Sweden Birth Record Search Strategy 1860-Present

1.Birth Certificate: Civil registration

Beginning 1860, the government required civil registrars to keep birth records. Usually these records included more information than the church christening records that were kept during the same time.

What you are looking for? Civil registers were the best source for determining when a person was born.

Why go to the next record? Not all of the Swedish civil registry records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

2. Parish Register, Birth: Church records Beginning about 1500, churches required their clergy to keep christening (or baptism) records. The records give the names of the parents and the child and include birth dates. Information found in a christening depends on how detailed the minister made his record.

What you are looking for? Church christening records were the best source for determining when a person was born.

Why go to the next record? Sometimes, because of gaps in church records caused by missing or destroyed records, you may not be able to find a christening record. In this case, use a parish census record, called a clerical survey, to find birth or christening information.

3. Clerical Survey: Church records The church ministers kept clerical survey registers. Clerical survey registers give the names of children, parents, and grandparents. These records usually give the dates and places of birth, marriage, and death of the parents and children.

What you are looking for? In the absence of church christenings records, a clerical survey can often provide birth or christening dates. Clerical surveys were taken annually, and the information was provided by each member of the family. Information from clerical surveys should be considered secondary information.

Why go to the next record? For many parishes, clerical survey records were not kept prior to 1750. If you are researching in a parish before 1750 with no available clerical survey, search the tax lists.

4. Parish Census Records: Church records Clerical surveys (husforhorslangd) were kept consistently by 1750. The survey often states the person's date of birth and birth place. Earlier surveys may only list the year of birth or give the person's age. Clerical surveys can help indentify all the members of a family and allow you to see how the family changes through time. The jurisdiction for clerical surveys is parish-church.

What you are looking for? In the absence of church christenings records, a clerical survey can often provide birth or christening dates. For many parishes, clerical survey record were not kept prior to 1750. If you are researching in a parish before 1750 with no available clerical survey, search the tax lists.

Why go to the next record?

For many parishes, clerical survey record were not kept prior to 1750. If you are researching in a parish before 1750 with no available clerical survey, search the tax lists.