GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Finland Births

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find birth information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the birth section of the Finland Guided Research page.

In general the Lutheran church began keeping records after a 1686 royal decree. Each parish gradually complied with this decree. Record availability before that time period is inconsistent.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1657-1890: Finland, Select Baptisms  at Ancestry($)

Additional Records with Birth Information
Substitute records can contain information about more than one event, and are used when records for an event are not available. Because the substitute records may not be created at the time of the event, it may contain incorrect information. Search for as many substitute records as possible to corroborate information found in substitute records to help improve accuracy.

Tips for finding births
Success with finding birth records in online databases depends on a few key points:
 * Your ancestor's name may misspelled. Try the following search tactics:
 * Try searching for the parents if known, instead of the child.
 * Try different spelling variations of the first and last name of your ancestor (e.g. Aleta, Aletta, Alette).
 * Try a given name search (leave out the last names).
 * The use of patronymic surnames in Finland ended in the late 1800s. (See this article for more information.)


 * Expand the date range of the search.
 * Try searching with the province name only instead of by parish.
 * If your ancestor's name is common, try adding more information to narrow the search, such as relationships.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start In general the Lutheran church began keeping records after a 1686 royal decree. Each parish gradually complied with this decree. Record availability before that time period is inconsistent.

Records Published Collection coverage tables show the places and time periods of original records published. Check the coverage table for the collections you searched which did not include your ancestor. Gaps in the online collection may require searches in other records or original birth records at an archive.


 * Finland Baptisms Coverage Table and Map

Records destroyed Any known record loss will be mentioned on the parish page. Locate your parish by navigating to the parish page starting here.