Gjerstad Parish, Aust-Agder, Norway Genealogy

Guide to Gjerstad, Aust-Agder, Norway ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Church Records

 * Microfilm at the for Gjerstad prestegjeld (clerical district). Contains priest and sexton records for the parishes Gjerstad and Vegårshei. Included Sønneløv (Søndeled) and Risør parishes until 1745. Vegårshei was annexed to Holt clerical district in 1812 but in 1828 was returned to Gjerstad clerical district. Parish registers for the years 1695-1924.


 * Digitized parish registers available online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives).

Census Records

 * 1664-1666 Clerical Census: This census was taken by the local parish priests. It covers Gjerstad clerical district, including the parishes of Vestre Moland, Risør, Søndeled, Austre Moland, and Gjerstad, and is available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It lists the name of the farms, names of farm owners (including widows), the sons of the farm owners, male farm hands, cottagers and their sons, and the ages of each person. There was another census taken by the civil authorities at this same time. Both censuses should be searched as they supplement each other. This clerical census is more complete.


 * 1664-1666 Civil Census: This census was taken by the local civil authorities. It covers Gjerstad clerical district, including the parishes of Søndeled, Gjerstad, Vegårshei, and Risør, and is available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It lists the names of the farms, farm owners, sons of farm owners, male farm hands, cottagers and sons of cottagers and the age of each person. The clerical authorities took a census during this same time period. Both censuses should be used as they supplement each other. The clerical census is more complete.


 * 1701 Manntall: The census records for Gjerstad clerical district and includes the parishes of Gjerstad, Søndeled, and Risør and is available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It was taken for military purposes. It lists only the males living in rural districts who were over the age of one year. It includes the farm name, name and age of the owner, names and ages of sons and servants. Also includes the residence of all unmarried males living away from home when the census was taken.


 * 1801: The 1801 census for Gjerstad clerical district includes the parishes Gjerstad and Vegårshei and is available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It lists the farm name, person's name, position in the household, age, marital status, and occupation. A typewritten edition with indexes is available on microfiche. It is also available in a searchable database online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives).


 * 1835: The 1835 census for Gjerstad clerical district includes the parishes Gjerstad and Vegårshei and is available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It lists the farm name, persons name, age, position in the family and occupation. It also lists statistics. Also available online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives).


 * 1845: The 1845 census for Gjerstad clerical district includes the parishes Gjerstad and Vegårshei and is available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It lists the farm name, the persons name, age, position in the family, and occupation. It also lists statistical information. Also available online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives).


 * 1855: The 1855 census for Gjerstad clerical district includes the parishes Gjerstad and Vegårshei and is available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It gives the name of the farm, the name of each person, age, position in the family, and occupation. It also lists statistical information. Also available online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives).


 * 1865: The 1865 census for Gjerstad clerical district includes the parishes Gjerstad and Vegårshei and is available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This census includes the name of the farm, the persons name, residence, status in the family, occupation, sex, marital status, place of birth, age, religion if not a member of the state church, and other miscellaneous information. Each book usually contain one clerical district (prestegjeld). In some books there are two clerical districts listed. The parishes and school districts in each clerical district are listed at the beginning of each book. Also available in a searchable database online at Digitalarkviet (Digital Archives).
 * 1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images; also at Ancestry ($), MyHeritage ($)


 * 1875: The 1875 census for Gjerstad clerical district includes the parishes of Gjerstad and Vegårshei and is available on microfilm at the Family History Library, in Salt Lake City. This 1875 census contains the name of the farm, the persons name, residence, position in the family, occupation, sex, marital status, year of birth, place of birth, religion if not a member of the state church, and other miscellaneous information. Also available in a searchable database online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives).


 * 1891: The 1891 census for Gjerstad clerical district is available online in a searchable database at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives).


 * 1900: The 1900 census for Gjerstad clerical district includes the parishes of Gjerstad and Vegårsheiis available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This census contains the name of the farm, persons name, sex, whether resident or temporary resident, those absent from the parish and their location at the time of the census, position in the family, marital status, occupation, when born, where born, citizenship, religion, and other miscellaneous information. Also available in a searchable database online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives).


 * 1910: The 1910 census for Gjerstad is available online at Digitalarkivet (Digital Archives), as well as at the Norwegian Historical Data Center at the Univesity of Tromsø in Norway.

Farm Books
Kveim, Torleif, 1887-1969; Grøvik, Ivar, 1922-1984; Hagelia, Magnhild; Vevestad, Andreas, 1930-: Gjerstad Bygdesoga. The farm books for Gjerstad consist of a series of 9 pamphlets, authored by different writers.

Innhold: b. 1. [Gjerstad, Ulltveit, Apland og Kveim] / Torleif Kveim -- b. 2. [Melås, Landsverk, Øvre Røed, Mostad, Sandåker, Ausland, Eskeland, Brendalsmo og Fossbrekk] / Torleif Kveim -- b. 3. [Haugen Ytre, Eikland, Brokeland og Skorstøl] / Torleif Kveim -- b. 4. [Sunde, Holte og Rød, Tveit og Mo med Sundalen] / Torleif Kveim -- b. 5. [Bråten, Luden Søndre og Nordre, Trydal og Vevstad] / av Torleif Kveim ; fullført av Iver Grøvik -- b. 6. [Markset, Heiland, Ljådal og Vestøll] / Ivar Grøvik -- b. 7. [Gryting-Grendal] / Magnhild Hagelia -- b. 8. [Åsbø, Løite, Haugen] / Andreas Vevstad -- b. 9. [Fone, Byholt, Høggeto og Vik] / Andreas Vevstad.

A history of the people and farms of Gjerstad in Aust-Agder county.

The farm names found in each are listed below. FHL 948.28/G2 D2

Farm Names
The farm number and name of the farms listed in Oluf Rygh Farm Names Index in about 1900 were as follows:

22 Aamlivolden, 23 Aasbø, 43 Aasland, 36 Apeland, 35 Ausland, 5 Barbulien, 16 Braaten nordre, 32 Brenndalsmoen, 3 Brokeland, 7 Byholt,  7 Dobbemyren,  10 Egdesand, 2 Eikeland, 34 Eskeland nedre, 2 Espeviken,  6 Fone, 31 Fosbrekke, 43 Færgestedet,  5 Gryting,  1 Haugen ytre, 21 Haugen øvre, 26 Heiland, 43 Holte, 2 Hovet, 8 Huggeto lille,  14 Kullevedhugsten, 37 Kveim med Røiseland,  18 Landsværk, 25 Ljaadal, 13 Lunde, 27 Lunden nordre, 22 Løite,  24 Markset, 7 Maurlien, 17 Melaas, 39 Mo, 14 Mostad, 21 Mykland, 19 Mæsel,  11 Præstegaarden,  3 Renstøl, 15 Rød, 43 Rød ytre,  12 Sandaaker, 4 Skorstøl, 34 Staalerød, 3 Stiansbraaten, 33 Stien, 2 Stifoss, 41 Sunde, 39 Sundsdalen,  29 Trydal, 40 Tveit,  10 Ultveit,  9 Vehus, 9 Venaas, 20 Vestøl, 30 Vevestad, 38 Vik,  42 Østerholt

Gjerstad Bygdesoga Vol. 1 Apland, Bjøns, Bortigard,  Der Framme, Der Nord, Der Ute,  Egdalen, Egderø, Egderø Vestre,  Gjerstadstranna, Grantangen,  Hallen, Hunsvass Øygard, Høstfet,  Kjennebakken, Kjennstranna, Klokkargarden, Kveim,  Langvoll, Listøl, Lyngstøl,  Presthagane,  Rinnen,  Saglia, Skaldrop, Solbakken, Steinholhaugen, Stemkjær,  Tangen, Tonjesbråte,  Ulltveit, Ultved,  Vestgård, Vestigard,  Østre Egderø

Gjerstad Bygdesoga Vol. 2 Ausland, Bakkane, Bekrus, Bergheim, Bergli, Bjellås, Brekke, Brendalsmo, Brubakken, Bråtane,  Dalen, Der Framme, Der Nord,  Eskeland,  Fjellheim, Flaten, Flåta, Fossbrekk, Fredheim,  Gjerbakkane, Granheim, Gunnustad,  Hagen, Hasle, Haukås, Hausen, Hegdehaugen, Hegna, Hegnane, Heimtun, Høgbråt,  Kleiva, Kleivane, Kolvedhogsten, Kongsnes, Kristisdal,  Landsverk, Lia, Lunde, Lundekleiv, Lønntveit, Løvstad,  Melås, Mostad,  Nedre Eskeland, Nordal, Nordheim, Nordli, Norstad, Nyvoll,  Ormkleiv,  Røed, Røgbråten, Rønningen,  Salvsbu, Sandåker, Skogland, Sletta, Sletttås, Snipen, Solhaug, Solli, Solstad, Stien, Stålerød,  Ter Knuten, Trevoll, Tveitane, Tykris,  Utigard,  Veimo, Østigard,  Åsen, Åsmunddalen, Åsvang

Gjerstad Bygdesoga Vol. 3 Bjordammen, Brokeland, Bråtane, Buhagen, Båsthagen, Dalen, Dalstø,  Eiet, Eikeland, Eikelandsvollen, Eiklandsdalen, Espvika,  Fianbakken, Fjellvang, Flaten, Fossen,  Hageroa, Haugen, Haugmonen, Havet, Heiland, Heslia, Heststeindalen, Hjellen, Høgeli,  Kals,  Leirmondalen,  Myra,  Nedrre Eikeland,  Olsokhaugen,  Persbukt,  Renstøl,  Sagåsen, Skorstøl, Solås, Stiansbråte, Storoddstykket, Strannåslia, Svåa,  Tellefsdal,  Urfjelldalen,  Øya

Gerstad Bygdesoga Vol. 4 Bakken, Bjordammen, Breie Øygard, Bråtane, Bråten, Budalen, Buslåtten, Fossen,  Gamle Sti, Grenda,  Hagane, Haugane, Haugland, Hegdsbråte, Heimigard, Holte, Høgstli,  Kufjell, Kvennveien,  Libråten, Lidalen, Lill-Tveit, Lill-Østerholt,  Mo, Mo Der oppe, Mo Der vest, Mo Der øst, Monen, Myrland,  Nerigard, Nordigard, Nygård, Nylund,  Rød, Rønningen,  Sannes, Stebekk, Storøygard, Strat, Sunde, Sundsdalen,  Tangen, Toftkjen, Tveit,  Østerholt, Øygarden,  Åsen, Åsland

Gjerstad Bygdesoga Vol. 5 Bakken, Bjynnustad, Bjønnustad, Bjørkly, Brattli, Bråten, Deling, Duerø, Dure,  Eikvassbråten, Engly,  Fredheim, Fredly, Frikjørke, Furuheim, Furulund,  Grundsvoll,  Haug, Holmen,  Lauvåsen, Leirdalen, Lia, Lunden, Lundvoll,  Moen, Monen-Moen, Moreina, Morka, Myra, Myre, Mørland,  Nordheim, Norigard, Nygård, Nylund,  Rakkedalen, Røa, Rønning-Bruket, Rønningen,  Solheim, Søtrejordet,  Tollbakken, Tollheimen, Trydal,  Vale, Valle, Vang, Vekjen, Venli, Vevstad,  Øygarden,  Århus, Åsmundstøl, Åsmyr

Gjerstad Bygdesoga Vol. 6 Bakken, Der Framme, Der Nord,  Finnen, Finnlli, Fiskekjennlia, Fjellheim,  Gardane,  Heiland, Heiland Øygard, Hjemmejordet, Holmen, Holstølbråten,  Kabrestea, Kollen, Krikli,  Lia, Liane, Ljådal,  Markset, Marset, Midtli, Myrkjer, Mæsel,  Nordbø,  Rødlandet, Rønningen,  Sandva, Sitt, Skorva, Spondalen, Stien, Stormyr, Stormyrkjeret, Sundodden,  Timråsen, Trettlondalen,  Vegårsvann, Vestøl, Vik,  Øygard

Gjerstad Bygdesoga Vol. 7 Aaspelun, Bakken, Barbulia, Blimyr,  Eikhaug, Eikhaugen,  Fabrikken,  Granly, Gryting-Grenada,  Hagelia, Hanto,  Kvastad,  Lauve, Lauvåsen,  Naes, Ner-Gryting, Nyberg,  Rønningen,  Simonstad, Skogvang, Solbakken, Solhaug, Solli, Solås, Stormyr,  Tomtebruk,  Uberg, Ubergsmoen,  Venle,  Øvre Gryting

Gjerstad Bygdesoga Vol. 8 Berg, Bergmark, Blæs, Bratt, Brussel, Bråten, Campo Amore,  Dalane,  Enghagen,  Grasåsen, Grøtåna,  Hagen, Haugen, Haugetun, Haukdalen, Høgda,  Kleiva, Kolbotn, Kronbakken, Kveven, Kårstein,  Langmyr, Lia, Lillelv, Lokkollen, Løite, Løitebakken,  Marjatun, Midtgården, Morka, Mykland, Myklegard,  Nordigard, Noga,  Olsbu,  Raundalen, Rullbråten,  Sletteberg, Soltun, Sollhøgd, Svarvaren,  Tuftene,  Valhall, Varden, Vefall,  Øygardslia,  Åmlivollen, Ås, Åsbo, Åsbogrenda, Åsvang, Åvolds plass,

Gjerstad Bygdesoga Vol. 9 Arneberg, Bakken, Bakkerud, Bakketun, Bergerud, Bjerkebakken, Bjorkjenndalen, Bjørkås, Borgtun, Brokeland, Brufjell, Bråten, Bråten Lykkebo, Byholt, Byholtsdalen,  Der Nede, Der Oppe, Dobbmyra,  Eikebrøstel, Einervika, Espemyråsen,  Fjeldberg, Fjellheim, Fjellstad, Fjellstølåsen, Fjelltun, Fjordglytt, Fjordheim, Fone, Fossåsen, Fredheim, Furuli, Furulund,  Granerud, Granlund, Grenda,  Hagane, Hageli, Hagen, Hasselstad, Haugbo, Haugen, Heimtun, Høggeto, Høggetoneset, Høgtun,  Kjørkhaugane, Knausen, Kvennhusbråten,  Langmyrlia, Lauvli, Lauvåsen, Lauvåshagen, Lille Høggeto, Lillemyr, Lillemyråsen, Listøl, Lundbo, Lundebo, Lunheim, Lyngås,  Maurlia, Mibbe, Midtbø, Myre, Myrhaug,  Nesheim, Nordigard, Nordli, Nordnes, Nordvoll, Nybråtet,  Oppigard,  Plassen,  Renstøl, Rulldalen, Rønningane,  Sagkleiva, Skarverød, Skeilidalen, Skjerkjenn, Skogbø, Skogheim, Skræme, Skuggevika, Småkjæra, Solbakken, Solstad, Soltun, Spjøtåsen, Steinsland, Store Høggeto, Stormyr, Strandheim, Stranna, Stuptjenn, Stuptjennmyra, Svarttjenn, Sørli,  Teglverket, Tomtebruk, Tormodsmyr, Tveitstangen, Tverrbråten, Tyttebærhausen,  Utistaua,  Vehus, Venås, Vidsyn, Vik,  Ytre Gjerstad,  Østernes, Øygarden, Øygardslia,  Åbø, Ågestad, Åsen

Genealogy
Lindstøl, Tallak: Stamtavler, væsentlig fra Østre Nedenæs. A genealogy of some families from eastern Nedenes which includes Søndeled, Vegårshei, and Gjerstad in Aust-Agder county.

FHL 948.28/S1 D2 To view a digital version click here

Probate Records
Østre Råbyggelag judicial district *1697-1852 Family History Library *1697-1852 Digitalarkivet

Holt (Austre Nedenes) judicial district *1825-1857 Family History Library *1823-1911 Digitalarkivet

Nedenes deanery *1693-1811 Family History Library *1693-1811 Digitalarkivet