Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark {"TRACING YOUR DANISH ANCESTORS " in English}

RESEARCH OUTLINE for DENMARK. {FHL} (click for LOGO for printable .pdf file)

Official map of Denmark {.pdf file}

• (Large Map of) {.jpeg}

• Map of Danish Counties, 1660-1793. {proGenealogist}

• Map of Danish Counties, 1793-1970. {DIS-DANMARK}

• Map of Danish Counties, 1970-2007. {proGenealogist}

• Map of Denmarks Reorganization into Municipalities, 2007+. {pdf file} (off-site GREAT).

FactBook on Denmark {CIA}

Denmark GenWeb Site (in Danish).

• Danish State Archives (Staten Arkiver) {in English}: (Various Databases links).
  • Rigsarkivet Reading Room.
  • Statens Arkiver -- Dansk Demografisk Databases
  • Statens Arkiver --  Dansk Data Arkiv. 
• Danish Provincial Archives:
  • Landsarkivet for Nørrejylland (The Provincial Archives of Northern Jutland): {use for Alborg, Arhus, Hjorring, Randers, Ribe, Ringkobing, Skanderborg, Thisted, Viborg and Vejle.} [english intro]
  • Landsarkivet for Sjælland, Lolland-Falster & Bornholm (The Provincial Archives for Sealand, Lolland-Falster and Bornholm): {use for Bornholm, Frederiksborg, Holbaek, Maribo, Kobenhaven (& city), Praesto, and Soro}
  • Landsarkivet for Sønderjylland (The Provincial Archives for Southern Jutland): {use for Aabenraa, Sonderborg, Haderslev and Tonder}.
  • Landsarkivet for Fyn.(The Provincial Archives for Funen & islands): {use for Odense and Sverdborg}.
• Det Kongelige Bibliotek { Homepg in danish} (The Royal Library in english) (The Danish National Bibliography in English): In 1653 the Royal Library was established by King Frederik III who appointed its first librarian. During Frederik’s reign three prominent Danish collections were acquired. These together with the King's own collection became the basic core of the Royal Library. In 1673 the library moved into its first proper library building, which now houses the National Archives. The first legal deposit legislation was issued in 1697 and required delivery of five copies of every book printed in the kingdom to Royal Library. In 1793, the library was opened to the general public, thus becoming in effect a national as well as a scholarly library. The University Library, established in 1482, merged with the Royal Library in 1988 (humanities, social sciences, law, theology) and 2005 (natural and medical sciences). The Royal Library now has two functions as the National Library of Denmark and as the Copenhagen University Library. Its present main building, known as “The Black Diamond”, was inaugurated in 1999.
  • Online catalogues (OPACs): OPACs are available in English
  • National bibliographies: National bibliographies are available in English
  • National union catalogues: National union catalogues are available in English

The first census of genealogical value was taken in 1787 and the first census listing every person's birthplace was the 1845 Census.

• 1787 & 1801 censuses (are denoted by the "old" county boundries).
• Censuses were then taken in 1834, 1840, 1845, 1850, 1855, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1901, 1906, 1911.

(Microfilms of these records are available thru the FHL. ..)

(Census, Emig. Archives, Probate Index):

Dansk Demografisk Databases (Denmark's ON-Line Censuses, etc...) -- GREAT

• Current status of extractions of Denmarks' censuses...
• Search form page... (allows wildcards, see notes.. Also use single not double s, aka Jacobsen)

...

The earliest church records date from 1573. Laws requiring pastors to keep parish registers {Kirkebogernes} (date from 1645/6) and a 1812 ordinance required Danish church registers to be kept in duplicate (one by the parish priest and one by the parish clerk) recorded:

• Birth/Christening (Fodt/Daab): [ Christening records, before 1812, usually included the child's name, names of one or both parents, their place of residence, dateof christening, and names of witnesses and their residences. ] {terms also to look for: aegte (legitimate) / uaegte (illegitimate); confirment (confirmed); dobt (christened)}.
• Marriage/Betrothal (Aegteskab/Trolovet): [ Marriage and bethrothal records usually included the names of the bride and groom, their residences, dates of engagement and marriage, and sponsor's names and residences. The bride and groom's baptism, confirmation, and vaccination info may have been included by the late 1800s. ] {terms also to look for: copuleret or gift (married); vidnere or faddere (witnesses); }.
• and Death/Burial (Dod/Begravet). [ Death records in the early years included name, age, residence, and date of death. Later records may include the deceased's name, residence, date and place of birth, spouse or parents' names, occupation, and place of death. ].

Historical background of the Danish State Church {Folkekirke}:

• 1536. Roman Catholic property confiscated, Lutheran Church designated the State Church.
• 1655. Absolute monarchy created, all Danish subjects required to belong to the State Church.
• 1849. New Constitution gave freedom of religion. The number of churches not associated with the State increased.

...

Danish Emigration Records (Udvandringsjournaler) contain the name of the emigrant, occupation, place of birth (or residence), age, destination, date of embarkation. The records from 1660 to 1959 are available at the PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES of Sjaelland. For the period 1868 to 1910, microfilms of these records are available thru the FHL ...

Danish Passport records (Pasprotokoller) contain the name of the person receiving the passport, occupation, former place of residence, destination, date of issue. Again, microfilms of these records are available thru the FHL ...

• The Danish Emigration Archive (Copenhavn) (has Direct & Indirect Passenger records). 
  • Danish Emigrants Online. A (Copenhagen)
  • Danish Emigrants Online. B (Vejle)
• PASSENGER LISTS ONLINE IN GENERAL
• Danish Immigrants Online

...

• A detailed history of DENMARK. {Hutchinson encyclopedia}
• Project Runeberg. {Great...e-books}

...

• Kort & Matrikelstyrelsen Place Finder. (The Map & Land Adminstration--VERY detailed maps for Denmark, Greenland, and Faroe Islands.)
  • HGS: Danish County maps collections.
  • Maps & index to Cos(Amter),Districts(Herreder) and Parishes (Sogne) for Denmark.
• Place Names in Denmark.  (Gives info on parishes & the Admin. District.)  (in Danish).
  • Parish Details Site. (GREAT)

...

The Military Levying Rolls (M.L.R) {Laegdsrullerne}are lists of most of the male population of rural Denmark. Microfilms of these records are available thru the FHL ...

• From 1789 until 1849, males were listed from birth until the age of 44.
• After 1849, the first listing was at age 14 and
• after 1869, the first listing was at the age of 17.

A complete list was made every three years with supplementary rolls for the years between listing males moving into a parish and births occurring during the years. The numbering system used on the M.L.R.'s makes it possible to follow a person from parish to parish from the time of inclusion on the rolls until he is removed. In addition to the person's name, each entry includes age, place of birth, residence, height, name of father, and misc. info...

For most of Denmark's Navy Levying Rolls (N.L.R) exist from 1802... Microfilms of these records are available thru the FHL ...

Cavalry Regiment Districts were established in 1660-1670...

• Danish Military History {in english}
• Det Kongelige Garnisonsbibliotek (The Royal Danish Military Library)

...

Only a few persons made a will (Testament), usually persons of means or owned farm(s). The most important probate records are the intestate (Skifteprotokoll) records. The earliest probate records are dated 1574-1584. A law in 1719 required that probate records be kept. Information included in the probate record is the full name and residence of the dead person, a list of heirs and their residences, ages of heirs, name of the husband of a female heair, names of guardians for a widow and minor heirs, and an inventory of possessions...

...

End of Denmark General Resources...

... Denmark is divided into five regioner (regions): (1) North Jutland (Nordjylland; (2) Central Jutland (Midtjylland); (3) South Jutland (Syddanmark); (4) Zealand (Sjælland); and (5) Capital (Hovedstaden).

(note: to access the Counties, click on "GG Region#" link.)

---

<< Return to GenealogyGeneral Homepg... >>