Starting Research in Norway: Difference between revisions

==== '''Introduction''' ====

<br>Beginning about 1500, but usually much later, churches required their clergy to keep christening (or baptism) records. Before 1814, the records should at least contain the christening date, the father's first name, the child's name, and generally the residence. The birth date, mother's name, and names of christening witnesses are sometimes given. A printed record format was introduced in 1814, which included columns for both parents' names, birth date, christening date, place of residence, names of witnesses, and other information.  

<br>'''These 5 steps '''will guide you in finding your ancestor in Norwegian church records.

<br>'''Step 1.''' Find the year of your ancestor's christening or baptism record.  

<br>Before you can search for your Norwegian ancestor's christening record, you need to know the appoximate year they were born, and where they were born.  

Christening records are arranged chronologically. Christening records before 1814 may be intermixed with marriage or burial records. Christening records of iIlegitimate children may be listed separately.  

<br>Look for a child with the right given name and birth date in the records of the town you identified in step 1. Then see if his or her father's given name matches the child's patronymic name. For example, Ole Andersen's fathers' first name is "Anders" or "Andreas." If more than one entry within a few years fits your information, you may have to check further to make sure you have the correct entry. Remember, in Norway, the surname of the child reflects the first name of the natural father, so look for that first name if the record is so arranged.  

<br>Once you have the entry for your ancestor, find the entries for your ancestor's brothers and sisters:  

<br>For help in finding the entries for the ancestor's brothers and sisters, see Tip 4.  

<br>If you can, photocopy the record. If you can't, be sure to copy all the information in the entry, including:  

All the people listed and all information given about them. (Remember, witnesses are often relatives.) All the dates in the entry and the events they pertain to. (Sometimes birth, marriage, and death information pertaining to the child or parents may be included. The minister may have used symbols such as * for birth, oo for marriage, and + for death.) Be sure to look for additional dates in the entry's margin. All the localities in the entry and who was from the places listed.  

The type of source (paper certificate, microform, book, Internet site, etc.). All reference numbers for the source. Carefully record any microfilm, book, or certificate numbers or the name and Internet address of the site you used.  

<br>'''Step 5.''' Analyze the information you obtain from the christening record.  

Did the minister identify both parents, and is the mother's maiden name given? Were additional event dates, such as marriage, death, and introduction of the mother, etc., given in the entry's margin? (The minister may have used symbols such as * for birth, oo for marriage, and + for death.) Did more than 2 to 3 years pass since the christening of the last child? If so, another child may have been born and christened in a neighboring parish or born and died before being christened. Did you search 5 years without finding any earlier christening entries of children? If you find no other entries, begin looking for the parents' marriage record.  

<br>For help in verifying that you have the correct record entry, see Tip 5.  

[[Category:Norway]]