Sweden: Marriage Record Search Strategy 1500-1859

1. Parish Register, Marriage: Church records Emigration from Sweden began in earnest in the 1860's. The number of emigrating Swedes increased annually until it peaked in 1882. Between 1860-1925, over one million Swedes emigrated. Many Swedes emigrating to the United States settled in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota. In 1905, Norway was granted independence by the Swedish king and parliament. Since 1814, Sweden has maintained an official policy of neutrality. Today Sweden is a constitutional monarchy ruled by a parliament with a king as the head of state.

What you are looking for Before civil registers began, church marriage records were the best source for determining when a person was married.

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

2. 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 a clerical survey record sometimes marriage information can be found. This happens more frequently beginning in 1850 and later.

Why go to the next record Not all clerical survey records contain marriage information and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

3. Parish Census Records: Church records Clerical surveys (husforhorslangd) can provide some marriage information. Before 1800, the surveys give very little marriage information. After 1800, the surveys usually give a marriage date and may provide other marriage information. This record is found under the jurisdiction of parish-church.

4. Parish Register, Engagements: Church records Beginning about 1500, usually much later, the clergy began to keep engagement records. The early marriage records minimally include the name of the bride and groom, and the date and place of marriage. The record may also include the dates of the marriage banns or proclamations or a separate record may have been kept. Information found in a marriage depends upon how detailed the minister made his record.

What you are looking for If parish clerical survey records do not exist, parish engagement/marriage banns are the best source for determining when a person was married.

Why go to the next record Not all parish engagement/marriage banns have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

5. Parish Register, Christening, 1500-1874: 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 If parish marriage banns do not exist, parish christening records are the best source for determining when a person was married. The marriage date can be about one year before the first child's birth.

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

6. Probate Records: Probate records Probate records (bouppteckningar) list the name of the surviving spouse. If the deceased was married more than once, the probate will often state the name of the other spouse(s). Dates and places of marriage are rarely given. This record is found under the jurisdiction of court district-court.

What you are looking for When parish christening records do not exist, probate records are the best source for determining when a couple was married. The length of the marriage may be indicated in the probate record, from which you can estimate the marriage date.

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

7. Muster Rolls: Military records Military records (muster rolls) provide little or no information that the soldier was married. A spouse's name is rarely listed. This record is found under the jurisdiction of country-government.

What you are looking for When probate records do not exist, military records are the best source for determining when a male was married. Military records give a person's age, making it possible to determine his approximate marriage year. The average marriage age for a man was 25 years.

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

8. Marriage Record: Civil registration

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