Älvsby Parish, Norrbotten, Sweden Genealogy

Guide to Älvsby Parish, Sweden ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

History
This parish was known as Elfsby before 1902. It was also known as Älvsbyn. Älvsby parish was broken out of Piteå parish in 1809. Before the parish was formed, there had been Älvsby chapel law within the parish, which according to a decision was added in 1781. However, the decision on chapel law does not seem to have been implemented. According to the 1781 decision, the chapel team would include the villages of Manjärv, Vissträsk, Muskus, Korsträsk, Lillkorsträsk, Pålträsk and Byn.

Älvsby parish was part of a joint pastorate with Piteå county parish (mother parish) 1809-1894. From 1895 onwards, the parish was its own pastorate.

According to a royal decision, in 1941 certain transfers of areas took place from Piteå parish and Norrfjärden parish to Älvsby parish. The source does not state which properties were affected.

Some villages and farms have had different parish affiliations: The fire, later in Arvidsjaur, is recorded in Älvsby house examination Book A I: 5 Brännheden, later in Arvidsjaur, is recorded in Älvsby husförhörslängder A I: 4-5 Gammelträsk, later in Piteå county, is included in Älvsby house examination books A I: 3-5 Manjärv (or Mandjärv), later in Piteå county, is recorded in Älvsby house examination books A I: 3-5.

Place Names
Afvaträsk, Altervattnet, Arvidsträsk, Asplöfberget Björnberget, Bodstrand, Bränheden, Brännmark, Brännträsk, Byn, Brännan  Finnäset, Fleviken, Fällforssen  Granträsk  Heden, Hällan  Isträsk  Kisträsk, Korsträsk, Krokträsk, Kålsberget, Kantaberget  Laduberget, Lappfolk (Lapp people), Lappurträsk, Liden, Lilla Arvidsträsk, Lillkorsträsk, Lillträsk, Lillträsk (Muskus), Långträsk  Mandjerf, Muskus, Nattberget  Nattberget Westra, Nedra Tvärån, Nedra Tväråselet, Nygård  Petberget, Pålsträsk  Riddarshällan  Solberget, Selsmark, Småträsk, Snårbäcksliden, Stockberget, Storfinträsk, Storforssen, Strycktjärn  Teugerträsk, Timforssen, Tvärselet, Tvärån, Tjernbacken  Wissträsk, Wistbäcken, Wistheden, Wistmyran  Älvsbyns köping  Öfre Tväråselet

To see what kind of place it is you will need a Swedish Gazetteer.


 * Surrounding Parishes

Census Records

 * Sweden Household Examination Records (Husförhörslängder)--explanation of this church record which is functionally the census of Sweden.
 * Sweden Household Examination Books, 1840-1947, ($), index and images. Also on Ancestry.com, ($), Arkiv Digital ($), and SVAR at Riksarkivet.

Online Database Church Records
The easiest way to access the Swedish Church Records is through the internet, using these five sites (see links to specific collections below). Four of these sites require a subscription for access. at FamilySearch.
 * MyHeritage.com ($),
 * ($),
 * Arkiv Digital ($), and
 * SVAR at Riksarkivet.

Help Using ArkivDigital: Online Databases for Sweden

 * These lessons will teach you how to use ArkivDigital:
 * ArkivDigital: Explore Your Swedish Heritage

FamilySearch Library Records
Click Sweden, Norrbotten Records for a full listing of microfilmed records (some digitized online) at the FamilySearch Library, that may be digitized. Check back occasionally to see if your records have become available. In the meantime, some of them might be available at a FamilySearch Center near you. Click on "Places within Sweden, Norrbotten" and then select your parish.

Military Records

 * Sweden Military Records
 * Central Soldiers Register InstructionsSearch Engine

Related Sources
Sweden Online Genealogy Records Ask the Community

Help Reading Swedish Records

 * You do not have to be fluent in Swedish to read these records! They have a limited vocabulary: mother, father, born, bride, groom, married, etc. The rest of the content will be names, dates, and places, which do not need translation.
 * This Swedish Word List covers typical terms found in the records.
 * Swedish Historical Dictionary Database, SHDD: This interactive dictionary allows you to enter a word in the search box and receive the translation.
 * Feast Day Calendar (Moveable) and Feast Day Lists (Fixed and Moveable) will help you translate dates written in feast day form.
 * Sweden surnames are patronymic and change every generation, so carefully study Sweden Names, Personal.
 * For help with reading the column headings found in more recent records, see [[Media:Swedenish_Par_Reg_and_Exam_headings.pdf|Swedish Parish Register and Household Exam Roll Headings]].
 * Instructions, document examples, and translations are given for Reading Swedish Birth and Christening Records 1717, 1752, 1771, 1792, 1803, 1834, 1854.

Help Reading Old Handwriting

 * Reading Gothic Handwriting for Swedish Genealogy, Lesson 1
 * Spelling and Phonetics for Swedish Genealogy, Lesson 2 — Names, dates, and key genealogical words
 * Reading Gothic Handwriting for Swedish Genealogy: Put It All Together, Lesson 3
 * Birth and Christening Records for Swedish Genealogy
 * Scandinavian Handwriting
 * Scandinavian Handwriting, part 3 - No part 2 available

Help With Research Objectives and Strategies
Sweden Research Strategies