Denmark Civil Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
The records in this collection are for the years 1851-1959. Please note this collection may have indexes for records that are not included. For example, this collection contains an index to civil marriages in Copenhagen City, 1851-1896, but only has records for 1851-1875.

Collection Description


The earliest records are handwritten in narrative style. Beginning in 1923, entries were recorded in books containing preprinted forms. These records cover only individuals who were not members of -- or who chose not to marry in -- the state church. Consequently, the population coverage is quite low. These records do not cover any parts of Denmark that were under German administration to 1920. These counties were Tønder, Haderslev, Åbenrå, and Sønderborg.

Record Content
These are the key genealogical facts found in most Danish Civil Marriage records:


 * Names of the bride and groom
 * Marriage date
 * Ages, and sometimes the birthdates, of the bride and groom
 * Residence of bride and groom
 * Occupation of the bride and groom

How to Use the Record
Civil marriage records are an excellent source for validating the date and place of marriage. If a marriage record for a couple cannot be found in the church registers, the civil marriage registers are an excellent source to check.

Record History
Civil marriages were first allowed in Denmark in 1851. The marriage was recorded with the district sheriff in rural areas and with the magistrate in cities. The marriage was recorded in special notarial registers. These registers vary in content and arrangement by area. Some include a considerable number of supporting documents, such as baptismal certificates, while others record only the names and residences of the bridal couple. In 1923 the registration process was changed by legislation enacted in 1922. This made the mayor the registering officer in the cities and the parish sherrif the registrar in rural areas. The registration form was also standardized into a columnar format. Regions of Denmark that belonged to Germany had a separate system of registration.

Why the Record Was Created
Civil registration of marriage legitimized marriage for members of the population who were not adherents of the state church.

Collection Reliability
The marriage date is very reliable. Other information depends upon the knowledge and reliability of the informants (usually the bride and groom).

Related Websites

 * Danish Genealogy Records
 * Denmark Genealogy Links

Related Wiki Articles

 * Denmark
 * Denmark: Civil Registration-Vital Records
 * Denmark Birth, Marriage, and Death Search Stateges 1467-Present

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection

 * United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71
 * Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023

Sources of Information for This Collection
Denmark. Civil Marriages, 1851-1967. Rigsarkivet Danmark, Rigsdagsgården 9, 1218 København, Denmark.