Denmark, Copenhagen City, Civil Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

Denmark Copenhagen City

This collection consists of marriage licenses and records for the city of Copenhagen for the years 1851 to 1961.

Why Should I Look at This Collection?
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.

What is in the 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 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 in Danish. For assistance with this language, consult the Danish Word List page. On this page is a list of common terms found in Danish genealogical records as well as their English translations. There are also links to more a far more comprehensive word list broken down by letter. A PDF version of an older edition of the complete word list may be downloaded at [[Media:Danish Genealogical Word List October 2010.pdf|Danish Genealogical Word List October 2010]].

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.

Coverage Table
This table shows the number of marriage records per year included in this collection as of 15 May, 2017.

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 the 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 by visiting the Collection Page.
 * 1) Fill in the search boxes on the Collection Page with the information you have
 * 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.

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?

 * 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.
 * Search the records of nearby parishes. While it was uncommon for an individual in this period to move more than about 20 miles from their place of birth, smaller relocations were not uncommon..
 * Look at the actual image of the record to verify the information found in the online description, if possible.

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:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation: