Cracking the Scandinavian Ancestry Code: Strategies for Genealogical Success

This comprehensive course is designed to deepen students’ understanding of Scandinavian genealogical research. The course begins with an introduction to key elements of Scandinavian history, patronymics, and Gothic handwriting. From there, students will delve into church records—the backbone of Scandinavian research—learning their origins, formats, and how to search these essential documents. 

Classes will explore local websites in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, as well as major genealogical websites like FamilySearch, Ancestry, and MyHeritage. The course will then dive into Scandinavian census records, farm books, probate, and military records, which can fill crucial gaps when church records are sparse.

Throughout the course, students will engage with a series of case studies demonstrating how to apply the techniques and resources discussed in real-world research scenarios. These case studies will highlight strategies for overcoming common challenges, such as separating individuals with the same name or tracing ancestors through fragmented records. 

By the end of this course, students will have the tools and knowledge to navigate the complexities of Scandinavian genealogical research and unlock new avenues for discovering their ancestral history.

Day1

The Basics of Scandinavian History, patronymics, and Gothic Handwriting

Instructor: Torhild Shirley, AG

Laws and customs greatly impact genealogy. This class will cover some of the main historical events affecting Scandinavian genealogy. We will explain the patronymic naming system and briefly touch on the Gothic handwriting used in most older records.

Introduction to Church Records: Why, When, and How They were Created

Instructor: Jenny Hansen, AG, AGL

Church records are the backbone of research in Scandinavia. Understanding their origins helps us navigate these records more effectively. This course will investigate how these records got started and what they are now.

Local Websites in Denmark and Norway

Instructors: Charlotte Champenois, AG, AGL and Jeff Svare, AG

Denmark: Local websites often include records and content not found on other sites. A short demonstration of Arkivalieronline, Danish Family Search, Dansk Demografisk Database, and Aurelia-Clemons will help the students see when and how to use these sites. 

Norway: In addition to original records placed online by the National Archives at the Digitalarkivet, this course will also introduce students to resources available at the Historisk befolkningsregister (HistReg), Registrerings-sentral for historiske data (RHD), Nasjonal-biblioteket, and Dokumentasjonsprosjektet. Students will be shown how to access English-language versions of these sites.

Local Websites in Sweden and Finland

Instructor: Geoffrey Fröberg Morris, AG

There are amazing websites created by archives, genealogical societies, and researchers in Sweden and Finland to make genealogical research easier. These sites provide access to records, searchable databases, and important information that is not available through the genealogical giants such as Ancestry, FamilySearch and MyHeritage. This presentation will answer the 5 Ws of who created them, what are they, when would you use them, where do you find them, that clarify why you need to use them.

Day 2

Using the Big Websites: FamilySearch, FS Wiki,  Ancestry, and MyHeritage

Instructor: Jeff Svare, AG

This course will focus on indexed and original records for Nordic research available at the three major genealogical websites. Unique resources available only on the FamilySearch Research Wiki will also be highlighted. Tips on improving their search results and, when possible, how to make corrections to indexed records. 

Using the Church Records: What You Can Expect to Find

Instructor: Jenny Hansen, AG, AGL

Knowing what to expect when using new records helps demystify unfamiliar resources. This class will discuss the various formats of church records in Scandinavia. We will learn about resources for help reading and interpreting the information in the church records. Students will be prepared to research their own family in the church records with the skills practiced in this class.

Church Records Continued, including Calendars and Feast Days

Instructor: Torhild Shirley, AG

There is almost no limit to the information the church records can include. This session will dive deeper into these records and look at information rarely indexed that can move our research forward. We will also discuss feast days and teach how to use the feast day calendars to determine the exact date of an event.

Case Study: Confirmation Records to the Rescue

Instructor: Torhild Shirley, AG

Because christening records generally are so good, confirmation records are often overlooked. This case study will demonstrate the importance of confirmation records and how they were instrumental in solving a case.

Day 3

Swedish Household Examinations and Tax Records

Instructor: Geoffrey Fröberg Morris, AG

The Swedish Household Examination records are the backbone of Swedish genealogy. Although they are known for their rich genealogical information, there are situations when strategy breaks down, the record were kept poorly, the earliest surviving record starts late, or there are gaps or record loss. How do you get past these hurdles? This segways to the tax records which predate the household examinations. Together you can trace your family into the 1600s or even 1500s. 

Case Study: Separating Same-Name Individuals Using Swedish Tax and Church Records

Instructor: Torhild Shirley, AG

Separating same-name individuals can be a real struggle. This case study will use tax records to separate two same-name fathers, while the church records will help prove which of the same-name sons is the ancestor we’re looking for.

Danish and Norwegian Census Records

Instructor: Jeff Svare, AG

While the majority of Scandinavian research can be completed with the church records, there are several other valuable sources that should not be overlooked. The census records in Denmark and Norway serve to support what is found in the church records and to also create more stability for our family trees. This class will discuss the nuts and bolts of Scandinavian census records and show examples of why they cannot be excluded from our research.

Norwegian Farm Books

Instructor: Torhild Shirley, AG

Farm books (Bygdebøker) are a source unique to Norway. Local historians have gathered information from church, census, land, probate, and court records to create a history of each farm in a parish, including the farms’ residents. The students will learn where to find these records, what can be gleaned from them, why it is important to use caution with this authored source, and how to verify the information.

Day 4

Swedish Military Records

Instructor: Jeane Erickson Burton, MEd, AG®

When church records are sparse, military records may hold the key to family discovery. Learn how to use these records to fill gaps in your family history.  We’ll explore the Swedish military system from 1630-1900 and show you how to find out if your ancestor served. You’ll learn about different types of records and how to interpret them, with a focus on muster rolls.

Danish Military Records

Instructor: Jeff Svare, AG

Have you ever lost an ancestor from the local records? Have you ever wished there was an index to where your ancestor moved? The Danish military conscription rolls provide this exact type of record. This class will talk about the history of the Danish military records and why we want to include them in our research. Students will have the opportunity to access these records to gain real research experience.

Case Study: Military Name to Patronymic Name

Instructor: Torhild Shirley, AG

Anyone becoming a soldier in Sweden in the 1700s and 1800s received a soldier name that replaced their patronymic. However, this soldier name often isn’t useful when trying to locate the soldier’s birth. This case study will take us on a journey through many records before discovering the soldier’s patronymic and locating his birth.

Death Sources and Cemeteries

Instructor: Torhild Shirley, AG

In family history, we often seek to discover as much about a person as possible. This includes their death and burial. In this session, the students will learn about different death and burial sources, where to look for death causes, and where to find translations for those causes.

Day 5

Danish Probate Records

Instructor: Jenny Hansen, AG, AGL

Danish law required many of our ancestors to leave a probate of their estate, regardless of their social class. These records include lists of surviving family members and other important family details. However, learning to use and navigate the jurisdictions for Danish probate records can really become challenging. This class will discuss the Danish estate system and its lasting jurisdictional impact on probate records. We will also discuss amazing online resources to help you tap into this goldmine of records.

Swedish and Norwegian Probate Records

Instructor: Torhild Shirley, AG

Probate records offer valuable insights into a person’s life, whether poor, middle-class, or wealthy. They prove relationships and can help locate missing relatives who moved away. Following some background information about probates, the students will learn where to locate Swedish and Norwegian probate records and how to navigate the sites.

Case Study: When Church Records Don’t Have the Answers

Instructor: Torhild Shirley, AG

Hans Andersen didn’t appear in the church records until he married Kari Gullichsdatter in 1768. Where did he come from, and who were his parents? This case study will take the students through many of the records visited in previous weeks and touch on some new options not previously discussed before culminating in the probate records.

Case Studies

Instructor: Jenny Hansen, AG, AGL

To round off this course, Jenny Hansen will present several short case studies showcasing records and techniques commonly used in Scandinavian research.