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Norway Church Records: Difference between revisions
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The parish registers are kept at the local parish church until 80 years have passed since the date of the last entry. The registers are then sent to the state archive for the area. (See the "[[Norway Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" section.) The duplicate copy of the register is sent to the state archive as soon as it is filled. | The parish registers are kept at the local parish church until 80 years have passed since the date of the last entry. The registers are then sent to the state archive for the area. (See the "[[Norway Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" section.) The duplicate copy of the register is sent to the state archive as soon as it is filled. | ||
You must determine which parish your ancestor belonged to so that you will know which parish registers to search. Small villages that did not have their own churches were part of a larger parish, which is referred to by the town where the church was located. To identify the parish a farm or village belonged to, see | You must determine which parish your ancestor belonged to so that you will know which parish registers to search. Small villages that did not have their own churches were part of a larger parish, which is referred to by the town where the church was located. To identify the parish a farm or village belonged to, see [[Norway Gazetteers]]. | ||
Parish boundary maps can also be extremely helpful when determining which parish church records to search. They can also help you identify neighboring parishes if you need to search more than one parish in a region. | Parish boundary maps can also be extremely helpful when determining which parish church records to search. They can also help you identify neighboring parishes if you need to search more than one parish in a region. | ||
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====Digitalarkivet ==== | ====Digitalarkivet ==== | ||
Digital images of the church books are available for browsing at the [https://digitalarkivet.no/en/ | Digital images of the church books are available for browsing at the [https://digitalarkivet.no/en/ Digital Archives site]. Many of these records encompass records from a later time period than is a available on microfilm at the Family History Library. | ||
*Searchable databases of church records are being added regularly to the Digitalarkivet website. | *Searchable databases of church records are being added regularly to the Digitalarkivet website. | ||
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Baptism, marriage, and burial records with entries from the last 80-year period are located at the local parish church. Occasionally, pastors delay sending their old church books to the archives, so some local parishes may have records that are older than 80 years. You may write in English to local parishes for information from this most recent time period. When writing, always include a self-addressed envelope. This letter writing guide will help you with phrasing your requests: [[Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy]] | Baptism, marriage, and burial records with entries from the last 80-year period are located at the local parish church. Occasionally, pastors delay sending their old church books to the archives, so some local parishes may have records that are older than 80 years. You may write in English to local parishes for information from this most recent time period. When writing, always include a self-addressed envelope. This letter writing guide will help you with phrasing your requests: [[Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy]] | ||
== | == Lutheran Church Records == | ||
The Lutheran church records are the [[Primary sources|primary source]] for genealogical research in Norway. Church records [kirkebøker] provide excellent information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Almost everyone who lived in Norway was recorded in a church record. | The Lutheran church records are the [[Primary sources|primary source]] for genealogical research in Norway. Church records [kirkebøker] provide excellent information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Almost everyone who lived in Norway was recorded in a church record. | ||
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Church records are crucial for Norwegian research. The Evangelical Lutheran Church became the state church (Statskirken) or national church (Den Norske Kirke, lit. The Norwegian Church), after the Reformation in 1536. As such, it is an arm of the national government. The church keeps the vital records for the government. | Church records are crucial for Norwegian research. The Evangelical Lutheran Church became the state church (Statskirken) or national church (Den Norske Kirke, lit. The Norwegian Church), after the Reformation in 1536. As such, it is an arm of the national government. The church keeps the vital records for the government. | ||
<BR> | |||
[https://familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lesson/520 '''Exploring Church Records in Norway'''] - Research tutorial at FamilySearch | [https://familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lesson/520 '''Exploring Church Records in Norway'''] - Research tutorial at FamilySearch | ||
===Historical Background=== | ===Historical Background=== | ||
Den Norske Kirke (The Norwegian Church), or Statskirken (the State Church) was separated from the state May 21st 2012. Prior to this date there was no separation of church and state. From this date the Norwegian Lutheran Church is not an arm of the state and does not have any more power than any other church (religion) in Norway. | ''Den Norske Kirke'' (The Norwegian Church), or Statskirken (the State Church) was separated from the state May 21st 2012. Prior to this date there was no separation of church and state. From this date the Norwegian Lutheran Church is not an arm of the state and does not have any more power than any other church (religion) in Norway. | ||
After the Reformation in 1536 the Evangelical Lutheran Church became the state or national church of Norway, and as such was an arm of the national government. The head of the church was a cabinet member, Kirke- og Undervisningsminister (Secretary of Church and Education). There was no ordinary civil registration organized and in earlier times all registration was entrusted to the ministers of the Evangelical Church, and up to May of 2012 it was the clergy who by entries in the church registers were responsible for the greatest part of this work. Most of these records are available online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives) of Norway; as well as on microfilm at the Family History Library. | After the Reformation in 1536 the Evangelical Lutheran Church became the state or national church of Norway, and as such was an arm of the national government. The head of the church was a cabinet member, ''Kirke- og Undervisningsminister'' (Secretary of Church and Education). There was no ordinary civil registration organized and in earlier times all registration was entrusted to the ministers of the Evangelical Church, and up to May of 2012 it was the clergy who by entries in the church registers were responsible for the greatest part of this work. Most of these records are available online at ''Digitalarkivet'' (Digital Archives) of Norway; as well as on microfilm at the Family History Library. | ||
You may also be able to find more recent family by contacting the | You may also be able to find more recent family by contacting the ''Folkeregisteret'' (Register of Vital Statistics) but only if you are a direct line descendent. There was no civil registration organized in earlier times when all registration was entrusted to the minister of the Evangelical Church, and for the purpose of this class these are the records we will learn about. | ||
Many people have the misconception that there always were records kept, and that something has happened to the earlier ones. One common belief is that when the Catholic Church was outlawed, and the Lutheran Church took over after the Reformation, the Catholic priests took the records with them when they left. This is not so, there were no records. In many cases the last Catholic minister was the first Lutheran minister. Before 1876 there was no form of civil registration, but that year a law was passed to send all information about births, death, and marriage to Statistsk Sentralbyrå (Bureau of Central Statistics) for statistical purposes, and in 1905 a law was passed that a copy of the ministers records of birth, death, and marriages should be sent to the bureau, but this information is not available for public use. In 1915 the government established ''Folkeregistre'' (Register of Vital Statistics) on a community/city level, but the information there is not available to the public. | |||
Many people have the misconception that there always were records kept, and that something has happened to the earlier ones. One common belief is that when the Catholic Church was outlawed, and the Lutheran Church took over after the Reformation, the Catholic priests took the records with them when they left. This is not so, there were no records. In many cases the last Catholic minister was the first Lutheran minister. | |||
====Responsibility of Record Keeping==== | ====Responsibility of Record Keeping==== | ||
The highest level of ecclesiastical jurisdiction is the bidpedømme (diocese), and the next level down is the prosti (deanery). These are of little importance in regards to genealogical research. The next level is the prestegjeld (clerical district), then the sogn (parish). The clerical district and the parish are the ones we will use in searching the church records for Norway. A clerical district may contain one or more parishes. | The highest level of ecclesiastical jurisdiction is the bidpedømme (diocese), and the next level down is the prosti (deanery). These are of little importance in regards to genealogical research. The next level is the prestegjeld (clerical district), then the sogn (parish). The clerical district and the parish are the ones we will use in searching the church records for Norway. A clerical district may contain one or more parishes. | ||
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===Language of the Records=== | ===Language of the Records=== | ||
The language used in the early church records was the accepted written Norwegian, which was at that time closer to Danish than many of the different spoken Norwegian dialects. Most ministers were educated in Copenhagen. The German influence on education was strong throughout Europe, and the script used in the church records in many countries was Gothic. This was also the case in Norway, until the middle of the 19th century. | The language used in the early church records was the accepted written Norwegian, which was at that time closer to Danish than many of the different spoken Norwegian dialects. Most ministers were educated in Copenhagen. The German influence on education was strong throughout Europe, and the script used in the church records in many countries was Gothic. This was also the case in Norway, until the middle of the 19th century. For a list of words commonly found in the records see [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Norway_Word_List Norwegian Genealogical Word List]. Many Latin phrases were used as well. Some of these you will need to become familiar with. For a list of words commonly found in the records see [[Latin Word List| Latin Genealogical Word List]]. | ||
Many Latin phrases were used as well. Some of these you will need to become familiar with. | |||
*[[Media:Parish_Register_Headings_for_Norway.pdf|'''Parish Register Headings for Norway''']]: This pdf gives the translation of headings for the records in different time periods. When a record is written with labeled columns it is much easier to search. Much of the material you read in each column will just be names and dates, since the meaning of those names (child, parents, godparents, minister) only has to be read once, in the column heading. | *[[Media:Parish_Register_Headings_for_Norway.pdf|'''Parish Register Headings for Norway''']]: This pdf gives the translation of headings for the records in different time periods. When a record is written with labeled columns it is much easier to search. Much of the material you read in each column will just be names and dates, since the meaning of those names (child, parents, godparents, minister) only has to be read once, in the column heading. | ||
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The quality of the records depends on the person who kept them, and the conditions where the records were kept. Some are very good, even early on, some are more difficult to use because of the handwriting, the recording habits of the recorder, or because they were damaged by moisture or heat. | The quality of the records depends on the person who kept them, and the conditions where the records were kept. Some are very good, even early on, some are more difficult to use because of the handwriting, the recording habits of the recorder, or because they were damaged by moisture or heat. | ||
== | == Non-conformists/Dissenters == | ||
There was not a legally recognized dissenter church in Norway until 1845. The law simply did not allow anyone to dissent from the Lutheran Church. After dissenter churches were accepted in 1845, these congregations still had to report births and deaths to the local parish priest of the Lutheran Church within one month of the event. Sometimes we find that children of dissenters were not recorded as the law stated. Often a pastor would make this a very difficult visit, trying to persuade or even threaten people to “come back” to the Lutheran Church. If dissenters lived in a city where they could avoid being known by the church personnel, they sometimes did not comply with this law.<br>A new act in 1891 gave some dissenter groups permission to solemnize marriages, and from this time until 1919, the different groups were required to report births, deaths and marriages to the local Lutheran Church once a year. After 1919 they had to report to the local folkeregister (vital statistic office).<br>The law did not require a dissenter church to deposit their records in the state archives unless a congregation was dissolved. The percentage in 1875 was 0.4%, and in 1950 it was 3.76%.<br> | There was not a legally recognized dissenter church in Norway until 1845. The law simply did not allow anyone to dissent from the Lutheran Church. After dissenter churches were accepted in 1845, these congregations still had to report births and deaths to the local parish priest of the Lutheran Church within one month of the event. Sometimes we find that children of dissenters were not recorded as the law stated. Often a pastor would make this a very difficult visit, trying to persuade or even threaten people to “come back” to the Lutheran Church. If dissenters lived in a city where they could avoid being known by the church personnel, they sometimes did not comply with this law.<br>A new act in 1891 gave some dissenter groups permission to solemnize marriages, and from this time until 1919, the different groups were required to report births, deaths and marriages to the local Lutheran Church once a year. After 1919 they had to report to the local folkeregister (vital statistic office).<br>The law did not require a dissenter church to deposit their records in the state archives unless a congregation was dissolved. The percentage in 1875 was 0.4%, and in 1950 it was 3.76%.<br> | ||
=== Children of other Denominations (Barn fra andre trossamfunn) === | === Children of other Denominations (Barn fra andre trossamfunn) === | ||