These records
were done by the parish priests according to a 1686 church law, effective from 1688. General
description here >> (under Facts)
Below are short descriptions of each source. Follow links to specific
guides for each item
| Book / Document |
Description |
| bok ...
längd |
bok = book. längd =
list or registry. These two words may be used
interchangeably and there is no real difference. The
layout of both is the same.
A group name for the church books is "ministerialböcker"
= ministerial books referring to the minister (priest |
| Ministerialbok |
Term created in the 19th century as a
collective term for
födelse- och dopbok, lysnings- och vigselbok
and död- och begravningsbok. The later konfirmationsbok
was included in this group as well. |
| Födelse- och Dopbok |
BIRTH (and baptizm) BOOK
Other names:
Födelsebok, Födelselängd, Dopbok, Doplängd. (Födelse = birth,
Dop = christening). Combined books
are called Födelse- och Dopbok which is
most common, except in very large parishes.
Records: Births and / or
christenings
A birth record usually states: Date of birth (and/or
christening), Given name, Name of parents, residence,
witnesses/god-parents, sometimes age of mother (and father)
Find it: Archives or filmed copies - see Sources
Example (Rötter) |
| Vigselbok |
MARRIAGE (and Banns) BOOK
Other names:
Vigsellängd, lysnings- och vigselbok, lysnings- och
vigsellängd. (Lysning
= banns, Vigsel = marriage).
Records: Marriages, in periods also
banns
A marriage record usually contains:
Date of marriage,
Names, titles and residence of both parties.
Lysning (banns) were not recorded in early
times. When recorded it is done only in the parish of
the bride-to-be.
Find it: Archives or filmed copies - see Sources
How to Find and Read
Example (Rötter) |
| Död- och Begravningsbok |
DEATH and BURIAL BOOK
Other names: Dödbok, Dödlängd, Begravningsbok,
Begrafningsbok (old
spelling), Begravningslängd, Begrafningslängd. Död-
och Begravningsbok / -längd is the combined book
which is most common, except in large parishes.
Records: Deaths and / or burials.
A death record usually states:
Dates of death and burial, name,
age, residence, cause of death.
Find it: Archives or filmed copies - see Sources
Details and example >Go>
(coming later). Example
(Rötter). |
| CD Dödboken |
DEATH CD
The
modern alternative of dödbok. Index of all deaths
registered electronically, abt 1950 forward. Limited
info 1950 - Nov 1970 but very useful for 1971 -
onwards. Searchable in several ways. RECOMMENDED for modern research
and finding living relatives. >check> |
| Konfirmationsbok |
CONFIRMATION BOOK
Later than the birth
books etc. A simple chronological register of persons confirmed.
Usually states the date, name and place of residence.
In most (smaller) parishes this info is found at the end of each HFL
volume rather than in a separate book. |
| Flyttningsbok |
TRANSFER BOOK
Other names:
Flyttningslängd, Inflyttningslängd (separate book
for moving into parish), Utflyttningslängd (separate
book for moving out of parish), In- och
utflyttningslängd (combined)
People were obliged to report when moving permanently
and obtain a "flyttningsbevis" (certificate) from the
parish they left.
If there is no flyttningsbok for a parish /
time period you can try reading the HFL which usually has columns for
"Moved in" and "Moved out"
Find it: Archives or filmed copies - see Sources
Details and example >Go> |
| Husförhörslängd,
"HFL"
|
CLERICAL SURVEY (HOUSEHOLD EXAMINATION) BOOK
Other names: commonly
abridged "HFL". Ending -bok is rarely used.
Kept by parish priests since 1688, regulated by
church law of 1686. Yearly -> 5-yearly entries of
name, address, literacy and knowledge of catechism of
every person in the parish. Often also other personal
notes like moves, soldier number. Availability: Rare
< 1750, increases after 1820.
The hearing was done every year but if no facts had
changed sometimes no new note was made for that year.
Look at later years if you want to see the marks of
the examination.
Sort Order: Primarily by village / farm,
within that families are recorded together starting
with the owner's family, then tenants and employees.
Look at the first pages of each volume to se an index
of villages / farms.
Records: All people in a household
(regardless of kinship), their knowledge of catechism
and literacy. Commonly you will find notes about
movements from parish, especially emigration and
other interesting info like cause of death, economic
trouble, banns, marriages and more.
History of husförhör >Go>.
Find it: Archives or filmed copies - see Sources
Details and examples
>Guide>. Example (Rötter) |
| SCB
Vital statistics |
Prepared
by SCB (National Statistical Bureau), usually for the period abt 1860 -
1930 for most parishes. These records are
based on the vital statistics books (birth, marriage and death) books but do not give the full
text (e.g. no witnesses recorded). The original books for B, M and D
are not filmed after ca 1860. Instead you may find these SCB
summaries filmed
Note that all these records are to be regarded as secondary sources
since they are copied twice !. The priest copied from his books to a
yearly report and the staff at SCB copied those into their summary
volumes.
Find it: They are filmed and available at SVAR
(and through the Swenson Center). On LDS some of
these are found under "Civil registration"
so always check there !
On GenLine they are listed with prefix "_sc " plus the
county name. |
| SCB Census |
Prepared
by SCB (National Statistical Bureau) for the period
1895 - 1930 for most parishes. These records are
based on the HFL books but do not give the full text.
In effect they are a census without physical survey
for the years 1900, 1910 and 1920 respectively.
Usually one line per individual. Note the big
difference to HFL that people who died in the period
are NOT listed like in any other census type
register.
These are to be regarded as secondary sources - se comment to SCB
vital stat.
Find it: They are filmed and available at SVAR
(and through the Swenson Centre). On LDS some of
these are found under "Civil registration"
so always check there ! |
| Flyttningsbevis |
TRANSFER
CERTIFICATE
Other
names: flyttningsbetyg, flyttningsintyg,
flyttningsattest.
Every person who intended to move permanently out of
the parish was obliged to obtain a standardized
document from the parish priest. The document is a
record of the most important data from the parish
records (birth, social status, HFL data) that should
be entered as "incoming notes" in the
destination parish records (inflyttningsboken).
Find it: The only copy was delivered to the new
parish and usually not saved there. You may find flyttningsbevis
used by emigrants since they did not part with the
document - at least not until they reached the new
country.
Example 1 . Example 2 . Instructions (reverse page) . Example 3 |
| Nattvardssedel |
COMMUNION
CERTIFICATE
A
certificate issued by the parish office to show when
attending the Holy Communion as proof of being
entitled to participate.
Find it:
In your relative's belongings.
Details and example |
| Obituary |
Guide |
|
your contribution or
request.