Sweden, Household Examination Books - FamilySearch Historical Records

Sweden

Why Should I Look at This Collection?
The Household Examination Books are the primary source for researching the lives of individuals and families throughout the Parishes of Sweden, from the late 1600's until modern times. The books were created and kept by the Swedish Lutheran Church which was tasked with keeping the official records of the Swedish population until 1991.

What is in This Collection?
Household Examination Books were created and kept by the Swedish Lutheran Church and are the primary source for researching Swedish families from the late 1600s to modern times. Under the requirements of the Church Law of 1686 the parish priest would visit each home in the parish and test each individual's knowledge of the catechisms. In addition, they would collect birth, death, and marriage dates as well as where families had moved to or from and when, etc. The priest would then come back each year and update or edit the information from the previous year and note any changes in the population of the home. After 1894 the examinations were less focused on doctrinal knowledge and more focused on enumerating the Swedish population. The Swedish Lutheran Church kept the official records of the Swedish population until 1991.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information is usually found in these records:
 * Name
 * Birth date
 * Marriage date
 * Move-in or out date
 * Death date

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * The parish they lived in

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If you have access to the image the index data was taken from check to see if there is additional information
 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference; see the section Citing This Collection for assistance. Save or print a copy of the image
 * Use the information to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * Use the information to locate the individual in church records, if appropriate

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * People enjoyed a higher level of personal mobility in Sweden than in other countries due to the easier terrain, established roads, and a system which allowed people with legitimate reasons to relocate to move
 * Consider alternate spellings for names. Law regarding surnames were not fully in effect at this time, so the person may be recorded with or without a patronymic surname
 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records
 * Check for variants of given names, surnames, and place names. Transcription errors could occur in any handwritten record; also, it was not uncommon for an individual be listed under a nickname or an abbreviation of their name
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches
 * Search the records of nearby parishes. While it was uncommon for an individual in this period to move more than about 20 miles from their place of birth, smaller relocations were not uncommon
 * Look at the actual image of the record to verify the information found in the online description, if possible

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Sweden.
 * Sweden Guided Research
 * Sweden Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.