Voss Genealogical Resources

// Online Resources: Digital Archives; Norwegian Historical Data Centre: Census Records; Other Voss Links; Selected Links for Areas Adjacent to Voss; General Links for Norwegian Genealogy // Print Resources: Bygdebøker, Family histories, General // Microfilms: Census Records, Church Records, Court Records, Land Records, Probate Records //

Online Resources

The following links are designed to take the user directly to resources relating to Voss, Norway. (including Evanger and Vossestrand) to the extent possible. In some instances the databases are not broken down beyond the fylke level, thus there are some listings for Hordaland (earlier name Søndre Bergenhus) or Nordhordaland which include data for the Voss area. The links are to the English version when available. Users should be aware that the English version is not always a direct translation of the Norwegian, particularly for the NHDC databases and it may be desirable to check both versions. Direct links to the Norwegian versions may be provided at a later date as this site develops. Since new databases are being created all the time, please contact the Vosselag Genealogy Team with any links that should be added. A few general sites are included for convenience.

Digital Archives

Norwegian Historical Data Centre, University of Tromsø (NHDC)

Databases:

Other Voss Links

Selected Links for Areas Adjacent to Voss

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General Links for Norwegian Genealogy

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Print Resources

Bygdebøker:

Evanger

    Evangerboka : gards- og ættesoge. Schjærven, Lars og Gjerdåker, Johannes. Voss : Voss Bydgeboknemnd, 1982-1984. 2 Bd.
      A listing of the farms in Evanger and the occupants of each farm. The numbering system makes it easy to trace the generations.

Voss

    Vossaboki. Kindem, Lars O. Voss : Voss Bygdeboknemnd, 1933-1938. 2nd ed. 1981. Online access to much of this is now available at a site provided by Stefan Ullstad.  An English translation by Dr. Stanley Nuland is availible on the Vosselag orders page.
      Bd. 1. Vossavangen
      Bd. 2. Gardssoga I: Dyrvedals, Gullfjordungs og Borstrands Åttungar.
      Bd 3. Gardssoga II: Vinjar og Bøjar Åttungar.
      Bd. 4. Gardssoga III: Kvitlar, Bordals og Vikjar Åttungar.

    Vossaætter. Kindem, Lars O. Voss, 1928-1931.
      Bd. 1. Glimmeætti med greiner av Smørætti, Benkestokætti, Kruckowætti, Heibergætti, Dalætti, og Miltzowætti.
      Bd. 2. Lidætti med utdrag um ættene Losna, Galtung, Rustung, Smør, Benkestok, Kruckow, Heiberg, Dal, og Miltzow.
      Bd. 3. Dagestadætti og Røteætti.
      Bd. 4. Tvildeætti
      Bd. 5. Taklaætti.

Vossestrand

Voss Bygdebok. Gardssoge for Vossestrand. Oppheim Sokn. Hellesnes, Torstein and Gjerdaker, Johannes. Voss : Voss Bygdeboknemnd, 1972.
Voss Bygdebok. Gardssoge for Vossestrand. Vinje Sokn. Hellesnes, Torstein. Voss : Voss Bygdeboknemnd, 1972.
Voss Bygdebok. Ættebok for Vossestrand. Lyngvær, Roald. Voss : Voss Bygdeboknemnd, 1971.

Other Publications:

Family histories

Cameron, Ralph Stewart. Genealogical Classification by Family Group Coding for Descent From Common Ancestors …Gjer(d)e-Trodo (-Traa), Gunvor … Miltzow, Henrik. Long Beach, Calif., 1986.
Finne, Arnfinn. Miltzow-ætti paa Voss. Voss, 1977. 2nd ed.
Glimme, Johannes Knudsen. Samtavle over familien Glimme.
Kindem, Lars O. Losnaætti paa Voss med greiner av Galtungætti og Rustungætti. Voss, 1926.
Kindem, Lars O. Tvilde-ætti. Voss.
Kindem, Lars O. Ættetavle for Guro Torgeirsdotter Kindem (f. Dagestad). Voss.
Rustad, Olav. Ættebok for misjonsprest Anders Johannessen Rustad fra Raugstad på Voss.
Stenshoel, Eunice. Rokne root & branch ; the families of Martha Bårdsdatter Osgjerd & Lars Mikkelson Rokne.

General

    Førenamnregister til skifteprotokollane for Hardanger og Voss, 1695-1883 : i Hardanger og Voss sorenskrivarkiv. Bergen : Statsarkivet, 1987. 369 s. ; 30 cm. Family History Library INTL Book 948.32.P2f
      An index to the probate records for Hardanger and Voss judicial districts in Hordaland county, Norway from 1695 to 1883. It is arranged by given name, then surname and farm name.
    Gamalt frå Voss (nr. 17). Utvandring frå Voss til Amerika. Eit 150-års minne. Voss : Voss Bygdeboknemnd, Voss Sogelag, Voss Folkemuseum, 1985.
      Many numbers in this series besides this one have information of interest to genealogists.
    Gardsnamnsregister til skifteprotokollane for Hardanger og Voss, 1695-1883 : i Hardanger og Voss sorenskrivarkiv. Bergen : Statsarkivet, 1987. 378 s. ; 30 cm. Family History Library INTL Book 948.32 P2g
      An index arranged alphabetically by farm name, then given name and surname for the probate records for Hardanger and Voss judicial districts in Hordaland county, Norway from 1695 to 1883.
    Kirkebøker fra Voss 1726-1730 etter avskrift av Elna F. Luker. Family History Library INTL Books 948.32/V1 K29nh.
    Lampe, Johan Fredrik. Bergens Stifts Biskoper og Præster efter Reformationen
      Lampe's Clerical history after the Reformation from 1895-96 includes genealogical information about members of the clergy. From the contents list, under Hardanger og Voss Provsti choose pages 427-428 for Evanger, 428-450 for Voss, and 450-451 for Vossestrand.
    Nuland, Dr. Stanley (translator). Knut A. Rene’s History of Emigration from Voss and the Vossings in America. Vosselag, 2003. Digital available on the Vosselag order page.
      This English translation of Rene’s work (below) which was in old Vossing dialect makes the content more accessible. The format allows for searching names not included in the original index.
    Rene, Knut. A. Historie om udvandringen fra Voss og Vossingerne i Amerika : med beskrivelse og historie af Voss, karter og billeder. Madison, Wisc., 1930.
      A history of the emigration from Voss, Hordaland, Norway to America and a genealogy of the people from Voss living in America. Includes a history of Voss and some biographies.
    Sandvik, Hilde. Voss tingbok nr. 15 1683-1685, av Hilde Sandvik og Sølvi Sogner ; avskrift ved Anna Kløve. Family History Library INTL Book 948.32/V1 P29v
    Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika, 1907. Translated by Dr. Olaf Kringhaug and Margit Bakke.
    Vossingen : organ for Vosselaget. v. 1-35. Madison, Wis., 1920-1950.
      A publication of Vosselag which contains many articles about Vossings in America and obituaries of Vossings in America. It also includes letters from America to Norway, lists of weddings, and deaths in Norway and other items of interest to genealogists.

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Microfilms

Being images of the original sources, microfilm records are more authoritative, if less convenient, than the transcribed online records.  Some of these are now digitally available through the Family History Library.
Vosselag owns copies of virtually all of the following films. Members may view them through arrangements with the genealogist.
[NOTE: Specific film numbers for the Voss records will be found through the links to the Family History Library catalog.]

Census Records:

    Fogd og sorenskrivers manntall, 1664-1666
      This census was taken by the local civil authorities. It lists the names of the farms, farmowners (including widows), sons of farm owners, male farm hands, cottagers and sons of cottagers and the age of each person. The clerical authorities took a census during this same time period. Both censuses should be used as they supplement each other. The clerical census is more complete.
    Sogneprestenes manntall, 1664-1666
      This census was taken by the local parish priests. It lists the name of the farms, names of farm owners (including widows), the sons of the farm owners, male farm hands, cottagers and their sons, and the ages of each person. There was another census taken by the civil authorities at this same time. Both censuses should be searched as they supplement each other. This clerical census is more complete.
    Manntall, 1701 : optatt av fogd, sorenskriver og sogneprest ifølge kongebrev av den 26 juli 1701
      Includes: farm name, name and age of the owner, names and ages of sons and servants. This census was taken for military purposes. It lists only the males living in rural districts who were over the age of one year. It also includes the residence of all unmarried males living away from home when the census was taken.
    Folketelling den 1ste februar 1801
      Includes: farm name, person's name, position in the household, age, marital status, and occupation. The 1801 census for Voss clerical district includes Voss, Vinje, Uppheim and Evanger parishes.
    Folketelling den 31te desember 1865
      Includes: persons name, residence, status in the family, occupation, sex, martial status, place of birth, age, religion if not a member of the state church, and other miscellaneous information.
    Folketelling for kongeriget Norge den 31te desember 1875
      Includes: persons name, residence, position in the family, occupation, sex, marital status, year of birth, place of birth, religion if not a member of the state church, and other miscellaneous information.
    Folketelling for Norge den 3dje desember 1900 - Voss
    Folketelling for Norge den 3dje desember 1900 - Vossestrand
      Includes: person's name, sex, resident or temporary resident, temporarily absent and where person is, position in the family, marital status, occupation, year of birth, place of birth, citizenship, religion, and other miscellaneous information.

Church Records:

    Kirkebøker, 1711-1931
      Contains the parish registers for Voss (Vangen) parish with Raundal chapel in Voss clerical district, 1711-1931. Vinje and Uppheim (Opheim) were included until 1866 when these parishes became part of the new Vossestrand clerical district, 1855-1945. Evanger parish with Nesheim chapel was included until 1891 when it became the main parish in Evanger clerical district. Records from 1855 and later for Evanger parish have been kept with Evanger clerical district.

Court Records:

    Tingbøker, 1654-1701
      The court records contain reports of civil and criminal actions, including the allodial rights, "odelssaker". You will find names, dates, places, and relationships in these records. The records have no indexes, therefore require time to study. They are excellent sources for genealogical research and at times you can find entire families through several generations. These records must be used in conjunction with the mortgage records, probate records, or other records. The records for Hardanger and Voss judicial districts include these places: Røldal, Odda, Ullensvang, Kvam, Vinje, Kinsarvik, Vikøy, Jondal, Øystese, Evanger, Uppheim, Vossestrand, Voss, Granvin, Ulvik, and Eidfjord.

Land Records:

    Pantebøker, 1733-1917
      The mortgage records give information about real estate, conveyances, mortgages, and other transactions of properties. Contracts, agreements, and deeds are also recorded in these books. The panteregisters are extracts of these records. The books for Hardanger and Voss judicial districts include these places: Røldal, Odda, Ullensvang, Kvam, Vinje, Kinsarvik, Vikøy, Jondal, Øystese, Evanger, Uppheim, Vossestrand, Voss, Granvin, Ulvik, and Eidfjord.

Probate Records:

    Norge. Sorenskriveri (Hardanger og Voss, Hordaland) - Skifteprotokoller, 1695-1881
      Usually include the date of the probate, name of the deceased, names of heirs, guardians and trustees, inventory lists, land and holdings, and other miscellaneous information. The probate records for Hardanger and Voss judicial districts include: Røldal, Odda, Ullensvang, Kinsarvik, Kvam, Strandebarm, Varaldsøy, Jondal, Evanger, Vossestrand, Voss, Granvin, Ulvik, Eidfjord, Lysekloster, and Rosendal.
    Norge. Prosti (Hardanger og Voss, Hordaland) - Skifteprotokoller, 1713-1806
      Usually include the date of the probate, name of the deceased, names of heirs, guardians and trustees, inventory lists, land and holdings, and other miscellaneous information. The clerical probate records for Hardanger and Voss deaneries include these clerical districts: Røldal, Ullensvang, Kvam, Strandebarm, Vossestrand, Voss, and Ulvik.

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Site prepared by Ruth Christ, Vosselag Webmaster, c2004-2022
Created: September 12, 2004
Last updated: April 30, 2022