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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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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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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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