Research Guides, Helps and Introductions

You are here:Home»Research Guides»Research Guides, Helps and Introductions | MyDanishRoots.com

Here you will find research guides, helps and introductions to family history research in Denmark. Please select category from list below to find information that you can use in your family research.

Births, Marriages and Deaths ( 4 Articles )

This category contains articles on births, marriages and deaths etc. in Danish sources.
Census Records & Enumeration ( 5 Articles )
This category contains articles on census records and enumeration. The Danish 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.
Place Names in Denmark ( 2 Articles )
Most place names in the historic Denmark are very old, revealing clues to the Old Norse language and to a large group of personal names that form a part of many place names. As the language, on which place names are based, evolves over time etymology - the study of the origins of words - are an important part in understanding the meaning and origin of the place names.
In the articles in this category you'll find out more about of place names in Denmark - interesting, at hopefully useful, information that might help you in researching your Danish ancestors.
Surnames - Naming Traditions, Meaning and Origin ( 6 Articles )

When inquiring into family history it is important to have a basic knowledge about surnames in Denmark, both meaning and origin, as well as the Danish naming traditions.

Unlike in England, for example, surnames were generally adopted rather late in Scandinavia. This meant that most families until the mid-1800s did not have an actual family name as we know them today. Peoble were instead named according to the patronymic naming tradition where childrens last name derived from their fathers given name with the addition of a suffix meaning 'son' or 'daughter'. This naming tradition was commenly used throughout Scandinavia at the time of surname formation so it need therefore not surprise us that many Scandinavians today carries a surname of patronymic origin; in Denmark as many 58% of the total population.

Other groups of surnames derives from nicknames, place names, or an occupation. Furthermore, over the centuries the group of native names has been added to by new names by peoble migrating from the Duchy of Holstein or brought in by immigrants from Sweden and the many German States.

In the following articles you will find more about naming traditions, meaning and origin of surnames in Denmark.
Emigration and Immigration ( 1 Article )

Especially toward the end of the 1800's and the beginning of the 1900's, thousands of Danes, along with millions of other emigrants from all over the european continent, emigrated to the USA, Canada, Australia, or other overseas countries to seek a better life.

Up to 1968 the Danish emigration reached a total of about 500,000 Danes, culminating in 1881-90 and 1901-10. Of these emigrants about 70% departed for the USA. In the following articles you will find more about emigration from Denmark.
History, Culture & Heritage ( 2 Articles )

Select a topic from the list below, then select an article to read.