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Research Tools
The key to getting started with your Swedish genealogy is knowing which county (län) and parish (socken) your ancestors came from in Sweden. Once you have this information you will find a wealth of records at your fingertips like births, marriages, deaths, and the Husförhörslängder!
The Husförhörslängder, or clerical survey, is the holy grail of Swedish genealogy. It's like a yearly census of those people living in the parish. It includes their birth/baptism and marriage dates, as well as if they moved in or out of a parish and who is living in the household. Microfilm records can be accessed through the Family History Library and its branches, as well as by subscription to ArkivDigital and Ancestry.com.
As part of our research collection, ArkivDigital, EmiWeb, Swedish death, graves and census databases are available at the Hoffman Research Library at the Minnesota Genealogy Center (i.e., MGC) where our entire collection is held. It is also a FamilySearch affiliate library, which means you can access more digital images and name indexes at the library than with a personal account. Free library access is included in SGSM memberships. Here is a link to the Library Layout Map provided by MGS.
In-person research assistance is available on Swedish Research Day (the third Thursday of the month except December) at the Hoffman Research Library. You can also submit research and translation inquiries to research@sgsmn.org, or submit a written request by sending it to the address below. These services are free of charge, but donations to SGSM are always appreciated.
The Swedish-American church microfilm collection (i.e., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Red River Valley Conference, and Minnesota Covenant) are held in trust from the ELCA Archives. You can search the church films index on the Library & Archives page or the printed index located in the microfilm cabinet. Ask the MGC Library Reference Desk volunteer for access to the cabinet.
Swedish Genealogy Society of Minnesota
1385 Mendota Heights Road, Suite 100
Mendota Heights, MN 55120-1367
Research Tools
- A Video Tour of the Hoffman Research Library: Virginia Taylor showcases our collection of Swedish books and maps.
- A Video Tour of the Swedish Materials in the Hoffman Research Library: Jan Carlson explains our collection of microfilmed church records and the 3rd Thursday Swedish Research Team.
- Video about Swedish Online Resources at the Hoffman Research Library: Bob Johnson, CG® provides a close look at the online card catalog and online subscription resource, including ArkivDigital and Emiweb, as well as the Swedish deaths, graves, and census databases.
- SGSM YouTube Channel: Video tours of the Hoffman Research Library and overview of the SGSM collection.
- Researching in the Hoffman Research Library: Plan your visit before you go.
- Swedish Databases Guide: Swedish research databases available at the Hoffman Research Library; Swedish death records from 1830 to 2020, Swedish emigrants, burials, decennial census records from 1970 to 2000, databases specifically for Stockholm research, miners’ court records, Walloon employment contracts, information on sailors from Hallands Län and blacksmith court records.
- Swedish Genealogy Information and Sources: A compilation of research information about websites and databases, Swedish counties and provinces, Swedish PC/Mac keyboard layouts and patronymic naming.
- Family Group Sheet
- Ancestor Chart
- Common Swedish Terms
- Swedish Occupational Titles
 Alphabet Chart of Old Script Characters
This chart will help you distinguish all those letters while viewing old church records and other old documents.
The old Germanic script in most cases was what was used in Sweden, particularly in the 1600s when many ministers went to Germany for their seminary training. It happens occasionally in those early Swedish church books that you run into the umlauted U along with the Latin. It is the original Gothic script, and can be used as a valid guide when translating early records. Eventually the Germanic letters fell out of use, but all of the other letters continued to be valid.
Learn Naming Patterns and Class Structure
Here are some wonderful articles pulled from the pages of our newsletter, the Tidningen. All are authored by our very own John von Walter. Each one contains a wealth of information for the Swedish researcher.
Swedish Military Research
A two-part document that Jeff Benson authored for the Tidningen regarding Military research.
A seven-page article written by John von Walter for our Summer 2004 issue of Tidningen. The different pages were 'stitched' together so ignore the page numbering: The Swedish Church
Swedish Church Villages
Another article by John von Walter about the church villages of northern Sweden. This was featured in our Winter 2001 Tidningen: Swedish Church Villages
Sweden's World Heritage Sites
Learn about the twelve World Heritage Sites in Sweden by John von Walter. This appeared in the Winter 2003 issue of Tidningen: World Heritage Sites
Finding Your Ancestor's Passenger and Ship Records
Home/Farm Rental vs. Ownership
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