The censuses provide snapshots of all the households in Denmark, Schleswig and Holstein at various intervals from 1769 onwards and have therefore become one of the prime sources of genealogical information. The recorded names, ages, trades and family relations offer many clues for further research in parish registers etc.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 18:56
Censuses have been held in the Kingdom of Denmark at various intervals: 1767, 1787, 1801, 1834, 1840, 1845, 1850, 1855, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1901, 1906, 1911, 1916 and 1921. Additional censuses were held in 1885 and 1895 for Copenhagen and Frederiksberg only. Censuses in the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein began in 1803 and were thereafter held in 1835, 1840, 1845, 1855 and 1860.
Most censuses were taken on February 1. The following list indicates the official enumeration dates for the various census lists and the areas they cover. The Danish word for census is Folketælling and each census is therefore often referred to as FT-1801 and FT-1845 etc.
The Danish censuses covers the following areas and dates:
| Census |
Date |
| FT-1769: Kingdom only |
Aug. 15, 1769 |
| FT-1787: Kingdom only |
July 1, 1787 |
| FT-1801: Kingdom only |
Feb. 1. 1801 |
| FT-1803: Schleswig and Holstein only |
Feb. 13, 1803 |
| FT-1834: Kingdom only |
Feb. 18, 1834 |
| FT-1835: Schleswig and Holstein only |
Feb. 1, 1835 |
| FT-1840: All Denmark |
Feb. 1, 1840 |
| FT-1845: All Denmark |
Feb. 1, 1845 |
| FT-1850: Kingdom only |
Feb. 1, 1850 |
| FT-1855: All Denmark |
Feb. 1, 1855 |
| FT-1860: All Denmark |
Feb. 1, 1860 |
| FT-1870: Kingdom only |
Feb. 1, 1870 |
| FT-1880: Kingdom only |
Feb. 1, 1880 |
| FT-1885: Copenhagen/Frederiksberg only |
Feb. 1, 1885 |
| FT-1890: Kingdom only |
Feb. 1, 1890 |
| FT-1895: Copenhagen/Frederiksberg only |
Feb. 1, 1895 |
| FT-1901: Kingdom only |
Feb. 1, 1901 |
| FT-1906: Kingdom only |
Feb. 1, 1906 |
| FT-1911: Kingdom only |
Feb. 1, 1911 |
| FT-1916: Kingdom only |
Feb. 1, 1916 |
| FT-1921: Kingdom (incl. North Schleswig) |
Feb. 1, 1921 |
| FT-1925: Kingdom (incl. North Schleswig) |
Nov. 5, 1925 |
| FT-1930: Kingdom (incl. North Schleswig) |
Nov. 5, 1930 |
| FT-1940: Kingdom (incl. North Schleswig) |
Nov. 5, 1940 |
| FT-1950: Kingdom (incl. North Schleswig) |
Nov. 5, 1950 |
Regarding Sønderjylland / SchleswigFollowing the Danish defeat to a Prussian-Austrian alliance in 'The Second Schleswig War' in 1864 the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein were lost and soon incorporated in Prussia (from 1872 Germany). Censuses where hereafter held by the Prussian/German authorities. By the plebiscite in 1920 North Schleswig were recovered and Haderslev, Aabenraa, Sønderborg and Tønder counties are therefore included in the censuses from 1921 onwards.
Some information needs confirmationAt this moment it has not been posible to confirm the exact enumeration dates for the censuses of 1885, 1895, 1916, and 1921. Information concerning these censuses, as well as the Schleswig and Holstein censuses from 1864-1920, will be greatly appreciated.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 14:49
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As mentioned, the demographic data from Scandinavia are of very high quality and the few discrepancies that may be found are often unimportant for researcher. In general, the census returns are an invaluable guide to birthplaces, occupations etc. This article contains some notes on some of the individual enumeration fields (or categories) which the family historian should be aware of when researching the Danish censuses:
Name: Christen Jensen Buch
Sex: M
Age: 41
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Farmer
Parish: Højen
District: Jerlev
County: Vejle
Place name: Høyen
Household-/family no: 38
Title no./address: A farm |
Example: census details for Christen Jensen Buch (1792-1844) from the census of 1834. The farms name are 'Skivdal', however the name was not recorded in the census. |
- Place of residence
- Name
- Gender
- Age
- Position in the household
- Marital status
- Profession, occupation or trade
- 1. or 2. marriage?
- Place of birth / Last residence
- Religious community
- Infirmities, mentally or physically handicapped
- Age at first marriage
- Other fields / categories
Place of Residence - AddressesBefore the 1900s Danish farms and houses rarely had a specific address as we know it today. In the rural areas, small farms, smallholdings and houses were often identified in the censuses by a place name or a land registration number (title number). Only the larger farms were in some cases identified by their name. Even in Copenhagen and the provincial Market Towns, a formal system of numbering was not introduced until the end of the 1800s. It is therefore often difficult to compare the information obtained from one census with that of another based on place of residence alone.
Name - AccuracyNames found in the censuses should be treated with little caution, as there may be minor discrepancies compared to the names found in parish registers; sometimes other name variations have been recorded and people with multipel first names may be listed only with the name they used daily. Abbreviations may also cause difficulties. Furthermore, children living with their parents are sometimes recorded without surname.
Most women changed their name according to the new name laws in the period 1829-56. A woman, e.g. with the name Maren Louise Jensdatter in the 1840-census may therefore be recorded as Maren Louise Jensen in the 1860-census. Women were in general recorded with their maidenname, but towards the end of the 1800's, it is more common for women to a on the be recorded with their married name. The same woman as in the previous example may therefore be with her husbands surname as Maren Louise Lorentsen in the 1890-census.
Most of these discrepancies are minor ones, and should in general not be a problem for the researcher.
AgeThe prominent part of the ages that are recorded seem to be accurate, however it is best to treat these information with little caution. The recorded age does not always lead to a precise year in the birth register. A person aged 25 in 1845, for example, will without further research seem to have been born in 1820. As the 1845-census where held February 1, the researcher who is looking for the birth record should therefore consult the birth registers from February 2, 1819 to Febrary 1, 1820. A secondary search should include the years 1818-21.
Position in the household (stilling i husstanden)Also the relationship of each member to the head of the household or position in the household were recorded, and this enumeration field/category may often give valuable information. You may identify the husband's parents or the wife's sister giving you good leads for your further research into the family.
Marital Status (civilstand)The marital status of all induviduals in the household are recorded: married ["gift"], unmarried ["ugift"], widow ["enke"], or widower ["enkemand"]; in the cases that no marital status is recorded (ussually records of children) the individual is assumed to be unmarried. In rare occations you may also encounter divorcé/divorcee ["fraskilt"] or divorsed ["skilt"].
Profession, occupation or trade (Erhverv)The occupations that are recorded are fairly accurate, but rarely take account of dual occupations or casual employment. A man who appears in the censuses under the description 'labourer' may have performed a variety of tasks, some of them skilled. Furthermore many craftsmen in the rural areas, for example, often combined their craft with a smallholding.
1. or 2. marriage?The census of 1787 records which marriage the parents are in and from which marriage the children relates. This is valuable information in order to identify a wife that died in child labor, brought together children etc. Unfortunately this is the only census with this enumeration field/category.
Place of birth / last residenceFrom 1845 onwards the Danish censuses include information of the persons place of birth. These information usually refer to the same parish ["her i sognet"], a nabouring parish or town. On most occasions, the enumerator have recorded the parish where the birth occurred rather than the specific location within the parish. People who was born outside the county, are usually recorded with information on the specific county or area from which the came. In 1906 and 1916 only the censuses for Copenhagen and Frederiksberg include information about last residence and place of birth, whereas the 1911-census has information about both last residence and place of birth for all of Denmark.
Religious CommunityBefore 1855 it was compulsory to attend the local parish church, but this was abolished in 1855 and in 1857 the compulsory baptism was abandoned. This new freedom of religion also menat that the censuses began to record which relogious community each person belonged to.
Infirmities, mentally or physically handicappedRecords wether the person is deaf, blind, disabled, invalid, crippled, mentally disordered. Possible mental sickness are recorded from 1845, and the blind and deaf from 1850
Other fields / categoriesOther information recorded may be a last residence or what year they arrived to the parish, year of the marriage, the number of living/deseaced children, current workplace, what year people became widow/widower or age at first marriage. From 1901 a precise date of birth and the Land registration number of the farmstead/house are recorded in the censuses, and from 1916 also information about personal income and assets.
Last Updated on Friday, 08 August 2008 20:06
The following list containes details of the various census lists and will tell you what areas they cover and which enumeration fields are included in the records.
Although the first census was taken August 15, 1769, it has been left out in the following list since most of this census has been lost and only provides overall statistical information of little value to the family historian.
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T H E D A N I S H C E N S U S E S 1 7 8 7 - 1 9 2 1 |
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FT-1787 |
These records include:address, name, gender and age, marital status, relationship to the head of household, and employment status of every person in each household. Furthermore information about which marriage the parents are in and from which marriage the children relates.
Date: July 1, 1787.
Population:
Denmark (incl. Schleswig and Holstein): 841,806
Speciel conditions: People of military rank have not been recorded. |
|
FT-1801 |
These records include: address, name, gender and age, marital status, relationship to the head of
household, and employment status of every
person in each household.
Date: February 1, 1801.
Population:
Denmark (incl. Schleswig and Holstein): 929,000
Speciel conditions: The census from Frederiksborg
Slots Parish is missing, and Fuglslev Parish is incomplete.
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FT-1803 |
Schleswig and Holstein only. These records
include: Address, name, gender and age, marital status, relationship to the head of household, and employment status of
every person in each household. Furthermore the birthplace of
the individuals and their parents, age at first marriage, and
current employment status.
Date:
February
13, 1803.
Speciel
conditions: The censuses from some of the rural areas of
Schleswig are missing. |
|
FT-1834 |
These records include: address, name, gender and age, marital status, relationship to the head of household, and employment status of every person in each household.
Date:
February
18, 1834.
Population:
Denmark (incl. Schleswig and Holstein):
1,230,964
Special conditions: The
prominent part of the Copenhagen censuses are missing; only
St. Annæ Quarter and Vestre Quarter have been preserved. |
|
FT-1835 |
Schleswig and Holstein only.These
records include: address, name, gender and age, marital
status, relationship to the head of household, and employment status of every person in each household.
Date:
February 1, 1835. |
|
FT-1840 |
These
records include: address, name, gender and age, marital
status, relationship to the head of household, and employment
status of every person in each household.
Date: February 1, 1840.
Population:
Denmark (incl.
Schleswig and Holstein): 1,289,075
Special conditions: This census also include Schleswig
and Holstein. The censuses from some of the provincial cities
/ Market Towns are missing: Fåborg, Frederikshavn,
Frederikssund, Præstø, Roskilde, Rødby, Sorø, Stubbekøbing,
Svaneke, Grenå, Hobro, Mariager, Middelfart, Nykøbing Mors,
Rudkøbing, and Varde. Korsør is incomplete.
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FT-1845 |
These records include: address, name, gender and age, marital status, relationship to
the head of household, and employment
status of every person in each household.
Futhermore possible mental sicknes are recorded,
but the most important change is the place of birth.
Date: February 1, 1845.
Population:
Denmark (incl. Schleswig and Holstein): 1,356,877
Speciel conditions: This census also include Schleswig and
Holstein. The censuses from a few parishes are missing:
Godsted, Husby, Jordrup, Lejrskov, Sdr. Nissum, and Øster
Ulslev. |
|
FT-1850 |
These records include: address, name, gender and age, place of birth, marital status, relationship to the head of
household, possible mental sickness, and employment status of
every person in each household. Futhermore the blind and deaf
are recorded.
Date: February 1, 1850.
Population:
Denmark (incl. Schleswig and Holstein):
1,414,648
Speciel
conditions: The censuses from the parishes of Hornum,
Kværndrup, and Stovby are missing. |
|
FT-1855 |
These
records include: address, name, gender and age, place of
birth, marital status, relationship to the head of household,
possible handicaps (mental sickness, blindness etc.), and
employment status of every person in each household. Furthermore there is information on which religious
community the person belongs to.
Date: February
1, 1855.
Population:
Denmark (incl. Schleswig and Holstein):
1,507,222
Speciel
conditions: This census also include Schleswig and
Holstein. |
|
FT-1860 |
These
records include: address, name, gender and age, place of
birth, marital status, relationship to the head of household,
possible handicaps (mental sickness, blindness etc.), employment status,
religious community of every person in each household.
Date:
February
1, 1860.
Population:
Denmark (incl. Schleswig and Holstein):
1,608,362
Speciel
conditions: This census also include Schleswig and
Holstein. |
|
FT-1870 |
These
records include: address, name, gender and age, place of
birth, marital status, relationship to the head of household,
possible handicaps (mental sickness, blindness etc.),
employment status, religious community of every person in each
household.
Date: February 1, 1870.
Population: 1,784,741 |
|
FT-1880 |
These
records include: address, name, gender and age, place of
birth, marital status, relationship to the head of household,
possible handicaps (mental sickness, blindness etc.),
employment status, religious community of every person in each
household.
Date: February 1, 1880.
Population: 1,969,039
Speciel conditions: The censuses from Brønshøj and
Hobro are missing. |
|
FT-1885 |
Copenhagen only. These records include:
address,
name, gender and age, place of birth, marital status,
relationship to the head of household, employment status,
religious community of every person in each household. |
|
FT-1890 |
These
records include: address, name, gender and age, place of
birth, marital status, relationship to the head of household,
possible handicaps (mental sickness, blindness etc.),
employment status, religious community of every person in each
household.
Date: February 1,
1890.
Population: 2,172,380
Speciel conditions: The census from Gentofte is
missing. |
|
FT-1895 |
Copenhagen only. These records include: address, name,
gender and age, place of birth, marital status, relationship
to the head of household, employment status, religious
community of every person in each household. |
|
FT-1901 |
These
records include: address, name, gender and age, place of
birth, marital status, relationship to the head of household,
possible handicaps (mental sickness, blindness etc.),
employment status, religious community of every person in each
household. Furthermore also information on:
Land registration number of farmstead/house.
date of birth
last residence or what year they arrived
year of marriage
number of living/deseaced children
current workplace
what year people became widow/widower.
Date: February 1,
1901.
Population: 2,449,540 |
|
FT-1906 |
These
records include: address (and land registration number),
name, gender and age, date of birth, marital status,
relationship to the head of household, possible handicaps
(mental sickness, blindness etc.), employment status, current
workplace, religious community of every person in each
household. Only the censuses for Copenhagen
and Frederiksberg include information about last residence and
place
of birth.
Date: February 1,
1906.
Population: 2,588,919 |
|
FT-1911 |
These
records include: address (and land registration number),
name, gender and age, place of birth, marital status,
relationship to the head of household, possible handicaps
(mental sickness, blindness etc.), employment status, current
workplace, religious community of every person in each
household. Last resisdence and place of birth are again
included for all of Denmark.
Date: February 1,
1911.
Population: 2,757,076 |
|
FT-1916 |
These
records include: address, name, gender and age, date of
birth, marital status, relationship to the head of household,
possible handicaps (mental sickness, blindness etc.),
employment status, current workplace, religious community of
every person in each household. Furthermore information are
recorded about personal income and assets. Place of birth are
again only recorded for Copenhagen and Frederiksberg.
Population: 2,921,362 |
|
FT-1921 |
Now
including North Schleswig. These records include: address
(and land registration number), name, gender and age, place
and date of birth, last residence, marital status,
relationship to the head of household, employment status,
current workplace, religious community of every person in each
household.
Population:
Denmark (incl. North Schleswig): 3,267,831
Speciel
conditions: After the plebiscite of 1920, the censuses
again include North Schleswig. Census records in this area
also has information on place of residence by Oct. 1, 1918. |
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The censuses of 1925, 1930, and
1940 may be viewed with a special permission. |
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Censuses from 1925, 1930 and 1940 can be studied after obtaining a special permission at the Danish State Archive.
Further information, specifications and corrections concerning the individual censuses will be greatly appreciated.
Last Updated on Saturday, 05 July 2008 17:44
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