FamilySearch Wiki

Finland Church Records

Finland Wiki Topics
Flag of Finland
Finland Beginning Research
Record Types
Finland Background
Finland Genealogical Word Lists
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources
Geographylogo.png In other languages: Suomi | Svenska

Resources

Online Resources

Denominations

Information Recorded in the Records

Information recorded in church books varied over time. Later records generally give more complete information than earlier ones. No uniform format for church records was used, but the information listed in the various formats was generally the same.

Births (Syntyneet/Födda) and Baptisms (Kastetut/Döpta)

Children were generally baptized or christened within a few days of birth. Stillbirths were generally registered in both the baptism and burial records.

  • Christening registers usually contain:
  • Names of the infant and parents.
  • The baptism date (later registers also contain the birth date).
  • The child’s legitimacy status.
  • Names of godparents and witnesses.
  • Father’s occupation.
  • The family’s place of residence.
  • The records may also contain:
  • Death information if the child died very young.
  • The street name or family’s address if they lived in a larger city.

Earlier registers typically give less information, sometimes including only the names of the child and father and the date of the christening. Until the end of the 1700s many pastors either did not include the mother’s name in the birth records or included only her given name. Following the birth, the mother had to be re-introduced into the congregation. For information about introductions, see the article Scandinavia Introductions.

Example Record

Elias, son of Matts Mattsson and Maria Thomasdotter, in Korpilahti, Häme, Finland
Finland, Hame, Korpilahti, birth 1802.jpg Transcription:
Födde 1802, [Nr.] 23, [Född:] 17 Februarii, [Döpt:] 19 Februarii. [Barnet:] Elias, [Föräldrar:] F[ader]. B[onde]. Matts Mattss[on], M[oder] Maria Thomasd[otte]r. [Bostad:] BaivaKineda Makila. [Faddrarne:] Philip Mattsson, Elias Simonsson, Eva Philipsd[otte]r, Maria Johansd[otte]r.

Translation:
Births 1802, [Number] 23, [Born:] 17 February, [Baptized:] 19 February. [Child:] Elias, [Parents:], Father, farmer Mats Mattsson, Mother, Maria Thomasdotter. Residence: BaivaKineda Makila. [Witnesses:] Philip Mattsson, Elias Simonsson, Eva Philipsdotter, Maria Johansdotter.
Church of Finland, Korpilahti Parish. Kirkonkirjat, C2:1801-1823.

Marriages (Vihityt/Vigda)

Couples were generally married in the bride’s home parish. Typically, people were well into their 20s before they married. Information in the marriage registers generally include:

  • Names of the bride and groom.
  • Marriage date.
  • The residences of the bride and groom before the marriage.
  • The occupations of the bride and groom.
  • Marital status (single or widowed).
  • The names and residences of witnesses and possibly the parents.
  • The three dates on which the marriage intentions were announced in addition to the marriage date.

The three dates on which the marriage intentions were announced are often referred to as banns [kuulutetut/förelysta]. They ensured that the persons to be married fulfilled all legal conditions for marriage, such as being of age, having parental consent, not being closely related, and widowers and widows having probated their former spouses’ estate. Banns may also be in a separate register.

Example Record

Joh Gabrielsson Lindquist and Maria Lovisa Andersdotter, in Tuusula (Thusby), Uusimaa, Finland
Finland, Uusimaa, Tuusula, marriage 1840.jpg Transcription:
Januarii månad
[Orden Nummer:] No. 1; [Vigsels dag] 5 [Januarii]; [Contrahenternes Namn:] Joh. Gabrielsson Lindquist, Maria Lovisa Andersd[otte]r; [Contrahenternes Stand:] Torpare Enkling; Piga; [Contrahenternes Hemvist:] Klemetskog Koiköla; Paijalu Lassila; [Af hven de blifvit Vigde:] Vigde af Ihlström

Translation:
The month of January
[Order Number:] No. 1; [marriage date] 5 [January]; [Contracting parties name:] Joh. Gabrielsson Lindquist, Maria Lovisa Andersdotter; [Contracting parties name occupation:] farmer and widower; maiden; [Contracting parties name residence:] Klemetskog Koiköla; Paijalu Lassila; [Marriage performed by:] Married by Ihlström
Church of Finland, Tuusula parish. Kirkonkirjat, E2-1:1827-1902. Column headings taken from first page of volume.

Deaths (Kuolleet/Döda) and Burials (Haudatut/Begravna)

Burials were recorded in the parish where the person died and was buried. Burials usually took place within a few days of death. Burial records may exist for individuals who were born before the earliest birth and marriage records and can at times extend your research another generation. Stillbirths were generally recorded in both the christening and burial registers; however, many stillbirths were recorded only in the burial records.

Burial registers often give the following information:

  • Name of the deceased
  • Burial date and death date
  • Age of the deceased
  • Place of residence
  • Cause of death

For the death of a woman or child, earlier burial records often list only the husband’s or father’s name and the word for wife or child. They may not give the name of the deceased.

Example Record

Johan Petter Mustonen
December 1 1879 Johan Petter Mustonen, Snickarges. (snickaregesäll), gift, Sjukdom Tyfus, Födelse år 1842, dag 12/5, Ålder 37 år, månad 6, dag 19. Pag. I Kyrkoboken 4-199.
1st entry: Died 1 December 1879 Johan Petter Mustonon, Carpenter Journeynan, died from Tyfus. born 1842 May 12th. Age at death 37 years, 6 months and 19 days. Page in the church book 4-199.

Church Records Extracts (Kirkonkirjojen kopiot/Avskrifter av kyrkoböcker)

To preserve the original records, the Finnish Genealogical Society has transcribed Finnish church records. These transcriptions are called church record extracts (Kirkonkirjojen kopiot/Avskrifter av kyrkoböcker).

The extracts cover births, marriages, deaths, and sometimes church accounts and moving records from the earliest records, some beginning in the 1600s, to at least 1850.

The extracts are written in modern handwriting and are therefore easier to read than the original records. The information in these records has been put into columns and contains the basic information as in the original records. However, christening extracts do not list the names of the witnesses, and other random information is also left out.

Communion Books (Rippikirjat/Kommunionböcker)

A person’s confirmation, or first communion, lists the inhabitants of a parish by village, farm, and household. The head of the household appears first and other household members next. The records generally list the following information:

  • Each person’s name and occupation or his or her relationship to the head of the household
  • Each person’s birth date and birthplace and possibly marriage date and death date
  • The place to or from which a person moved and the moving dates
  • Circumstances such as poverty, illness, illegitimacy, and committed offenses

Typically earlier communion records have less information than later ones. Search all available communion books for the place where and time when the person lived. Verify all birth, marriage, and death dates in the respective original records.

These records greatly simplify the research process by grouping individuals into family units. These records make it possible to follow the lives of ancestors from birth to the grave by providing, in one place, references to birth, marriage, and death dates, as well as moving information and other personal items. Sometimes this is the only place these dates are recorded. Some non-Lutherans are recorded here whereas they may not be recorded elsewhere. Communion books can also verify surname changes for individuals.

Communion books are pastors’ surveys of the population of each Lutheran parish, essentially a detailed census of the parish, updated regularly. Each parish pastors was to examine all the adult inhabitants of their parish determine their knowledge and understanding of their faith. The findings were recorded in the communion books which often contain yearly entries for each household for periods of five to ten years. These records are one of several types of Finnish church books. Communion books are also called Pääkirjat/ Huvudböcker. Under the direction of Bishop Gezelius, each parish was required starting in 1665 to keep a record of persons in the parish who received Holy Communion along with various personal data, including reading and comprehension skills. A royal decree in 1686 made it mandatory for the pastor of each parish in Finland to conduct examinations of the parish populations which standardized the practice. In many ways these records are similar to a census. Orthodox parishes kept such records as well; these are called Confession books [Pääkirjat/Knigi ispovedei]. Other religious denominations may have produced similar records as well.

In actuality, only a few parishes kept communion books before 1700. Orthodox parishes kept communion books from about 1800.

These record contain names of parishioners listed by residence grouped into families by place of residence, also names of lodgers and domestic servants; relationships, ages, birth dates, birthplaces, and occupations; also dates of death or dates of moving in or out of the parish. Many communion records, especially in eastern Finland, do not include children not yet confirmed (under about age 14). Sometimes they include, marriage data, legitimacy of children, marital status, rating of religious knowledge. The records often include notation of blindness, disabilities, or other personal data. Also included are criminal offenses, often with reference to court dates. Names of individuals moving into and out of the parish with notations as to destination or previous residence.

Pre-confirmation Records (Lastenkirjat/Barnböcker)

Pre-confirmation records were kept primarily in the parishes of eastern Finland. Many parishes in western Finland also kept them, at least briefly. These records list each residence, the parents, and the children who had not yet been confirmed (usually all children younger than about age 14). After their confirmation, the children were transferred into the communion book.

These records group children into family groups and establish individual identity. They are valuable supplement to the church vital registers and greatly simplify the research process because they include persons who may have been left out of the church registers of births.

Similar to communion records, these records are one of several types of Finnish church books. Most parishes recorded children in their communion books from birth on. But, in eastern Finland and, at times, in western Finland, children were not included until they were confirmed (about age 14 to 16). In those cases, the pre-confirmations are the best and sometimes only source of information. These records can be found extant from 1750 to 1962.

These records list each residence, the parents, and the children at the residence who had not yet been confirmed with their birth dates and, ultimately, their confirmation dates. Vaccinations are also noted. If a child died before confirmation, the death date is given. The records often include notation of blindness, disabilities, or other personal data. Only about 30% to 35% of Finnish parishes had such records. These records are not as accurate or complete as the church registers of births and deaths.

Pre-1860 records are accessible on microfilm through the FamilySearch Library but researchers who need access to later records often have difficulty getting the information they need. The post-1860 records are often accessible through correspondence, a private researcher or on-site examination but success varies. Correspondence is sometimes not answered.

Confirmations (Rippilapset/Konfirmationer)

Confirmation records establish individual identity, paternity, age, and residence. They have little unique value because they largely duplicate information in other records. Nevertheless, confirmation records have been of significant value to researchers because they are available, in many cases, beyond the 1860 date that affects so many other Finnish records accessible through the FamilySearch Library.

Distinct registers of the Lutheran confirmation of young adults generally between the ages of 14 and 16. These records are one of several types of Finnish church books. From the 1600s it was royal law that every person be taught to read and write before being confirmed. Confirmation information was included from the 1680s in the Communion Books. By the early 1800s all Finnish parishes maintained separate registers for confirmations; some parishes began earlier. Generally the records were divided into sections for males and females by village.

These records generally contain the full names of persons confirmed, birth dates or ages (generally at the age of fourteen), village, residence, date of confirmation and first communion, name of father. Church law required that persons be confirmed before they were allowed to marry. This law continued until the early 1900s.

Moving Records (Muuttaneet/Muuttokirjat; Flyttningslängder/Flyttningsbetyg)

Moving records can help you trace a family as they moved around Finland. You can find moving records in several sources.

Moving Certificates

By the late 1700s some parishes began to issue moving certificates [muuttokirjat/flyttningsbetyg] to persons leaving the parish. These certificates identified the persons to their new minister and were chronologically archived in the new parish.

The certificates usually included the following information about a person:

  • Name
  • Birth date and birthplace
  • Occupation
  • Marital status
  • Reading ability
  • Knowledge of religion
  • Worthiness to partake of the communion
  • Character reference
  • Vaccination information
  • Place where the person was registered for taxation

If a whole family moved, the certificate generally contained at least the name of each family member.

Arrival and Removal Records

In the 1800s parishes began using special arrival and removal records (sisään- ja ulosmuuttaneet; seurakuntaan ja seurakunnasta muuttaneet/in- och utflyttningslängder). These records, which are frequently essential to family history research, chronologically list the people who moved into or out of the parish.

The records give the following information about a person:

  • Name
  • Occupation
  • Parish moved to or from
  • Previous or subsequent residence in the parish. In more recent records, the residence is indicated by the page number in the communion book.
  • The records sometimes list:
  • Age or date of birth
  • Religious knowledge
  • Character reference
  • Gender

Wives and children may not be mentioned by name, only as numbers in a separate column.

Background

Records of births, marriages, and deaths are commonly called vital records because critical events in a person’s life are recorded in them. Church records are vital records made by parish ministers. They are often referred to as parish registers or churchbooks. They include records of christenings and births, marriages, burials and deaths, and communions. Church records may also include account books, confirmations, and records of people moving in and out of a parish.

In general the Lutheran church began keeping records after a 1686 royal decree. Each parish gradually complied with this decree. Before the decree some prominent churchmen, including bishop Johannes Rudbeckius in Sweden and bishops Isak Rothovius and Johannes Gezelius in Finland, promoted record keeping. Hence, some parishes began keeping records earlier. For example, Teisko birth records begin in 1648.

Since Finland was a part of the Swedish kingdom in 1686, church records were kept in Swedish. Records were not kept in Finnish until after 1863, when Finnish was made an official language in Finland. The transition from Swedish into Finnish was gradual, and about 30 Finnish parishes still use Swedish as their primary language. This article gives the names of records and institutions in both languages.

Church records (kirkonkirjat/kyrkoböcker) are the primary sources for accurate information on names; dates; and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Since the state entrusted the church to keep vital records, virtually every person who lived in Finland was recorded in the church records from the time the records began.

In Finland, birth, marriage, and death records are called history books (historiakirjat/historieböcker), and the communion books are called main books (pääkirjat/huvudböcker).

Parishes of the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Finland

Strategy

When you begin using church records, it is usually best to first verify the information you already have before you try to find new information.

The following steps may be helpful as you use Finnish church records:

  1. Find a person’s birth record. Write down the name of the parents and the place where the family was living.
  2. Search the communion records and pre-confirmation rolls, if applicable, of that parish for the date and place where the family was then living (several households may have been living in the same place). Note all information about the family, including names, birth dates, birthplaces, marriage and death dates, and moving information.
  3. Search the original baptism and marriage church records to verify the information you found in the communion and pre-confirmation books.

Repeat steps 1 to 3 for the person’s parents, siblings, or other persons of interest.

If you do not find earlier generations, search neighboring parishes and the International Genealogical Index (IGI).

References

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Finland_Church_Records&oldid=5966984"