How to find your Norwegian ancestors

The database of gravestone inscriptions
The gravestone register is a unique tool to help you find relatives buried during the last century, a period where privacy legislation in Norway restricts access to censuses and parish records.
How to perform a search on the Digital Archives’ website
The following steps will help you perform a general search of the complete collection:
How to perform a search in Norwegian census records
An example of how to perform a search in census records, which are one of our most important sources of genealogical information.
Church records
Parish records from the Lutheran church are the main source of vital records (known in the UK as BMDs) in Norway from the 1600s up to the 1930s. But what does a parish record contain and how can it help you learn about your ancestor’s life?
The National Library of Norway
The National Library is responsible for collecting and preserving copies of all publications in Norway, in accordance with the Legal Deposit Act.
A list of Norwegian photographic databases
Old photos are an important source of information about the past. Maybe you can find some of your kin in one of these databases?
How to perform a search in the Digital Museum
The Digital Museum (known as DigitaltMuseum in Norwegian) is an online photo gallery containing photos from almost all Norwegian museums.
This is how you find information about the places your ancestors/family have lived at
You can easily find the history of a property at home from your own living room, and in this article we will show you two websites where you can find this information.
Village histories and genealogies
Village histories and published genealogies give information about the inhabitants of a village or the history of a specific family.
Where are the records to be found and what you may find in the various archives?
In order to find information about our ancestors, we have to make use of various archives. Here you can find some information about Norwegian archives and privacy legislation.
Restrictions on access to historical records due to privacy legislation
Public access to many historical records is restricted for a certain number of years. Here is an overview of the basic rules applicable to the main sources of genealogical information.
The long lines of emigration to the US
It is the early 1800’s. uncertainty about the future, a village starting to overcrowd and unfair laws impact many Norwegians’ daily lives. Suddenly, there is a solution. A new country no one had heard of before, where you can start off fresh and live a life of freedom, the USA. Close to a million Norwegian would over time start a new future there.
Norwegian naming traditions
It’s useful for your research to know something about naming traditions in Norway
How to find people that changed their name when they moved to the US?
Many people using genealogy in relation to the US find out that their ancestors changed their name when they arrived to their new home. Here you will find some typical name changes, and some tips for how to find those that performed these changes.
Some historical background about the development of personal and place names
It is important for family historians to know something about naming traditions. This article will tell you about the historical development of surnames, name suffixes and place names in Norway up to modern times.
Sources to seafarers
Many Norwegians have seafarers in their family. Here you can find an overview of where you can find them in the sources.
Sources of information about your female ancestors
These records may shed some light on the lives of your foremothers
Our Fallen Ones
A database of information on the 11,893 men and women who fell for Norway in the second world war.
Search over 50,000 genealogical resources
The Genealogy Society of Norway has a collection of categorized links to genealogical resources in Norway, called GENRESS, the largest and most comprehensive of its kind, with over 500,000 links.

How to find your Norwegian ancestors

The database of gravestone inscriptions

How to perform a search on the Digital Archives’ website

How to perform a search in Norwegian census records

Church records

The National Library of Norway

A list of Norwegian photographic databases

How to perform a search in the Digital Museum

This is how you find information about the places your ancestors/family have lived at

Village histories and genealogies

Where are the records to be found and what you may find in the various archives?

Restrictions on access to historical records due to privacy legislation

The long lines of emigration to the US

Norwegian naming traditions

How to find people that changed their name when they moved to the US?

Some historical background about the development of personal and place names

Sources to seafarers

Sources of information about your female ancestors

Our Fallen Ones

Search over 50,000 genealogical resources

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Start med slektsforskning

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Slekt og Data der du bor

Om Slekt og Data

How to find your Norwegian ancestors

The database of gravestone inscriptions

How to perform a search on the Digital Archives’ website

How to perform a search in Norwegian census records

Church records

The National Library of Norway

A list of Norwegian photographic databases

How to perform a search in the Digital Museum

This is how you find information about the places your ancestors/family have lived at

Village histories and genealogies

Where are the records to be found and what you may find in the various archives?

Restrictions on access to historical records due to privacy legislation

The long lines of emigration to the US

Norwegian naming traditions

How to find people that changed their name when they moved to the US?

Some historical background about the development of personal and place names

Sources to seafarers

Sources of information about your female ancestors

Our Fallen Ones

Search over 50,000 genealogical resources

Read more

Snarvei til våre tjenester

Start med slektsforskning

Hva skjer?

Slekt og Data der du bor

Om Slekt og Data