Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records
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| This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org. | |
| Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark | |
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| Flag of Denmark | |
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| Location of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark | |
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| Map of Denmark, 1793-1970 | |
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| 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 | |
| Related Websites | |
| Archive | |
| Copenhagen City Archives | |
Contents
Why Should I Look at This Collection?[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images.
For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.
What is in This Collection?[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
These records are written in Danish. For help reading these records see the following:
To Browse This Collection[edit | edit source]
| You can browse through images in this collection by visiting the browse page for Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages, 1739-1964, Index 1877-1964. |
What Can These Records Tell Me?[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Records in this Collection[edit | edit source]
| 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[edit | edit source]
Civil marriage (Borgerlige vielsesprotokoller) 1887
Civil marriage (Borgerlige vielsesprotokoller) 1906
Marriage license (Lysningsjournal) 1922
_Marriage_Record_1887_DGS_100872843_112.jpg)
_Marriage_Record_1906_DGS_100885020_25.jpg)
Coverage Table[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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?[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Search by name by visiting the Collection Details Page.- Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
- Click Search to show possible matches
View the Images[edit | edit source]
To view images in this collection:
- 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
- Go to the Browse Page
- Select the Film number to view the images
How Do I Analyze the Results?[edit | edit source]
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?[edit | edit source]
I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
- 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?[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Denmark.
Citing This Collection[edit | edit source]
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. |
How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki?[edit | edit source]
| We welcome user additions to FamilySearch Historical Records wiki articles. We are looking for additional information that will help readers understand the topic and better use the available records. We also need translations for collection titles and images in articles about records written in languages other than English. For specific needs, please visit WikiProject FamilySearch Historical Records/Guidelines for Articles. Please follow these guidelines as you make changes. Thank you for any contributions you may provide. |
