The Genealogical Dictionary on this page gives you the English translation of Danish terms for most family relationships, as well as some of the words you will encounter most frequently in genealogical sources.
|
In Danish |
In English |
|
Aftægtsmand |
Man, cared for by people who took over his farm or house. |
|
Aftægtskone |
Woman, cared for by people who took over her farm or house. |
|
Almisselem |
Pauper |
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Arbeider |
Worker (fem. arbeiderske) |
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Barn |
Child |
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Bedstefader |
Grandfather |
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Bedstemoder |
Grandmother |
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Begravelse |
Burial |
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Bettler |
Beggar |
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Broder (bror) |
Brother (pl. brødre) |
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Brud |
Bride |
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Brudgom |
Bridegroom |
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Borgerlig |
Civil (e.g. marriage) |
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Bonde |
Peasant, farmer |
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Børn |
Children |
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Copulerede |
Married (also heading for weddings) |
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Dagleier (daglejer) |
Day-labourer (fem: dagleierske) |
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Datter |
Daughter (pl: døtre) |
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Dreng |
Boy (pl: drenge) |
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Dåb (Daab) |
Baptism |
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Døde |
Deceased, died |
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Enke |
Widow |
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Enkemand |
Widower |
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Fadder |
Sponsor at baptism |
|
Fader, Far |
Father (pl.fædre) |
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Farbroder |
Uncle (father's brother) |
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Farfader |
Paternal grandfather |
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Farmoder |
Paternal grandmother |
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Faster |
Aunt (father's sister) |
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Fattiglem |
Pauper |
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Forlover |
Witness at marriage |
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Frue |
"Mrs." (not used of peasant-women) |
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Fruentimmer |
Woman (often = unmarried mother) |
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Frøken |
"Miss" (not used of peasant-women) |
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Fæstegårdmand |
Copyholder, farmer |
|
Fæstehusmand |
Copyholder, smallholder |
|
Fætter |
Male cousin |
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Fødested |
Place of birth |
|
Født |
Born (birth) |
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Gårdmand |
Farmer (also = copyholder) |
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Gudmoder |
Godmother |
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Husmand |
Smallholder |
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Hustru |
Wife, married woman. Another word is "Kone". |
|
Husfolk |
Smallholders (about a couple) |
|
Inderste |
"Tenant" |
|
Indsidder |
"Tenant" |
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Jordløs husmand |
Smallholder (without land of his own) |
|
Jomfru |
"Maiden" (lit: "virgin") (not used of peasant-women) |
|
Karl |
Farmhand |
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Kirke |
Church |
|
Kone |
Wife, married woman. Another word is "Hustru". |
|
Konfirmation |
Confirmation |
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Kusine |
Female cousin |
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Mand |
Man, husband (pl: mænd) |
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Moder |
Mother (pl: mødre) |
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Morbroder |
Uncle (mother´s brother) |
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Morfader |
Maternal grandfather |
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Mormoder |
Maternal grandmother |
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Moster |
Aunt (mother's sister) |
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Nevø |
Nephew |
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Niece |
Niece |
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Oldefader |
Great-grandfather |
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Oldemoder |
Great-grandmother |
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Opholdssted |
Place of residence |
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Pige |
Girl, maid. Unmarried woman |
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Quinde |
Woman (sometimes = wife) |
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Svigerinde |
Sister-in-law (also: svogerske) |
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Svoger |
Brother-in-law (also ="male relative") |
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Svogerske |
Sister-in-law (also: svigerinde) |
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Søn |
Son |
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Søster |
Sister |
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Tjenende |
Serves (followed by employers name) |
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Tjenestekarl |
Farm hand |
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Tjenestepige |
Maid |
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Ugift |
Unmarried |
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Uægte |
Illegitimate |
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Ægteskab |
Marriage |
|
Ægteviede |
Married |
