re-marry;
All heirs & guardians must be present & sign probate;
Those living at a distance have varying time to present themselves;
Pregnant widow - can postpone probate until child born;
USKIFT BO: permission not to distribute estate to heirs until surviving spouse (1) remarries, (2) dies, or (3) requests distribution
THE FOUR MAJOR SOURCES
PARISH REGISTERS (1573 some, most 1646 on)
Fødte og Døbte - Births & Christenings (*) (Godparents are usually relatives)
Konfirmerede - Confirmations (age 14-20) - passed Catechism & leave home.
Trolovede og Copulerede - Engagements & Marriages (~)(Sponsor - closest male relative)
Til og Afgangslister - Incoming & Outgoing lists (mid 1800's on)
Døde og Begravede - Deaths & Burials (+)
Vaccinerede - Vaccinations (usually included on Konfirmation record)
Absolverede - Absolutions
Communionsbog - Communion book
Introducerede - Introductions (often in with Christenings)
Liberdaticus - Miscellaneous remarks
Register - Register (Index to book)
CENSUS RETURNS (Amt, Herred, then alph. by SOGN (parish))
1787, 1801 - How often each person has been married, ages, names, relationships, occupation, remarks
1834, 1840 - Do not list how often married
1845, 1850, 1855, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 - list birthplace
1901 - Include complete date of birth, how many children couple has had
1906, 1911 -
MILITARY LEVYING ROLLS (1789 - ) - by Amt, Laegd #
1789 - 1849 Males from birth to abt 44
1849 - 1869 Males age 14 to abt 44
1869 on Males age 17 to abt 44
PROBATE RECORDS (1574, 1683 - ), Usually indexed at end
Copenhagen City pre 1771 - 13 courts (see Research Paper Series D, #9, p. 3)
1771-on - 1 Court with 9 classes (General Index 1798 on)
Other Cities 1400 - 1919 (usually one court)
Rural Areas
Amter & Amtstuer (County) - pre 1793 - FARM OWNERS & PEOPLE OF MEANS
Rytterdistrikter (Cavalry ) - Farmers who leased farms on land owned by cavalry (INDEX filmed except for Copenhagen & Lolland-Falster not included)
Godser (Land estate) - most farmers leased under this prior to 1793
Herreder (District) - AFTER 1793, MOST people found here.
Herreds Provsti (deanery) - pre 1806, clergy, teachers & those working for them
Birker - functions like herreder, use when none listed for herred.
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Skifteprotokollerne (Administration of Estates)
Overformynderi protokollerne (Guardian Supervision Records) 1619 -
Testamenter (Wills) - few, hard to locate, unindexed, not as informative
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AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS (On film at FHL)
Parish Registers - beginning of records to abt 1925
Census - all
Military Levying Rolls - 1789 to 1893
Probate Records - beginning of records to 1913
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS IN DENMARK
LAND RECORDS: Prior to 1500 most peasants held their own land free & clear. After 1500
leasing (tenancy) was common on the fertile islands (Not on lean soil of Jutland).
FAESTEPROTOKOLLER: (copyhold record) - 1500-present, new lessee (often the son)
FAESTEBREV: (deed of tenure) - 17th century (1719 in book). Done by the squires,
institutions,etc. that leased the land. Often give relationships of land passed from father to
son/son-in-law.
JORDEBØGER: (court rolls, land records) - Can figure out succession of ownership. Contains
list of: 1. Lands 2. Present Holder 3. Amount & Taxes paid.
SKØDE & PANTEBOGER: (Deed & Mortgage Record) - 1738-on, deeds & transfers of private
ownership.Give name, date, description of land, relationships and mortgage.
SKATTE HOVEDBOGER: (Tax ledgers) - like Jordeboger (land records) gives misc. land
records.
TAX RECORDS: Can trace ancestors in 16th & 17th Century with these. The Districts often
changed but the towns stayed the same. These are state & local taxes so are not levied on the
whole population.
HOVEDBØGER: (ledger of taxes collected on real estate) - of minor interest.
KOPSKATTER: (capitation tax) - levied on all. In rural areas it is often hard to find the treasury where the taxes were paid.
1. pre 1660 - divided into FIEF/LEN, headed by nobleman (Fief Accounts)
2. 1660-on - by Amter, headed by Amtmand (perfect appointed by king)
AMTSFORVALTER (district revenue officer) - collected the taxes
1660-1848 - boundaries changed often. see "J.Bloch: Stiftamtmaend og Amtmaend i Kongeriget Danmark & Island 1660-1848,1895"
3. 1670-1770 - Rytter District taxes -- collected by Regimentsskriver.
SKATTEMANDTAL: (census papers) - lists people & occupation. Can follow them until they
are removed or died. Usually find son or father, etc.
2 SPECIAL TAX ACCOUNTS:
1. 1762-1812 - 1 rixdollar on all over age of 12. Acts like census, plus
list of arrivals and removals.
2. 1761-92 - Tax on bridal pairs before they were married. Supplements
the marriage register. NOT PAID by the agricultural population. PAID by others residing in the
country or towns. INFORMATION: names of bride & groom, parents, occupations and
addresses.
COURT RECORDS:
Jurisdictions:
SUPREME COURT, COPENHAGEN: 1660-on, used only in exceptional cases.
UNDERRETTER: (Ordinary Lower Court) - by Herred.
1. THINGSTEAD (People law) - before 1660.
2. HERREDSFOGDEN: (Kings representative) - after 1660
3. BIRKER by BIRKEDOMMER (district judge) - smaller district, found on estates.
4. BYFOGED (judge) - provincial towns with independent jurists.
5. STRADSRETTEN (City Court) - 1771-on, Copenhagen
OVERRETTER or LANDSRETTER: (High Court) - Learn if suit brought against people or for them. Before 1805 there were several LANDSTING, after 1805:
1. Viborg for Jutland
2. Copenhagen for the Islands east of the L.Belt
Type of Records:
Lawsuits & Trials: do not find peaceful people here.
1. TINGBØGER: before 1700. Has no index.
2. JUSTITSPROTOKOLLER & POLITEPROTOKOLLER: 1700-on.
3. DOMBØGER:
BØRNEBOGEN:(Book of Heirs - minors) - 1600-on, 1683 law - (Skiftebrev - inventory & proceedings) having to do with probates & supervised by:
1. Perfect - before 1793, administrator for the independent farmers.
2. Squire - 1793-1817 for his tenants.
3. Owner of Estate - some to 1850
4. Special Administrators - before 1805/6 for the clergy & soldiers.
5. Herred - took over after all of the above.
SKIFTEPROTOKOLLER: probate records & special register of deaths.
1. BOPAKKE: (bundle of related documents) - birth & marriage certificates, etc. Had these for
the more extensive administrative cases.
SKØDE: (deeds) - Register of sale & mortgage of real estate. End of 16th century on, found in Land Registers.
1. SKØDE & PANTEPROTOKOLLER: separate book of deeds and mortgages.
2. REALREGISTER: (abstract of deed & Mortgage) - can follow succession of property owners.
3. TINGBOGER: (deeds & mortgages) - 1927-on, replaced the above 2 records.
TESTEMENTER: (wills) - only small percent of population made them, they are hard to locate, and seldom indexed. They are usually found in :
1. NOTARIAL PROTOKOLLERNE: (notarial registers)
2. COURT PROCEDURES
3. PASSPORT RECORDS
4. PENSION FUNDS
5. SKIFTEPROTOKOLLER Records (wills intestate) - where probates of main population are.
6. ETC. - who knows where they could show up.
NOTE: Up to 1919 - one person (Judge & police) supervised the removal of servants from 1 parish to another & issued passports. From 1919 on, see the archived of Chief Constables.
DANISH PARISH REGISTER HEADINGS AFTER 1812
FØDTE MANDKIØN-QVINDEKIØN (Births male/female)
No.| Date of birth | Name of child | Date of Chr. in home/church | Parents names, occupation, age of mother | Witnesses names, status & residence | Where recorded in index| Remarks
CONFIRMEREDE DRENGE/PIGER (Confirmation boys/girls)
No.| Name & residence | Parents , household head or foster parents |date of birth/Chr. & place| Evaluation of religious knowledge & behavior | When & by whom vaccinated | Where in index
COPULEREDE (VIEDE) (Marriages)
No. | Name of groom, age, occupation & residence | Name of bride, age, occupation & residence | Names of bondsmen & residence | Date of Marriage | Remarks
DØDE MANDKIØN-QVINDEKIØN (Deaths Males/Females)
No. | Date of Death | Date of Burial | Deceased's name | Status, occupation & residence |Age | Remark
TILGANGSLISTE (Moving in)
No. | Name | Age | Occupation | From where arrived | Where in index | Remarks
AFGANGSLISTE (Moving out)
No.| Name | Age | Occupation | Place of destination | Where in index | Remarks
HEADINGS FOR MILITARY LEVY ROLL (LAEGDSRULLE) (Laegd No. 39)
Afsked - leave, dismissal, discharge
Afskibe - ship, embark
Afskedbegaering - request for discharge
Afskedige - dismiss, discharge
Afskedigelse - dismissal
Afskediget - retired
Amtsforvalter - county administrator
Befarethed -able to serve, able bodied seaman
Betale - pay (buying a son off military roll)
Betalt - paid
Gl. Løbe No. - old serial number
Godsejer - estate owner (landlord)
Herredsfoged - district commissioner
Huslig stilling- is he married?status at home
Himme/Hjemme - at home
Født - born
Død - dead
Haer - Army
Højde - height
Indkaldet - called to serve in a war
La. landsoldat - land soldier
Laegd - Levying administrative unit
Laegdsruller - Military Levying lists
Løbe Nr. - serial number
Milits - Militia (home guard) or military establishment
Res. - Reserve
Sess. - Session
Søpatent - licensed as a seaman (needs license to perform certain duties)
Søruller - Naval Levying Roll.
Sø Ungdomsruller - Roll of young men
Sø Hovedliste - Active Roll which lists the names of men who are of age to serve in the Navy.
Sø Extrafulle - The Extra or Reserve Roll
CENSUS HEADINGS
1787 & 1801
Folketallet i Sogn under Amt, saaledes som det befandtes at vaere den (date of
census), tillegemed Forklaring om enhver Persons Stand, Embede og Naerings-Vei, med videre
Census in Parish under County as they were found on the (date of Census), together with explaining or accounting every person class, office and trade, etc.
1834-1850
paa Folketallet m.v., i Sogn under Herred (eller Birk) i Amt, den (date of census)
Of Census etc in Parish under District (or judicial district) in County the (date of Census)
1834
Town or place | Persons full name | Age | Married/unmarried/widowed | Title, occupation, relationships
1840
Town or place | No. of family | Persons full name | Age | Married/unmarried/widowed | Title, occupation, relationships
1845 & 1850
Town or place | No. of family | Persons full name | Age | Married/unmarried/widowed | Birthplace | Title, occupation, relationships
1855 &160
OPTEGNELSE paa Foletallett m.v. Skoledistrikt Sogn, Herred,
Amt den (date)
Record of the Census etc, School district, Parish, District,
Country then (date)
Town or place | Family No.| Full name | Age | Married/unmarried/widowed/divorced | Birthplace | Title, occupation, relationships | Religion
1870
Town or Place | Name | Sex | Age | Matrimonial status | Religion | Birthplace | Occupation & Relationships | Remarks |
TRICKS OF THE TRADE:
If you know the village/farm/house name - look for it first in left column
Looking for ages may be easier than trying to read all the names.
END OF OUTLINE Please send search requests to really