User:Forrestlee/Sandbox/Norway Census

A census is a count and description of the population. Censuses have been taken by the Norwegian government and by ecclesiastical officials for population studies and taxation purposes. Census and census-like records are found from the 1500s-2000. After 1900, a national census was taken every 10 years until 2000. Access to national censuses is restricted by for a period of 100 years after the date of enumeration.

Many municipalities also created censuses of their residents. These are usually available at the city archives or the regional state archives. As a general rule these are only restricted for a period of 60 years.

Usually the term census is applied to three record types:


 * Manntall - Usually lists of males only, sometimes recorded for purposes of enrollment in military service
 * Skattemantall - Tax lists which may include only specific parts of the populace
 * Folketellinger - Complete enumerations of the population

Census records may provide information about a person's:


 * Name
 * Age
 * Family relationships
 * Year of birth
 * Birthplace
 * Physical health (deaf, dumb, mute, etc.)

Census records are especially valuable because they list a large portion of the population. They provide information when records (or portions of records) are missing. Generally, you will find more detailed family information in more recent censuses. The census records identify birthplaces beginning in 1865. Use the information with caution, however, since some information may be incorrect. Remember that the census records are secondary sources!

Records Prior to 1600
Aslak Bolts jordebok (learn more) is the first census-like registration in Norway. It was made about 1430 by Aslak Bolt (1377-1450), Archbishop of Nidaros. As the registration only applied to the archdiocese of Nidaros it only included properties in Møre og Romsdal, Sør-Trøndelag, Nord-Trøndelag, and Nordland counties.


 * Original Manuscript - RA, Riksarkivets diplomsamling, F13/F13b/L0013: NRA dipl. München papir, nr. 4292 Aslak Bolts jordebok, 1430-1439.
 * 1851 Printed Edition - Aslak Bolts Jordebog : Fortegnelse over Jordegods og andre Herligheder tilhørende Erkebiskopsstolen i Nidaros
 * 1997 Printed Edition - Jørgensen, Jon Gunnar. Aslak Bolts jordebok. Oslo, Norway: Riksarkivet, 1997.

Manntall 1663-1666 (Male Census)
Two censuses were taken, Sokneprestenes manntall 1663-1666 (learn more) and Fogdenes manntall 1663-1666 (learn more). The former was done by the local priest, and the latter by the local bailiff under the order of Titus Bülche, a Danish official with responsibilities over church affairs. Only males over age 12 were included at first, in 1666 some younger boys may have been included.

http://familysearch.org/wiki/en/User:Forrestlee/Sandbox/1700s

http://familysearch.org/wiki/en/User:Forrestlee/Sandbox/1800s

http://familysearch.org/wiki/en/User:Forrestlee/Sandbox/1900s

http://familysearch.org/wiki/en/User:Forrestlee/Sandbox/Database_for_Norwegian_Emigration_to_Latin_America

http://familysearch.org/wiki/en/User:Forrestlee/Sandbox/Norway_Census

http://familysearch.org/wiki/en/User:Forrestlee/Sandbox/HULA_Database