Finland, Viipuri, Tax Lists - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of tax lists for the county of Viipuri. It includes only the following years: 1817-1838, 1840-1883, 1892, 1903, 1904, 1915. Tax lists which were recorded every 5 years beginning in 1810 and continuing to 1915. These documents are called "henkikirjat" in Finnish and mantallslängder in Swedish. The index includes those individuals who were recorded with first and last names or patronymics, usually the head of household or property owner. The images may also include given names, ages, and relationships of other family and household members.

While the primary purpose of these records was the assessment of taxes, they also serve as a quinquennial (every five years) census of most of the population for the years 1810 to 1915. In 1809, during the Finnish War between Sweden and Russia, the occupied portions of Finland pledged their allegiance to Tsar Alexander I of Russia in return for allowing Finland to keep their laws and religion. The Treaty of Frederiksham ceded Finland to the Russian Empire as the Autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland (Suomen suuriruhtinaskunta or Storfurstendömet Finland), and the Tsar assumed the title Grand Duke of Finland. This relationship lasted until 1917 when Finland declared independence following the Russian October Revolution.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
This record gives the names of all persons resident who are eligible to pay taxes. In addition to their names it generally provides their age or birth year, occupation, and relationship to the head of household. The information varies over time, and is generally more complete in later years. It also identifies the number of persons eligible to pay taxes, the number of persons exempt, their religious affiliation and after 1810 may also indicate if any hold a Russian passport.

Collection Content
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Persons's name
 * Age
 * Occupation
 * Residence

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person
 * Where they lived
 * What years they were there

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 available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

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

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century
 * Check the parish registers to see if the individual died or moved to another parish.
 * The person recording the information may have recorded the person with their name in Swedish or Finnish. Make sure you look for both forms of the name.

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

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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.

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