Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

Denmark

Copenhagen

Copenhagen City

Access the Records
Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages, 1739-1964, Index 1877-1964 CID2341913 {{{CID2}}} {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Copenhagen, Copenhagen,  Denmark
Flag of Denmark
Location of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Map of Denmark, 1793-1970
Location of Denmark
Record Description
Record Type	Civil registration
Collection years:	1806-1966
Language:	Danish
Title in the Language:	Danmark, København, Borgerlige vielser
FamilySearch Resources
Denmark Guided Research
Denmark Record Finder
Research Tips and Strategies
Danish Genealogical Word List
Denmark Birth, Marriage, and Death Search Strategies 1467 - Present
Denmark Civil Marriages Coverage Table - FamilySearch Historical Records
Denmark Civil Registration
Denmark Genealogy
Denmark Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records
FamilySearch Catalog Keyword Search
Related Websites
Kilder om vielser og ægteskab (Copenhagen City Archives)
Slægtsforskning-Dlægt og Data (DIS-Danmark)
Archive
Copenhagen City Archives

Why Should I Look at This Collection?

This collection consists of marriage licenses and records for the city of Copenhagen for the years 1739 to 1964. If you have ancestors who were married in the city of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg or Gentofte during this time period they may be found in the records that make up this collection. This collection can also be used in connection with the Copenhagen Police Department's Registerblade, a list of all persons living in Copenhagen.

Image Visibility

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For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

What is in This Collection?

The collection consists of marriage licenses and records for the city of Copenhagen for the years 1851 to 1961. Civil marriages (Borgerlige vielser) were first allowed in Denmark in 1851. In Copenhagen city the marriage was recorded by a magistrate. The marriage was recorded in special notarial registers called Borgerlige vielsesprotokoller, Ægteskabsprotokoller, or Ægtegkabsjournaler.

These registers vary in content and arrangement by area. Some include a considerable number of supporting documents, such as baptismal certificates, while others record only the names and residences of the the bridal couple. In 1923 the registration process was changed by legislation enacted in 1922. This made the mayor the registering officer in the cities and the parish sheriff the registrar in rural areas. The registration form was also standardized into a columnar format and renamed to Lysningsjournal.

Reading These Records

These records are written in Danish. For help reading them see:

• Denmark Handwriting
• Danish Genealogical Word List
• Denmark Languages

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages, 1739-1964, Index 1877-1964.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

These records are an excellent source for validating the date and place of a marriage. If a marriage record for a couple cannot be found in the church registers, the civil marriage registers are an excellent source to check.

Information	Borgerlige vielsesprotokoller	Lysningsjournaler
Name	X	X
Residence	X	X
Birthplace	X	X
Birth date	X	X
Parents' names	X
Previous Religion	X
Present Religion	X
Marital status	X	X
What religion will any children be raised in	X
Witnesses	X
Date Issued	X	X
Marriage Date	X	X

Collection Content

Records in this Collection

Record	Record (English)	Start Year	End Year
Borgerlige vielsesprotokoller	Civil marriages	1851	1922
Lysningsjournaler	Marrige licenses	1922	1964
Register til borgerlig vielsesprotokol	Index to civil marriages	1851	1923
Registre til kopulationsprotokoller	Index to marriage licenses	1864	1868

Sample Images

• 

  Civil marriage (Borgerlige vielsesprotokoller) 1887

• 

  Civil marriage (Borgerlige vielsesprotokoller) 1906

• 

  Marriage license (Lysningsjournal) 1922

Coverage Table

This table shows the number of marriage records per year included in this collection as of 1 May, 2018.

Year	Records		Year	Records		Year	Records		Year	Records		Year	Records		Year	Records
1887	254		1897	186		1907	844		1917	977		1927	2,934		1937	6,826
1888	304		1898	182		1908	871		1918	1,072		1928	3,195		1938	5,986
1889	224		1899	180		1909	841		1919	1,134		1929	3,147		1939	7,023
1890	236		1900	237		1910	869		1920	1,164		1930	3,449		1940	6,654
1891	200		1901	252		1911	910		1921	869		1931	3,568		1941	6,183
1892	231		1902	288		1912	951		1922	771		1932	4,205		1942	6,634
1893	250		1903	457		1913	880		1923	1,986		1933	4,616		1943	6,508
1894	272		1904	459		1914	914		1924	2,851		1934	5,051		1944	6,973
1895	231		1905	630		1915	879		1925	2,851		1935	5,307		1945	115
1896	209		1906	700		1916	941		1926	3,045		1936	5,329		1946	0

Digital Folder Number List

This collection was published as a DGS browse collection. A table listing each DGS number and its contents can be found at Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages Digital Folder Number List. The list can be sorted by DGS number, record type, and year.

How Do I Search this Collection?

You can search the index or view the images. Before using this collection it is helpful to know:

• The name of the person you are looking for
• About when the marriage took place

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.

1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

To view images in this collection:

1. Look at the Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages Digital Folder Number List article to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
2. Go to the Browse Page
3. Select the Film number to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

• Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference; see below for assistance in citing this collection. Save or print a copy of the image if possible
• Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
• Use the information which has been discovered and locate the individual in church records, if appropriate
• Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives. Note that family members often appear on an individual's vital records, such as in the role of witnesses to a marriage

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

• Consult the Denmark Record Finder to find other records
• When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records
• Check for variants of given names, surnames, and place names. Transcription errors could occur in any handwritten record; also, it was not uncommon for an individual be listed under a nickname or an abbreviation of their name
• Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches

Research Helps

The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Denmark.

• Denmark Guided Research
• Denmark Record Finder
• Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection.

Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.

Image Citation: When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

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