Faroe Islands Civil Registration

Civil Registration of Marriages [Borgerlige Vielser]
Civil marriages became legal in the Faroe Islands and Denmark in 1851. Prior to that date all persons being married were required to have the ceremony performed by Lutheran clergy, maintained by civil authorities. Although most Faroese marriages continued to be performed and officially recorded by Lutheran clergy, Plymouth Brethren and members of other churches, as well as non-religous persons, were recorded in these civil marriage records.

Generally these records contain the names of bride and of groom, date and place of marriage; residences, occupations, marital status, names of parents and witnesses, ages or actual dates of birth; sometimes birthplaces.

Records are in the possession of the Faeroe Islands National Archives (Føroya Landsskjalasavn) in Tórshavn.

Death Certificates [Dødsattester]
Death certificates are an excellent source for finding out what happened to family members whose deaths may otherwise be very difficult to find. These certificates were produced by government authorities. The earliest records begin in 1879.

Records generally contain the name of deceased, cause of death, names of spouse and of parents, dates of death and burial, parish of death, place of burial. Records not in current use have been transferred to the Faeroe Islands National Archives (Føroya Landsskjalasavn), Tórshavn.