Some of the following census links and websites have changed as of February, 2007. The information likely exists somewhere, I need to figure out and update.
A superb site and MUST SEE for Norwegian researchers - both beginning and experienced! Unfortunately, it appears the site has not been maintained for a number of years, so a number of external links are no longer valid. Try a Google search on the topic and you may find a replacement.
Includes brief description of naming patterns.
Brief overview of Norwegian vital records including brief description of the censuses.
As of February 2011, this article is a bit awkwardly-written and uses terminology that is not defined. A "nominative" census is one that lists the names of everyone, along with detail data about that individual such as gender, age, occupation, birthplace, etc. Conversely, a "statistical" census is numerical/headcount only, though some individual names such as the heads of household may be listed. The article then moves to discussion of twentieth century "questionnaire" versus "register" ( and "longitudinal" registers) based censuses and I do not know what the difference is.
The online versions of the Norwegian censuses seem to be the subject of continuing change in location (host and URL), layout/format, search engine and extent of English translation, particularly since I originally used them. So any of the following could have been changed. The situation is also complicated because the English versions are in different places as well and the search interface is unlike any other census search interface I have used. Be forewarned that those will not be completely translated, so some learning of Norwegian genealogy terminology will be necessary. (Good for cultural appreciation of your Norwegian heritage.) I have not had a chance to figure out where they went to update locations and instructions, but it appears that the censuses through 1910 are now searchable online and should be findable via Google search. 1910 went online in December 2010.
The above narrative and following list are likely obsolete as of May, 2013. The censuses are now posted on two different websites: digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no and rhd.uit.no (University at Tromsø). The search engines, results display and details shown for the censuses are different for these two. Those websites also have additional searchable databases which will probably be expanding over time. So I am going to list them separately later and leave the following list alone for now. Be forewarned, though, that these websites have varying degrees of translation into English. Neither are fully translated and will likely be a mixture of Norwegian and English. So you will have to wade through some Norwegian to use them. But it's good for you.
From Digital Archives project, University of Bergen. Since it's all in Norwegian, I can't figure out the scope, but it appears very extensive. (Link www.hist.uib.no/arkivverket/1865/ not working FEB 2007 / need to find replacement.) See http://www.rhd.uit.no/folketellinger/folketellinger_avansert_e.aspx) See Instructions for using the 1865 census database for John Føllesdal's MUST SEE information in English. But NOTE: Despite a statement to the contrary, it is NOT necessary to know ancestor's county or parish to search. Use the search engine at the BOTTOM of the left frame labelled: "Søk i heile landet etter" and:
A list of parishes is returned that contain the name specified, within the limits of the birth year range. Click on the parish to see the individual names. Click on an individual name to see the family that person was enumerated with.
Portions of the Norway 1865 1875 1900 censuses from the Norwegian Historical Data Centre (NHDC) in English, hosted by uit.no - University of Tromso.
Searchable database for Norway censuses and other resources. Previously attached to University of Bergen @ uib.no, now separate.
Searchable database for folketellingene for 1865, 1900 og 1910 er landsdekkende. 1875 tellinga er registrert for enkelte kommuner. Also a searchable databases for the 1838 and 1886 Matrikkelen which are listing of all farms and the new numbers that were assigned in those years. 1886 includes a cross-reference back to 1838.
An online, searchable database of burials across Norway. As of April, 2013, over 2 million burials. A "Find-A-Grave" for Norway. It includes Hedmark County, Elverum precinct and Elverum. Cemeteries listed for Elverum are: Elverum, Heradsbygd, Hernes urnelund, Nordskogbygda and Sørskogbygda. As of April 2013, 1533 names are listed for Sørskogbygda. Names can be searched individually or all names at within any position within the hierarchy can be listed, down to all names in a given cemetery. Gravestone photos may be shown. This a findagrave.com for Norway.
Note that the search methodology will be strange to many users and will take some practice and testing to get used to it. Also, not all data elements are present for all records; ie. no birth year.
Interactive map of geographic objects in Norway. In particular, can display a farm's location by entering its name or number from the 1886 survey. I have not fully explored all its features. I don't see any English option, so it's all going to be in Norwegian.
A particularly important resource is Norway-Heritage : Hands across the Sea. A superb resource, a MUST SEE for Norwegian researchers and very interesting just for historical content alone. An essential resource for researching Norwegian emigration. However, its transcribed ships passenger lists only go up to 1875 and the website also warns: "This database is not complete. There are many years from which no lists exists (read more about this in the article 'Hunting Passenger Lists'). There are also many lists not transcribed yet." See site for further details. You may need to be creative in using the Passenger List search, given variations in spelling and recording of these Norwegian names. These listings include immigrants from Norwegian ships that first arrived at the Port of Quebec. I also note that females seem to be usually listed by their Norwegian patronymics.
The Norway-Heritage project has also begun a database of immigrants. This is a project in progress. Be sure to read the "Search tips" section.
Norwegian research information and guides in two sections. Follow these steps:
I. Research outline, narratives and information
From main page Home (tab):
Under "Search for Ancestors" (column)
Click on "View maps, forms, guides, and other research helps" (bullet point)
Click on "N" (Letter in box)
Returns selection list for places beginning with the letter "N"
Scroll down to the section for Norway
"Norway / How Do I Begin? [Description]"
"Norway / How to Use the Norwegian Gazeteer [Description]"
"Norway / Norway Historical Background [Description]"
"Norway / Norway Map Background [Description]"
"Norway / Norway Research Outline [Description]"
"Norway / Norway Church Record Christening 1814-Present [Description]"
"Norway / Norwegian Genealogical Word List [Description]"
Click on the full text of the item desired; Clicking on the word "[Description]"
returns a pop-up window with a brief description.
II. Research by "Norway Events and Time Periods"
From main page Home (tab):
Under "Search for Ancestors" (column)
Click on "Get step-by-step research guidance on searching for your ancestors" (bullet point)
Returns selection list for places
Click on "N" (Letter in box) (jumps to "N" in list)
Scroll down to "Norway"
Click on "Norway"
Returns "Norway Events and Time Periods"
Select record type and period desired.
Published in 9 editions 1958-1996 by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Has Norwegian to English and English to Norwegian dictionaries online. From my quick testing and rudimentary experience with the language, the results here are sometimes null, incomplete and/or inaccurate, especially for genealogical or older/archaic terms. This dictionary can be helpful, but results should be verified to other sources. It rates only a "fair". This site also has free, online dictionaries for many other languages.
Information about Norway from the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Utenriksdepartementet (UD)) in English.
1723
1838 - new numbering, has cross-reference to 1723
1886 - once again changed the numbering system: each farm was assigned a gårdsnummer (farm number)and a bruksnummer (bruk number).
(More TBA)
Updated 16 April 2013
Updated 11 June 2013
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