Østfold County, Norway Genealogy
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Guide to Østfold ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.
Østfold is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus County in Norway as well as the counties of Älvsborg, Värmland and Göteborg och Bohus in Sweden. There was a name change in the early 1900 from Smaalenene to Østfold. Østfold is located east of the Oslo fjord and prior to the time of Harald Hårfagre ca. year 900 it was under Swedish rule. Later, when Norway was under Danish rule it was divided into many small counties. The old name for Oslofjorden was Fold and the meaning of Øst is East which translate to the name Østfold. This name has roots back to 1543.
Contents
Cities[edit | edit source]
As of 2009 Østfold County has six cities:
Cities, Parishes, Clerical Districts in Østfold County[edit | edit source]

- Aremark
- Asak
- Askim
- Berg
- Borge
- Båstad
- Degernes
- Domkirken i Borge (see Vestre Fredrikstad)
- Eidsberg
- Enningdal
- Fredrikshald (see Halden)
- Fredrikstad
- Glemmen
- Gressvik
- Hafslund
- Halden
- Heli
- Hobøl
- Hovin
- Hvaler
- Hærland
- Idd
- Ingedal
- Kråkerøy
- Moss
- Onsøy
- Os
- Rakkestad
- Rokke
- Rolvsøy
- Rygge
- Rødenes
- Rømskog
- Råde
- Sarpsborg
- Skiptvet
- Skjeberg
- Skjebergdalen
- Spjærøy (Dypedal)
- Spydeberg
- Svinndal
- Tom
- Tomter
- Torsnes
- Trøgstad
- Trømborg
- Tune
- Ullerøy (Ullerø)
- Varteig
- Vestre Fredrikstad
- Våler
- Østre Fredrikstad
- Øymark
- Fredrikstad (Kristi Menighet, 1893-1914)
- Vestre Fredrikstad (Kristi Menighet, 1904-1933)
- Sarpsborg (Metodistkirken, 1840-1923)
- Fredrikstad Branch, 1852-1925
- Halden Branch, 1854-1949
- Moss Branch, 1905-1949
- Sarpsborg Branch, 1931-1949
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church Records/Civil Registration[edit | edit source]
- These are the most important records you will use, and a majority of your research will be found in them. All civil registration was kept by the church parishes until 2012.
- Digitalarkivet: Digitized parish registers of Østfold
- Norway Indexed parish register transcriptions
- The Family History Library has microfilms for all Østfold parish registers up to about 1920. These can be viewed at the library or at a Family Histor Center near you.
- By clicking on the parish links above, you may find direct links to all the records for that parish.
- You do not have to be fluent in Norwegian. These records use a very limited, specialized vocabulary that is easy to learn. For help reading and interpreting theses records, see:
- Parish Register Headings for Norway: This pdf gives the translation of headings for the records in different time periods. When a record is written with labeled columns it is much easier to search. Much of the material you read in each column will just be names and dates, since the meaning of those names (child, parents, godparents, minister) only has to be read once, in the column heading.
- For more detail on the contents of these records and how to use them, see Norway Church Records and Norway Civil Registration.
Censuses[edit | edit source]
Parish priest's census (scanned)
- Nedre Borgesyssel prosti, Prestemanntall 1, 1664 - 1666
- Øvre Borgesyssel prosti, Prestemanntall 2, 1664 - 1666 (The parishes of Kråkstad, Nesodden, Vestby and Ås are located in Akershus county)
The bailiff and the magistrate's census (scanned)
- Moss, Onsøy, Tune og Veme fogderi, Nedre Romerike fogderi, Manntall 1, 1701 (parishes in Østfold missing)
Searchable censuses
- 1801 Census
- 1865 Census; also at FamilySearch
- 1875 Census Partial
- Norway Census, 1875 FamilySearch database - How to Use this Collection
- 1885 Census (Citites only)
- 1891 Census (scanned)
- 1900 Census
- 1910 Census
Farm Books[edit | edit source]
Family History[edit | edit source]
Norwegian American Bygdelagenes Fellesraad. Østfoldlag
The book is now available as a downloadable PDF file on the internet Østfoldslekt.
Government Offices and Sites[edit | edit source]
History and Tidbits[edit | edit source]
Land Records[edit | edit source]
1886 and 1838 land registers are found at The Norwegian Historical Data Centre. These are Excel files, which can be downloaded. The give the name of the farm, the farm owner, and the amount of tax. Both farms and sub-farms are included.
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Militærrulle 1697 for Heggen og Frøland fogderi, ungtmannskap
- Militærrulle 1693 for det Østlandske dragonregiment
Passenger Lists[edit | edit source]
- Emigranter fra Kristiania 1871-1930 new version
- Emigranter fra Oslo old version 1867-1930
- Emigranter over Fredrikstad 1883-1890
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
- Digitised probate records for Østfold county
- 1640-1903 - Norway, Probate Index Cards, 1640-1903 at FamilySearch — index
Probate Jurisdictions[edit | edit source]
- Heggen og Frøland
- Rakkestad
- Idd og Marker
- Fredrikstad City, Østfold, Norway Genealogy
- Tune
- Moss
- Moss City
- Trøgstad
- Akershus Deanery
- Mellom Borgesyssel Deanery
- Øvre Borgesyssel Deanery
Taxation[edit | edit source]