Swedish Heritage
Embark on a journey through our collection of blog posts, delving into Swedish family history, bridging generations in Sweden and the United States, and initiating a deep exploration of Swedish family history research.
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What Are Sweden’s Christmas Traditions?
I grew up in a home where Swedish Christmas Traditions were essential to our celebrations. Christmas for us was the most important holiday of the year. Sweden has many Christmas celebrations, but some of the important ones we celebrate in our family each year are the advent candles, St. Lucia: Christmas Eve, and a Julotta…
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Beginners Swedish Genealogy, Find Your Relatives In Sweden
My mother, Anne-Marie Hellqvist Hummel, has been doing Swedish genealogy research for 50 years. She is an expert in understanding Swedish Genealogy. I wrote this blog while talking to my mothers and getting her input on what she saw as the most important aspects of Swedish genealogy. These are her suggestions for what a beginner…
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Anne-Marie’s Unintentional Immigration To America (1952)
Would you have the courage to travel alone to America at age 20 when you couldn’t speak much English? My grandmother, Anne Marie, was born in 1931 in Stockholm, Sweden. She lived in Sweden until 1952 when she decided to go to America. In the 1950s, American movies and music were very popular in Europe.…
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Are Swedish People Slavic? The Origins of Sweden Explained
A question that many people ask is if Swedish people are of a Slavic origin? Many people assume that Sweden may have some Slavic origins because Sweden is very close to this part of the world. Swedish people do not have Slavic origins but come from Northern Germanic people. Since the beginning of Sweden, Northern…
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What Is Santa Lucia In Sweden? Sweden’s Santa Lucia Holiday
Santa Lucia holds an extraordinary place in the hearts of the people of Sweden. Santa Lucia represents charity and love while simultaneously bringing light to the cold long winter nights. Santa Lucia is an Italian Saint who died as a martyr; she is one of the earliest Christian saints to gain widespread popularity. Santa Lucia…
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What Are Sweden’s Household Examination Records (Husförhörslängder)?
When you start your Swedish family history research, you will learn that Sweden has some amazing family history records called the Household Examination Records. You can discover many things about your ancestors through these Household Examination Records or (Husförhörslängder). Sweden’s Household Examination Records, or Husförhörslängder is a church records book recorded by the Swedish Lutheran…
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What Are The Swedish Mantal Tax Records? History & Genealogy Research Tips
If you are starting your Swedish genealogy research, some records you may come across are tax records known as the Mantal Tax Records. These records can help give you invaluable insights into your Swedish ancestors’ lives. The Swedish Mantal tax system was prevalent in Sweden for over 300 years. The Mantal tax was a tax…
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Does Sweden Have Census Records? Tips To Finding Your Swedish Family Roots
I have many Swedish ancestors, and one question I asked is, “does Sweden have census records?” This question is important because in conducting family history research, census records can give you essential information. Sweden does not have a census collection or records as we have in the United States. The Sveriges Befolkning Records is usually…
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Why Do So Many Swedish Last Names End in Son?
When you are doing Swedish genealogy you will quickly notice that so many last names end in “son.” It can make the Swedish genealogical research seem a bit confusing. Many Swedish last names have the ending of “son or “sson” as they are patronymic names. When doing your Swedish family history research, one of the…