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Family research in Sweden

Sweden has the world’s oldest national registration records. These records provide good foundations on which to base family research. Up until June 30, 1991 the Church of Sweden was in charge of the records. As of July 1, 1991 the responsibility transferred to the Swedish Tax Agency. The national registration records are housed in the provincial archives, though certain county districts called parishes still have the records dating after 1895. In 2014 the goal is for all of Sweden’s national registration records to have been turned over to the respective provincial archives.

In Sweden several major projects have been completed to round up, microfilm and digitize the national registration records, all with the aim to preserve and protect the unique material and make it accessible to the public. National registration records up to the 20s century are digitally available through SVAR (Swedish Archive Information) or ArkivDigital for example. SVAR also has national registration records dating up through June 30 1991, but does not include information classed under the Personal Data Act or the Publicity and Secrecy Act. In such cases original material can only be retrieved from archive storage on an exceptional basis.

• Swedish Archive Information (ra.se)
• ArkivDigital (arkivdigital.se)

The national registration records are subject to privacy restrictions under the Publicity and Secrecy Act, which stipulates that restrictions are in place for a maximum of 70 years. Information published on the internet is also limited by the Personal Data Act, where other time limits apply, some even longer than 70 years.

How to begin genealogical research

The best way to get started on family researching is to take a course arranged by an adult education organization. A number of guidebooks are available on the subject. The Archive Center has an extensive reference library. Local genealogy research organizations can also provide guidance. The Swedish Genealogical Society has a website with abundant information.

When commencing genealogical research in the church records, it is helpful to know both the date of birth and the parish of birth for the person the search begins with. Other possible search entries are the dates of marriage, relocation or death, along with the relevant parish. On the basis of such information it is possible to continue in the household surveys/parish registers and thereby gain a concise picture of the individual or family.

Church archive records

The church archives consist of several different types of records, described below, that together can provide the necessary information. For more information, see the Archive Center’s research guides in Swedish:

• Forska i kyrkoarkiv (Researching Church Archives)
• Folkbokföring före 30 juni 1991 (National registration prior to July 1, 1991)

Household surveys and Parish registers (Husförhörslängd and församlingsbok), series AI and AII, provide information about individuals and families. These are arranged by place, farm or, in modern times, by property address. In some parish registers the families are listed in alphabetical order after the head person’s surname. From about 1970 and onwards, the parish registers were often organized using a system of loose pages.

Property lists and registers, usually designated as Series AIId, were kept in many parishes. In more recent years it is possible to see a connection between a street address and a property code and in that manner find an entrance to the relevant parish register.

Registers of missing persons (Böcker over obefintliga), Series AIII, can be found in most parishes between 1895 and 1967. Prior to 1895 the information was part of the household surveys. From 1968 there is a series designated as AIVb. These registers contain information about people who, for some reason, left the parish without giving proper notification.

Personal files (Personakter), series AIVa-d, were created from 1947 onwards and contain concise information on individuals. As secondary sources such files are not always complete.

Parish registers and Departure registers (Församlingsregister and Avgångsregister), series AV och AVI, were records kept between 1947 and June 30, 1991 over people who had left the parish or died. The series consists of cards kept in alphabetical or identity number order.

Relocation registers (Flyttningslängder), series B, were kept chronologically and listed when individuals or families moved into or out of the parish.

Birth and baptism records (Födelse- och dopböcker), Series C, are kept chronologically by date of birth, listing the parents, the home and at times the household survey page number.

Confirmation records (Konfirmationslängder), Series D, list the confirmation candidates for each year in the respective parishes.

Banns and weddings books (Lysnings-, Vigsel- and Äktenskapsböcker), Series E, are kept in chronological order by parish.

Death and burial records (Död- and begravningsböcker), Series F, are kept chronologically by date of death for each parish. Occasionally the cause of death is noted.

Other research aids

Other archives can be very useful such as estate inventories that are part of the court archives. Databases such as these, found in the Archive Center Research Hall, can also be helpful:

• Census records from 1880, 1890, 1900, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000
  
• Swedish deaths register for 1815-2022
  
• Probate register
  
• Register of soldiers
  
• EmiWeb