Trace your ancestry

Did your Norwegian relatives originate from Western Norway? Here we provide information on how to trace your Norwegian ancestry. Mass emigration from Norway to the U.S. began with the ship Restauration, which set sail from Stavanger in 1825. In the two centuries that followed, approximately 900.000 Norwegians relocated across the Atlantic Ocean.

What sources are available? 

To trace your lineage, you will need the names and places of birth of your relatives. Frome there, several sources are available in order to learn more about your ancestors. In many cases, the spelling of farm or town names, or even birth names, might have changed. If you need assistance locating a farm or a town, please contact us. 

Parish registers 

Baptisms, marriages and funerals have been recorded by the church since the mid-1600s. These are called Kyrkjebøker og Kirkebøker in Norwegian. Surviving parish registers are kept by the National Archives’ regional repositories (state archives). Most of these can be digitally accessed online: media.digitalarkivet.no/en/. 

Cencuses 

Norway has held nationwide censuses regularly. The censuses contain information about the names and family relation to all individuals in a household. Censuses of 1801, 1865, 1875, 1891, 1900 and 1910 are available online along with older lists of males dating back to 1664: media.digitalarkivet.no/en/. 

Bygdebøker 

Bygdebøker are invaluable sources for local and family history. The book often include general history of the local area as well as family history of each farm. Not all areas of Norway are covered by bygdebøker. The National Library holds copies of all published bygdebøker, and some are available online. In addition, most local public libraries also holds copies of local bygdebøker.  

School records 

School records provide insight to names and attendance at local schools. They might help you to further trace your Norwegian relatives. Vestland fylkeskommune holds school records from the northern part of the county. Some of the records are available online. If you are interested in school records, please contact us.