Researching an Orphan in Sweden

Sweden &gt; Orphanages in Sweden &gt;

As you followed your ancestor back in the records, perhaps you came across the word Barnhus barn (orphan), Barnhus flicka or gosse (orphan girl, or boy) to indicate this child came from an orphanage. Your research plan will vary according to time, place, and circumstances. There were different situations that led to a child going to the orphanage such as:


 * One or both parents died.


 * The parent (-s) could not provide for the child’s needs.


 * The child was unwanted, perhaps born illegitimate (out of wedlock.)

1. Whatever the case, your first step should be to exhaust the parish records that the foster home belonged to. Check all household examination records to see when the child 1st appears. Follow the individual in the household examination records until their death.

Check the parish “moving in records” such as the Inflyttningslängder, and the Flyttningsattester if available.

If needed check the parish council minutes Kyrkoråds protokoll or the Sockenstämmoprotokoll to see if the parish assisted with the placement of the orphan.

The goal of checking these sources is to find all variations of the child’s name, when the child arrived in the parish, a birth date, birth place, and perhaps a clue to indicate which orphanage the child came from.

2. The next step is to identify which orphanage that the orphan came from. The child may or may not have come from the orphanage that is closest to their home parish. A list of orphanages on the Orphanages in Sweden page can assist with this step. This list can be sorted by the name of the orphanage, the location, or the time period. Click on the name of the orphanage that you are interested in.

3. From here, you will see an article about the orphanage. Look for the Records section on the page for further guidance. The next step is to search the records (or have someone else do it for you depending on availability.) In some cases, certain records or databases are available online.

4. With the information from the orphanage records, search the respective Swedish Lutheran Church Records to continue your research.