Swedish American Ancestors

Swedish Birth Records

Anna — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:10 +0000

Swedish Birth Records

There are certain Swedish genealogy records I almost always turn to in my research. The household examination records are my top go-to, and the birth records are my second. Below, I explain why the Swedish birth records are essential for researching your Swedish roots – and how to access them for free.

Priests Kept Detailed Birth Books

The priests of the Swedish Lutheran State Church kept birth records in accordance with the country’s 1686 Church Law. The priests’ entries in the birth records were most often done close in time to the birthday and baptism of the child.

The fact that the name and birthdate of the child was fresh in memory at the time of the record entry makes the birth records one of the most reliable sources for genealogy research. However, I have come across falsification of birth records, so they cannot be taken for granted. The reasons for a birth date falsification could for example be that the parents wanted to conceal that a child was conceived before a wedding.

Birth Records as a Starting Point

Birth records can be an excellent starting point in your research. Knowing an ancestor’s birth date and place can unlock access to many other archives. Additionally, birth records may include the names of parents and godparents, their residences, and occupations. The birth records may also note the parents’ ages and whether the child was born out of wedlock.

The majority of children born in Sweden before, or in the beginning of, the 1900s would get their surname according to the patronymic tradition. This has implications for how to search for records from their childhood in indexed databases. If possible, you should search for them by their first name and birth date only. As children, Swedes were recorded by their first name, or names, only – since their last name was a given if the father’s name was entered into the same record. Searching for a child’s first and patronymic last name will likely not bring you the search hits you want.

Having that said, it should be added that there of course were families with fixed surnames as well, but that was uncommon. I find that indexation of birth records are not that prevalent. Searching for children in birth records most often entail going through the records page by page. Luckily they were most often written in chronological order, making it easier if you have a grasp of about when and where a child was born.

Where to Find Swedish Birth Records for Free

The Swedish National Archives store the birth records since around the turn of the century 1800s to 1900s. A free way to access these records is through their Digital Research Room (“Digitala Forskarsalen” in Swedish). You can search for birth records in several ways there. One common method is to search by the parish where your ancestor was born.

The link in red above directs you to a webpage where you can enter and search for the name of the parish. Your search will take you to a page with a link stating the name of the parish and “kyrkoarkiv” (church archive). The link “kyrkoarkiv” (church archive) will take you to that parish’s complete church records.

Swedish birth records are categorized under “C Födelse- och dopböcker”. Clicking the “C” link will show you a list of available birth record years. To access a digitized copy, click “bild” (image) next to the year of interest. If there is no “bild” button, the records are only available at the archives. In that case, you can visit in person or contact the archives to request copies (for a fee).

Hejdå for now 🙂

Anna

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Swedish Estate Inventory Records

Anna — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 05:00:12 +0000

Swedish Estate Inventory Records

Estate inventories are records of deceased persons’ assets and liabilities. They include information such as names, places of residence, ages, dates, next of kin, and guardianships. You find very detailed lists of the deceased’s belongings in older estate inventory records. You may for example find numbers and estimated values and sizes of houses, furniture, clothes, books, kitchenware, tools, crops and animals.

In addition, estate inventories sometimes include notes of new names and addresses of emigrated family members. That information can prove very useful for your research.

Names of Swedish Americans in Estate Inventory Records

Name and address changes can complicate family research. Finding an estate inventory with information about the names and locations of the deceased’s relatives in America can provide a valuable boost. The address may offer clues about where to search in America, while the spelling of names might reveal important information about name changes or marriages.

Many Swedes changed their names when they immigrated to America—or even on the way there. For example, Karl Nilsson might become Charles Nelson, Rosa Sjöström could become Rose Seastream, or Gustaf Andersson might be recorded as the completely different Charles Bowman. Additionally, women often adopted their husband’s last name upon marriage.

These name changes and spelling alterations can make Swedish genealogy record research challenging, but discovering such details in estate inventories can help clarify these issues.

Where to Find Swedish Estate Inventory Records For Free

Swedish estate inventories are stored in court archives. Many have been digitized, while others are only available at the National Archives. You can search for estate inventories related to most of Sweden in the Digital Research Room. They are searchable by name, place, and estimated year. However, the estate inventories for the city of Stockholm are housed in a separate database.

Click the red links above to access the search sites for both Stockholm’s estate inventories and those for the rest of Sweden. Additionally, you can request email copies of specific estate inventories from the National Archives. Please note, there may be a fee for this service depending on how long it takes to find the document and how many pages need to be copied. The fees are usually very reasonable.

The photo above shows me (or at least my hand) searching for clues in Swedish American historical documents at the National Archives in Gothenburg.

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

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Best DNA Companies for Swedish American Genealogy

Anna — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:00:24 +0000

DNA Companies for Swedish American Genealogy

A range of companies offer DNA testing for those researching their family trees. Which are the best DNA testing companies for Swedish American genealogy? Below are my thoughts on things to consider.

Ps: The above image is AI generated.

Researching Ancestry Up To 5 to 7 Generations

Ancestry.com

Autosomal DNA testing is the best starting point for those researching ancestors from approximately three to four generations ago, and it can even provide up to seven generations back. Several companies offer such tests, but one stands out – Ancestry.com. It has the largest database of DNA-tested individuals worldwide and the most Swedish Americans in its database.

This significantly increases your chances of finding Swedish American DNA matches if you test with them. Ancestry also provides a suite of tools to facilitate DNA matching between the tested individuals. The enhanced shared matches tool is one of them and it allows you to see how much DNA your matches share and their predicted relationships with each other.

MyHeritage.com

Despite these advantages, Ancestry.com may not be the best company for every ancestry research focus. MyHeritage.com has a large number of Swedish test takers in their database – many of whom you may not find on Ancestry. Testing with MyHeritage could therefore be a valuable choice.

However, MyHeritage allows you to upload DNA test results from other companies, while Ancestry does not. Therefore, you may choose to test with Ancestry and then upload your results to MyHeritage. This way, you can search for DNA matches in both databases while only paying for one test. My Heritage also offers excellent research tools, including triangulation that helps identify common ancestors by analyzing DNA segments shared among matches.

FamilyTreeDNA.com

FamilyTreeDNA is a third company that offers autosomal DNA testing that I use in my Swedish American genealogy research. Like MyHeritage, they allow users to upload DNA results from other companies to their site. A unique feature of FamilyTreeDNA is that they display the X-chromosome for your DNA matches.

The the X-chromosome is inherited in a specific pattern from mother to child, and can provide valuable insights into DNA connections (but more on that in a future blog). The X-chromosome is included in autosomal testing but Ancestry and MyHeritage do not show those results or matches. In addition, FamilyTreeDNA offers Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing, which can help verify paternal or maternal lines in your family tree (more on that below).

While other companies also provide Autosomal DNA testing services, these are the three I use most frequently, so I will leave it at that for now.

Researching Beyond and Verifying Up To 5 to 7 Generations

If you are looking to take your Swedish American genealogy research beyond autosomal DNA, FamilyTreeDNA.com offers both Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. These tests enable researchers to verify and trace direct paternal and maternal lines. This makes it possible to extend research well beyond seven generations and even reach back to Viking times and beyond.

This is possible because the Y-chromosome is passed down from father to son almost completely unchanged over long periods. mtDNA is passed down from mothers to their children and mutates even more infrequently. In contrast, autosomal DNA is recombined and about halved with each generation.

Unlock Your Ancestry

Y-DNA and mtDNA testing do not provide the breadth of cousin matches that autosomal DNA testing does. However, they offer a good way to confirm lineage with certainty. They can help bridge the gap between biological ancestry and historical documents, where documentation most often is incomplete or completely lacking.

Other companies also offer Y-DNA and mtDNA testing, but FamilyTreeDNA is the one I am most familiar with, so I will leave it at that for now.

Photo taken by Anna Schnell at the Gamla Uppsala museum, Sweden, of items from the Vendel time period that preceded the Vikings.

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

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Best DNA Test for Swedish Americans

Anna — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:00:28 +0000

Best DNA Tests for Swedish Americans

What is the best DNA tests for Swedish Americans? A DNA test might be the missing piece you need to fill gaps in your ancestry research. By combining traditional paper trail genealogy with DNA testing you may uncover previously unknown branches of your family tree.

Three Types of DNA Tests

Before choosing a DNA test, it is essential to know the three main types of tests available:

Autosomal DNA (atDNA)
Y-DNA
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Each type of test serves a different purpose and is useful for various research goals. Below, we discuss their relevance to Swedish American genealogy

Autosomal DNA (atDNA)

Autosomal DNA testing is the most common and widely used type of DNA test, especially among those researching their Swedish American roots. It analyzes DNA inherited from both parents and is ideal for exploring ancestry within about 3 to 4 generations. It can also be helpful for tracing ancestors as far back as 5 to 7 generations, though at that range it becomes increasingly difficult to find distant cousins who share identifiable DNA segments – and thus a common ancestor – with you.

You may be fortunate if only one branch of your family emigrated from Sweden. With fewer ancestral lines to consider, it can be easier to identify family tree connections to Sweden. This is particularly valuable if you are working with a limited paper trail or incomplete family records, which is often the case for emigrant ancestors from the 19th or early 20th centuries. That said, the ease of discovering your Swedish roots depends on many more variables than just the number of branches leading back to Sweden. You may very well be lucky in other ways – such as having relatively close Swedish DNA-matches who have already done good work tracing your common ancestors.

Finding Very Distant Cousins Is Unlikely

If you are very lucky, you might find distant cousins with matching DNA from even a few more generations back than 7, but it is unlikely. The further back you go, the more distant and numerous the shared ancestors become, making it harder to pinpoint DNA connections. This is due to the way DNA is inherited, where individuals pass on approximately 50% of their DNA to their children. Additionally, there are typically few or no paper trails for ancestors that far back in time, unless your ancestor was a part of the royal family or nobility.

Y-DNA

The Y-DNA test can trace your paternal lineage (father’s father’s father’s…) over hundreds or even thousands of years. It focuses on the Y-chromosome, passed down from father to son and is therefore ideal for those looking to trace their paternal lineage over generations. Since the Y-DNA test can only be taken by males you either have to be a male to take it, or find a male to test that shares the line you would like to trace. For close matches – such as those with few or no mutations – the most recent common ancestor may be within 2–25 generations depending on which level of Y-DNA test you take.

One of the most powerful aspects of Y-DNA testing is its ability to trace surnames over generations. Do you know your emigrated Swedish ancestor’s surname on a paternal line you want to research? Y-DNA may help confirm if other people with that surname in America or Sweden are related to you. Y-DNA could therefore be a good test for Swedish Americans who want to fill a gap in their genealogy research.

Tracing Surnames May Not Be Useful

Despite what was said above, tracing surnames may be of little use to those researching Swedish Americans. It was not very common for Swedes to have fixed surnames before the end of the 1800s. Swedes’ surnames used to be based on their fathers’ first name (patronymics). The surnames therefore changed from generation to generation.

Patronymics also resulted in members within the same family having different surnames (see the family in the image above, and check another blog we have on the topic). Y-DNA is still useful, even without surname matching, since it will show you others who have tested that you share a paternal line with. With that information, you can check if they have already built a reliable family tree – or you can attempt to build their family tree yourself to find your shared ancestor.

Mitrochondial DNA (MtDNA)

(Mitochondrial DNA testing offers a unique way to trace direct maternal ancestry, as it is passed from mother to child with little change over generations. Since mothers pass it down to all their children, anyone – regardless of sex – can take the test. Because MtDNA mutates very seldom (even less seldom than Y-DNA) and only slightly over time, it is a powerful tool for exploring deep ancestral roots. Such tests can reveal maternal lineage connections stretching back thousands of years.

However, even those with a perfect MtDNA match to you may share a common ancestor with you who lived hundreds or thousands years ago. This makes mtDNA testing too broad, in most cases, to pinpoint a shared ancestor within a genealogically useful timeframe. Still, it can offer a valuable piece of the puzzle – especially when your paper trail research on a particular line aligns with the results of your mtDNA test.

Since MtDNA testing focuses exclusively on individual’s maternal line (mother’s mother’s mother’s…), you need to find a relative to test on that line or take the test yourself if it is your line.

Best DNA Testing for Swedish Americans: Which Company?

There are several companies that offer DNA testing, each with its own strengths. In an upcoming blog, I will share my thoughts on which ones could advance your Swedish American family research.

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

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Swedish Name Changes and Patronymics in Your Family Tree

Anna — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:14 +0000

Swedish Name Changes and Patronymics in Your Family Tree

Do you have patronymics in your family tree? This is likely the case if you see constant changes of surnames between generations. In this blog, you will find information about what patronymics are, their use over time, and an effective strategy to overcome them in your genealogy research.

What is Patronymics?

Patronymic surnames were the norm for centuries in Sweden. If you have Swedish ancestry it is therefore highly likely that you have patronymics in your family tree. In this blog, we look into the evolution of patronymics over time. Unlike fixed family surnames, people were identified by their father’s first name followed by the suffix “-son” for sons or “-dotter” for daughters. For example, if Lars Eriksson and Maja Jönsdotter had a son named Erik, the son’s name would be Erik Larsson. If he had a daughter named Karna, her name would be Karna Larsdotter.

If Karna then married Pär Andersson, they would keep their respective surnames while their children’s last names would be Pärsson or Pärsdotter. As a result, the people a single nuclear family could have at least three or four different surnames. There could be even more variations of surnames if additional fathers, mothers or perhaps foster children were added to the family over time.

Patronymics: A Practice From Medieval Times

The patronymic tradition made surnames change with each generation. This was a practice that dated back to at least the medieval times and the reign of King Gustav Vasa (also known as Gustav Eriksson Vasa) in the 1500s. The system applied across all social classes. Fixed surnames were very uncommon. If you encounter a fixed name in your family tree from those days, it might indicate origins outside Sweden.

Surnames in Sweden at that time could also be a title reflecting the person’s profession, such as Olof Bagare (Baker), or Johan Skräddare (Tailor). By the 1500s-1600s, many priests had also had taken fixed names, of which many ended in “-ander” and “-us”, such as Wallander and Bergius. In addition, soldiers were given last names when they joined the military to tell them a part from each other. Their names could be adjectives that reflected their character such as Fast (Firm), Frisk (Healthy), and Rask (Brisk).

Evolution of First Names

During the reign of Gustav Vasa’s grandson, Gustav II Adolf, in the 1600s, first name practices in cities began to change. Noble families started giving their children more than one first name. They were inspired by the name of the King Gustav II Adolf and the burghers soon followed suit.

Eventually, the practice of giving children multiple first names spread to the countryside. That was where the vast majority of the Swedish population lived as farmers. Around the same time, the nobility also began adopting fixed surnames. The practice of adopting fixed surnames, as well as multiple first names, can prove beneficial for your family research.

Devolution of Patronymics

By the late 1800s, more people were adopting fixed surnames. This may be good for you research. However, it can also add to the challenges of overcoming patronymics in your family tree. You then have to determine that it is the very person you are researching that changed names. There were no regulations on how to change a name at that time. All a person of legal age had to do was to tell the parish priest that they, and/or a family member of theirs, wanted to change their name. You will often find a note of that in a church record or other.

Although it was easy to take a fixed name, the patronymic system persisted well into the 1900s. It wasn’t until 1966 that a law officially ended the use of patronymics in Sweden. However, already in 1901, a regulation encouraged Swedes to adopt fixed surnames. As a result many took their father’s patronymic name as their fixed family surname or chose an entirely new one. These new surnames were often inspired by the places they lived, such as Westman (man from the west), or by nature, such as Lindgren (linden branch).

What To Do With Patronymics in Your Family Tree?

The patronymic naming system in Sweden can pose challenges for genealogy research. However, it also offers a unique advantage: a surname often reveals the father’s first name, providing valuable clues. The key to navigating patronymics successfully is correctly identifying the first individual in your family tree. Once you establish this person’s identity, tracing earlier generations becomes much more manageable.

Sweden has a long tradition of maintaining detailed population records, which greatly supports genealogical work. Still, no matter how good the records are, starting with the wrong individual can lead your research in the completely wrong direction. A reliable strategy for identifying this crucial first person is to focus on their birth details—when and where they were born—rather than relying solely on their name. This approach helps overcome the complications of patronymic naming.

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

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U.S. 1890 Census Destroyed by Fire

Anna — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 05:00:59 +0000

U.S. 1890 Census Destroyed by Fire

A January 1921 fire in the Commerce Department Building in Washington, D.C., destroyed most of the 1890 U.S. census records. Only fragments survived, preserving information on just over 6,000 individuals.

Records of Around 63 Million People Destroyed

The 1880s marked the peak of Swedish emigration to America. The 1890 U.S. census could therefore have been an invaluable resource for Swedish-American genealogy research. With nearly 63 million people recorded, this census could have provided crucial insights into the lives of Swedish immigrants in America.

The photo above was taken in 1894 (source: Library of Congress). It shows the tabulation machine used in the 1890 census. The machine made counting the results less time consuming. Punched cards were used to work the machine. The results were presented by the dials on the machine and written down manually. The man at the machine is Herman Hollerith who invented it a couple of years earlier.

The photograph above shows some of the damaged remains of the 1890 U.S. census. Source: Library of Congress

A Rare Survivor: Swedish Clara in the 1890 Census

Among the few surviving records from the 1890 census is one documenting Clara Anderson. Clara’s census entry provides details such as these:

She was a around 26-year-old Swedish immigrant.
She worked as a servant in the household of Emily Chisolm, 56, and her 24-year-old son.
She was single and employed as a domestic worker.
She had no chronic illnesses, disabilities, or legal troubles.
She could read, write, and speak English.
She, along with her parents, was born in Sweden.

While only a handful of Swedish individuals appear in the surviving 1890 census records, Clara Anderson’s case is a rare census glimpse into the lives of Swedish immigrants during that era.

Source: United States, Census 1890, FamilySearch : Accessed 6 May 2025), Entry for Clara Anderson.

Alternative Records for 1890 Research

If your Swedish-American ancestors are not among the few recorded in the 1890 U.S. census, there are other records that may be of use. State censuses can serve as valuable substitutes. Many states conducted their own censuses between federal census years. For example, Minnesota conducted state censuses in 1885 and 1895, which can provide comparable information. Other states with large Swedish immigrant populations also have state census records that may be useful.

Several other 1890 U.S. census alternative records can also help bridge the 1890 census gap. Here are some examples:

City and County Directories, which list residents, their addresses, and occupations. However, all residents are not recorded in them.
Tax Records can be used to confirm an ancestor’s residence and property details.
Voter Registration Lists can verify an ancestor’s location and political affiliations, but women were generally excluded from voting at that time.
Newspapers, such as local U.S. newspapers or Swedish American ones, for example often included obituaries, marriage announcements, and community news.
Church Records most often included registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials. Many Swedish immigrants chose to join churches in America, but by no means all of them did.
Land and Property Records, such as deeds and land grants, can provide information on residency and property ownership.

I will talk some more about the above records in future blogs.

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

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Census Records: Key to Tracing Swedish Ancestry

Anna — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 05:00:58 +0000

Census Records: A Key to Tracing Swedish Ancestry

Census records play a role in North American genealogy similar that of household examination records in Sweden. While a whole range of other records may be relevant depending on the research question, censuses are included in almost all research projects tracing Swedish ancestors in Canada the United States. In addition, census records are often a very effective starting point.

Censuses in Canada and the U.S.

Canada and the United States share some similarities in their census histories. U.S. federal censuses have been conducted every 10 years since 1790. Additionally, some states carried out their own censuses between federal counts. Canada has held nation wide censuses every ten years since 1871, with earlier ones conducted by individual colonies. Canada also organized shorter censuses every five year (years ending with 6). All of these censuses potentially offer vital clues when researching Swedish American ancestry.

First U.S. Census – 1790

The first U.S. federal census in 1790 covered the original 13 states, as well as select districts and territories. It recorded only the name of the head of household; all other members were simply counted numerically. As a result, the names of children, wives, or enslaved individuals do not appear in this census. Instead, it listed the number of individuals in the following categories: free white males aged 16 and over, free white males under 16, free white females, other free persons, and enslaved persons.

At that time, the number of Swedes in the U.S. was small – estimated at just 2,000 to 3,000 people. Many were descendants of settlers from the former New Sweden colony (1638–1655), located in present-day Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, which had later come under Dutch and then British control.

Names in the 1850 & 1870 U.S. Censuses

The 1850 federal census was the first to list the names of every free person in each household. This means you can find the names of all non-enslaved women and children in those census records. This is especially helpful for tracing Swedish ancestors who had immigrated to the U.S. by that time.

In addition to names, the 1850 census also gathered data on schooling, taxation, crimes, wages, estate values, and mortality. The 1870 census, which was conducted after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, recorded the names of all household members.

Canada’s First National Census – 1871

Canada’s 1871 census covered Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and parts of Manitoba. It focused on agricultural, industrial, and fishing occupations, and recorded names, ages, birthplaces, occupations, religion, and ethnic origins. These may contain important details for confirming Swedish ancestry. The 1871 census also documented land ownership, household members, and migration patterns, offering insights into family movements.

Many Swedish immigrants worked in farming, forestry, or fishing, making the industrial schedules particularly useful. Those schedules were specialized census forms used alongside the population schedules in some Canadian censuses – most notably in 1871 – to collect detailed information about industrial, commercial, and manufacturing activity.

No note is also that some Swedes moved between Canada and the U.S. before settling permanently, so if ancestors are not found in U.S. records, they might appear in Canadian censuses instead – and vice versa.

Peak of Immigration: 1880 & 1890 U.S. Censuses

Swedish immigration to North America peaked during the 1880s. As a result, the 1880 and 1890 U.S. census records are especially valuable for genealogical research.

The 1880 federal census was the first to record each person’s relationship to the head of household, greatly aiding genealogists in identifying family structures. It also included the birthplaces of each person’s parents, years spent in the U.S., and citizenship status – details critical for tracing immigrant origins.

Unfortunately, most of the 1890 U.S. federal census was destroyed in a fire in 1921. Only fragments survived, covering about 6,000 individuals out of a total population nearing 63 million. A search for Swedes in the surviving 1890 census at FamilySearch yields only a handful of results. Due to this loss, researchers must rely on alternative sources from that era, such as city directories, state censuses, veterans schedules, tax records, or land deeds.

Swedes in the 1881 & 1891 Canadian Censuses

The 1881 Canadian census covered all provinces and territories that were part of Canada at the time, including Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and the Northwest Territories. The 1891 census followed a similar structure, collecting data on population, occupation, religion, and ethnicity.

Both the 1881 and 1891 censuses recorded names, ages, birthplaces, occupations, and ethnic origins. This is key information for confirming Swedish (and people of other nationalities’ roots). The 1891 census went a step further by adding the year of immigration and parents’ birthplaces, which helps trace family movements. This is especially helpful for tracking Swedes who moved between Canada and the U.S. or who settled in Swedish communities in provinces like Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.

North American Censuses in the 1900s

The censuses of the 1900s are of course also helpful when researching Swedish immigrants to North America. If your ancestors immigrated to the U.S. in the 1880s, the census of 1900 may be the best replacement record for the burnt 1890s census data.

In the United States, the most recent available census for genealogy research is from 1950. This is because the U.S. has a 72-year privacy rule for those records, meaning the 1950 census became publicly available in 2022. The 1950 U.S. Census is particularly useful for confirming immigration details and family relationships. It includes each person’s name, age, birthplace, and citizenship status. This may give you clues to look for documents such as naturalization records and passports that can provide you with more information.

In Canada, the most recent available census is from 1931, released in 2023 due to the country’s 92-year privacy rule. This census provides important immigration and ethnic origin information. It includes names, ages, birthplaces, and years of immigration – key data for tracing Swedish arrivals and settlement patterns in Canada.

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

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Tracing Swedes in Household Examinations

Anna — Thu, 15 May 2025 05:00:31 +0000

Tracing Swedes in Household Examinations

Almost all Swedish family research involves church household examination records in one way or another. Begin your Swedish ancestry journey with these records. They document nearly all Swedes from the end 1600s or early 1700s, into the 1900s and contain a wealth of valuable information. Additionally, these records were updated annually and have been extensively digitized. This makes them an excellent starting point for your Swedish genealogy research.

If I had to choose just one type of record to always begin with in Swedish genealogy, it would undoubtedly be the household examination books. Below, you will find more information about these records and how to access them for free.

The painting above

The painting depicts a Swedish household examination hearing. You see a priest, with a what is likely a Bible in front of him, and the parish members gathered around him. It is a painting by the artist Knut Ander titled “Catechetical meeting” (source: Wikimedia Commons/Bukowskis Auktion).

Swedish Household Examinations

The household examination records were kept by the priests of the Swedish Lutheran State Church. The priests had an obligation to conduct annual hearings with the members of their parishes. At the hearings, the priests gathered different kinds of information about the parish members. They – among other – collected information about names, dates of birth, relocation details, and levels of reading and understanding of the Bible.

The hearings mostly focused on the parish members’ reading and understanding of the Bible as recounted in Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.

Almost all Swedish families therefore had a copy in their home of the “Lilla Katekes”, as it is called in Swedish. As a result, many Swedes learnt how to read by studying the Small Catechism in preparation for household examinations.

The Hearings Were Stated in Law

The priests were tasked with keeping records of the household examination hearings. This obligation of the church to hold, and keep records of, household examinations became Swedish law in 1686. Formal household examinations were consequently held from the end of the 1600s to the end of the 1800s. In addition, more informal such hearings continued well into the 1900s. You can therefore generally find household examination records from sometime in the beginning of the 1700s and onwards. Sometimes, the records go as far back as to the late 1600s.

The extent to which household examination books exist today vary from parish to parish. Some of the early books were discarded because they were not seen as not having a value anymore. Others may have perished in fires or so. However, the great majority still exist and are available for your Swedish family research.

The Content of Swedish Household Examinations

The content of the household examination records evolved over time. You may therefore find more or less information depending on the time period you are researching. The following is information you may find regarding your Swedish family:

Names
Birth dates
Birth places
Relationships
Whether “deaf, blind, or weak minded”
Dates of communions
Dates of marriages
Occupations

Home ownership
How many an estate could support
Relocations from and to places
Vaccinations
Poverty assistance
Dates of deaths
Levels of reading and understanding
of Luther’s Small Catechism

Where to Find the Household Examinations for Free

The household examination records are available for free in the Digital Research Room of the Swedish National Archives. There, you can search by the parish of your ancestors, as well as by their names and birth dates.

You find the household examination books under the classification “AI Husförhörslängder” (before 1895) and “Församlingsböcker” (after 1895) in the “kyrkoarkiv” (church archives). “AI” is the archive classification and “Husförhörslängder” or “Församlingsböcker” are the Swedish words for household examination records. You can access digitized copies of the records for the years of your interest by clicking the icon “bild” (image) you find in the church archives.

In addition, you can find household examination records at FamilySearch. FamilySearch is free, but you have to sign up for an account. You can then search for household examination books from the years 1874-1931 (as of the date of this blog) by entering names, places, and/or birth and death dates.

Below is an example of a household examination record. It is a record from the parish of Mofalla, of a family Andersson whose two eldest children emigrated to America. I will write more about them in a future blog.

Are You Used to Canadian or U.S. Genealogy?

If so, your first instinct may be to look for census records when researching your Swedish roots. Swedish census records do exist and may be of good use to you depending on your research focus. However, the primary go-to-resource for family research in Sweden are the household examination records.

The household examination records play kind of the same role in family research in Sweden as the census records do in Canada and the US. However, a major difference is the frequency of the record taking. The Swedish household examinations were held every year, while the American and Canadian censuses were (and are) done every 10th year at the national level, and in some additional years in certain states/territories/provinces. There are of course also a whole range of other records to research, depending on your research question. Something to cover in future blogs.

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

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The post Tracing Swedes in Household Examinations appeared first on Swedish American Ancestors.

Where to Start with Swedish Genealogy

Anna — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 05:00:23 +0000

Where to Start When Tracing Swedish Ancestry

Tracing Swedish ancestors can feel overwhelming. A common piece of advice is that you need three basic pieces of information to get started: a relative’s name, date of birth, and their birth or residence parish in Sweden. That advice can discourage some people from even trying. What if you do not have all of that information? In this blog, I explain why these facts are important for in-depth genealogical research – but also why you do not necessarily need to know all of them to begin.

The Three Basic Pieces of Information

Name

Knowing a first and last name is a good starting point. However, many Swedes changed their names after emigrating. Some did so to make the name easier to pronounce. Others changed their names to better fit into their new country. For example, “Anders Åkerman” might have been changed to “Andrew Ackerman” or “Andy Oakerman.” “Maria Eriksson” could be spelled “Mary Ericson” or “Marie Erickson.”

In the late 1800s, many Swedes began adopting fixed surnames in Sweden. In 1901, a regulation was introduced requiring people to have a permanent surname. After that, changing one’s name required official permission. Before 1901, it was usually enough to simply go to the priest and state that you wanted to change your surname – and you could pretty much choose any name, as long as it was not one from the nobility. These name changes can make it more challenging to trace your Swedish ancestry, especially when searching for relatives who emigrated or changed their names for other reasons.

Birth Date

A date of birth is often crucial for distinguishing between people with the same name. Sweden used patronymic surnames for centuries. This tradition resulted in many people sharing identical last names – such as Karlsdotter or Nilsson – without being related. For example, there could even be several “Per Nilsson” or “Annika Karlsdotter” born in the same parish during the same decade. An exact date of birth helps identify the correct person in historical records. Fortunately, Swedish church books recorded dates of birth carefully, making them an invaluable source for genealogical research.

Parish

Swedish genealogy relies heavily on church records, much like census registers do in Canada and the United States. Each parish kept detailed annual records containing information about parish members’ names, births, marriages, deaths, and more. In addition, church books often include details about where a person came from and where they moved. This makes it possible to track individuals from one parish to another over time. Knowing an ancestor’s birth or home parish is therefore important, because church records were kept locally. Without information about your ancestor’s parish, it can be difficult to find the right person.

Other Sources Than Can Help You Get Started

Du behöver inte ha alla tre uppgifter (namn, födelsedatum, församling) från början. Det finns många sätt att hitta dem under släktforskningens gång. Här är några exempel från mitt eget arbete:

Familjehistorier: En person jag gjorde släktforskning åt sa: “Det här låter kanske konstigt, men min farfar sa att vi kom från masklandet i Sverige.” Det visade sig syfta på Värmland – en ledtråd som, i kombination med andra, ledde rätt.

Fotoalbum: Gamla foton med namn, datum eller fotografens ort kan ge viktiga pusselbitar. Jag har identifierat många individer och familjer i svenskamerikanska fotoalbum genom att analysera just dessa detaljer.

Släktträd: I ett annat släktforskningsprojekt visade sig ett befintligt släktträd vara korrekt fram till en farfarsfar som emigrerat. Därefter innehöll trädet fel personer. Med hjälp av två namn på syskon till huvudpersonen vi sökte kunde jag identifiera rätt familj i Sverige.

The lesson is that every detail counts—a name, a postcard, a sibling’s birthdate, or an emigration year can be the key to a breakthrough. And if traditional genealogy using historical records doesn’t provide enough information, DNA testing can also offer additional insights.

DNA as a Complement or Starting Point

DNA tests can be an excellent complement to traditional genealogy and, in some cases, a good starting point.

DNA as a Complement to Genealogy Research

Historical records in Swedish genealogical archives are generally well-preserved. However, there are cases where information is missing or was recorded incorrectly. In some instances, fires, people discarding “outdated” archives, or water damage have resulted in documents being lost or difficult to read. DNA can help confirm family connections when documentation is incomplete, unclear, inaccurate, or missing. Through DNA matches with people who share a common ancestor with you, it is often possible to verify relationships that would otherwise be difficult to prove. DNA is especially useful when tracing Swedish ancestors who emigrated without leaving much documentation behind.

DNA as a Starting Point to Genealogy Research

The greatest value of DNA tests lies in the ability to connect your family tree with others through the DNA matches that are presented. The test can provide information about which individuals you and your matches are likely descended from in common. However, for this to be possible, the shared ancestor must not be too far back in time. The further back in generations, the less likely it is that you have inherited enough comparable DNA to compare with relatives living today who have taken the test.

By analyzing DNA matches, you may also be able to find relatives who have progressed further than you in their genealogical research. By studying their family trees and contacting them, you may gain valuable information that can help you move forward -such as names, dates of birth, or parish affiliations. Many DNA testing companies also offer ethnicity estimates that may indicate Scandinavian or Swedish ancestry. However, these estimates should be interpreted with caution, as they can be misleading, especially when the percentages are low.

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

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The post Where to Start with Swedish Genealogy appeared first on Swedish American Ancestors.

Welcome to the Swedish American Ancestors Blog !

Anna — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:00:08 +0000

Welcome to the Swedish American Ancestors Blog!

Join me in exploring the rich history of Swedish emigration to North America. This is the first post in the Swedish American Ancestors Blog series, dedicated to researching our ancestors. Whether you are from Canada, the U.S., or Sweden, my goal is to fill this blog with valuable information to help you trace your Swedish North American roots.

Moreover, I would love to hear your thoughts on the posts and what should be included in the future. My goal is to add a blog every other week.

Posts Covering Swedish and North American Genealogy

This blog will feature posts relevant to both North American and Swedish genealogy. Out of the around 1.3 million Swedes who emigrated during the 1800s and early 1900s, the majority settled in the U.S. However, a significant number of Swedes also made Canada their home. In addition, Swedish descendants can be found in South America and other parts of the world.

While this blog will primarily focus on North America, it will also include facts and insights for those with Swedish ancestors in South America and beyond. In my own family tree, I have Swedish ancestors who emigrated to the U.S., Canada, Argentina, and South Africa.

The Swedish American Ancestors Blog Needs Your Input

Upcoming Swedish American Ancestors Blog posts will provide key insights to help uncover your roots. I will share genealogy tips related to Swedish and North American archives, records, online databases, DNA-tools, and other resources. Additionally, I will explore topics such as Swedish American history, traditions, photographs, books, newspapers, letters, and more.

Over time, I hope to tailor the content to your interests. If there is a topic you’d like me to cover, please leave a comment on a post or send an email: Info@SwedishAmericanAncestors.com

I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Get Information About Our Work

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Let our exploration begin !
Anna

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The post Welcome to the Swedish American Ancestors Blog ! appeared first on Swedish American Ancestors.

Swedish American Ancestors

Swedish Birth Records

Swedish Birth Records

Priests Kept Detailed Birth Books

Birth Records as a Starting Point

Where to Find Swedish Birth Records for Free

Links

Swedish Estate Inventory Records

Swedish Estate Inventory Records

Names of Swedish Americans in Estate Inventory Records

Where to Find Swedish Estate Inventory Records For Free

Best DNA Companies for Swedish American Genealogy

DNA Companies for Swedish American Genealogy

Researching Ancestry Up To 5 to 7 Generations

Ancestry.com

MyHeritage.com

FamilyTreeDNA.com

Researching Beyond and Verifying Up To 5 to 7 Generations

Unlock Your Ancestry

Best DNA Test for Swedish Americans

Best DNA Tests for Swedish Americans

Three Types of DNA Tests

Autosomal DNA (atDNA)

Finding Very Distant Cousins Is Unlikely

Y-DNA

Tracing Surnames May Not Be Useful

Mitrochondial DNA (MtDNA)

Best DNA Testing for Swedish Americans: Which Company?

Swedish Name Changes and Patronymics in Your Family Tree

Swedish Name Changes and Patronymics in Your Family Tree

What is Patronymics?

Patronymics: A Practice From Medieval Times

Evolution of First Names

Devolution of Patronymics

What To Do With Patronymics in Your Family Tree?

Hejdå for now 🙂 Anna

Links

U.S. 1890 Census Destroyed by Fire

U.S. 1890 Census Destroyed by Fire

Records of Around 63 Million People Destroyed

A Rare Survivor: Swedish Clara in the 1890 Census

Alternative Records for 1890 Research

Census Records: Key to Tracing Swedish Ancestry

Census Records: A Key to Tracing Swedish Ancestry

Censuses in Canada and the U.S.

First U.S. Census – 1790

Names in the 1850 & 1870 U.S. Censuses

Canada’s First National Census – 1871

Peak of Immigration: 1880 & 1890 U.S. Censuses

Swedes in the 1881 & 1891 Canadian Censuses

North American Censuses in the 1900s

Tracing Swedes in Household Examinations

Tracing Swedes in Household Examinations

The painting above

Swedish Household Examinations

The Hearings Were Stated in Law

The Content of Swedish Household Examinations

Where to Find the Household Examinations for Free

Are You Used to Canadian or U.S. Genealogy?

Where to Start with Swedish Genealogy

Where to Start When Tracing Swedish Ancestry

The Three Basic Pieces of Information

Name

Birth Date

Parish

Other Sources Than Can Help You Get Started

DNA as a Complement or Starting Point

DNA as a Complement to Genealogy Research

DNA as a Starting Point to Genealogy Research

Hejdå for now 🙂 Anna

Links

Welcome to the Swedish American Ancestors Blog !

Welcome to the Swedish American Ancestors Blog!

Posts Covering Swedish and North American Genealogy

The Swedish American Ancestors Blog Needs Your Input

Get Information About Our Work

Let our exploration begin ! Anna

Links

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

Hejdå for now 🙂
Anna

Let our exploration begin !
Anna