Norman Madsen's Danish and Swiss Genealogy

Danish-English Genealogy Dictionary

Last updated: February 26, 2011

For those of you who are (or are planning on) doing your own research, I have put together a small genealogy centered dictionary of danish words that I have encountered again and again while doing my own research. You will find that these are invaluable words to be familiar with - memorize them! Note that Danish has three additional letters in its alphabet: æ, ø, and å (old style: aa); they follow after the letter z.

The following links lead to other pages on my website dealing with: My Home Page is where I introduce myself and the reasons for my website coming into being in the first place. Download Database contains information about the structure and contents of my database - which is a completely interconnected family tree; it is where you can download the GEDCOM in zipped format. Links contains links to the Danish, Swiss and other genealogy web sites that I have found the most useful. The Information for Genealogists page has information that I have gathered while doing my own research: such as what are the most useful types of sources, some aids for reading the old handwritten records, and Danish cultural information that I hope other researcher's will find helpful and interesting. Some Danish History has a concise history of Danmark and the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. Under My Ancestors can be found an ahnentafel report on my own ancestry.

If you have any additions to, or comments on, this dictionary please feel free to contact me at: Norman Lee Madsen

		A

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
adel	noble	\|	anden gang	second time
adelsmand	nobleman	\|	apoteker	pharmacist
af	of, from	\|	april	April
afdød	deceased	\|	arbejder, arbejdsmand	unskilled labourer
afgangen (ved døden)	departed (deceased)	\|	Arkeliemester, Artillimester	Master Gunner
alder	age	\|	arvinger	inheritor, heir
almisse	alms	\|	august	August
amme	nursemaid	\|	avl	farming, breeding
amt	county	\|	avlsbruger, avlsmand	small farmer
anden	second	\|

		B

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
bager	baker	\|	borgmester	mayor, burgomaster
baptisat	baptism	\|	borgerskab	trade license in a borough
barn	child	\|	brændevinsbrænder	distiller of spirits
barsel	childbirth	\|	broder, bror	brother
barselseng	childbed (giving birth)	\|	broderdatter	brother's daughter
bedsteforældre	grandparents	\|	brodersøn	brother's son
begravet	buried	\|	brudevielse	married
beliggende	situated at	\|	bryllup, brøllup	wedding
bestyrer	estate manager	\|	brødre	brothers (plural form)
blind	blind	\|	by	town, village
bo, boet, boede	reside	\|	byfoged	town bailiff
bolsmand	smallholder (1-2 td. land)	\|	byskriver	town clerk, notary
boende	residing	\|	bødker	cooper, barrelmaker
bog	book	\|	børn	children
bogbinder	bookbinder	\|	børnebørn	grandchildren
bonde	peasant farmer, serf	\|	bøssemager, bøssesmed	gunsmith
bavnemester, bognemester	signalman	\|	bøsseskytte	marksman
bopæl	residence	\|	baadfører	helmsman
borger	burgher (middleclass citizen)	\|	baaret	borne, carried

		C

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
cand. jur.	Bachelor of Law	\|	confirmeret	(see: konfirmeret)
cand. mag.	Bachelor of Arts	\|	Constabel	(see: Konstabel)
cautionsmænd	witness, co-signer	\|	copuleret	(see: kopuleret)
cautionisterne	witness, co-signer	\|	curator	(see: kurator)

		D

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
dag(e)	day(s)	\|	desponsat	betrothal, engagement
daglejer	day-labourer	\|	dom	legal judgement
daler	dollar	\|	dommer	justice of the peace
datter	daughter	\|	drejer	woodturner (lathe operator)
de	they, those, the	\|	dreng	boy
december	December	\|	døbt	christened, baptized
degnen	The deacon	\|	død	died, dead
degnegaard	deacon's residence	\|	dømt	sentenced (judgement)
dem	them	\|	døttre	daughters (plural form)
den	it, that, the	\|	døv	deaf
der	there	\|	daab	christening, baptism
deres	their	\|	daabsattest	certificate of baptism

		E

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
edele	(see: ædel)	\|	emigrere	emigrate
efter	after	\|	ene	alone, one
efterlade, efterlatte	bereaved	\|	enke	widow
efterlevende	deceased's surviving kin	\|	enkestand	widowhood
ejer	owner	\|	enkemand	widower
embedemand	official	\|	er	is, are

		F

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
faddere	sponsors at baptism	\|	forlovet	engaged (to be married)
far, fader	father	\|	formand	council chairman
farbroder, faderbroder	father's brother	\|	forpagter	leaseholder
farfar, farfader	father's father	\|	fortov, fortog	footpath, pavement
farmor, farmoder	father's mother	\|	forældre	parents
faster	father's sister	\|	fosterbarn	foster child
fattig	poor, indigent	\|	fra	from, of
fattiglem	pauper	\|	fredag	Friday
februar	February	\|	Frue	Mrs. (only for upper class)
felbereder, feldbereder	tanner	\|	fruentimmer	woman, virago
femte	fifth	\|	frøken	young lady, Miss
Feltskær	Military Surgeon	\|	fyrmester	lighthouse-keeper
Fenrik, Fændrik	Sub-Lieutenant, Ensign	\|	fædrene	paternal, ancestral
fisker	fisherman	\|	fæstebonde	copyhold farmer
fjerde	fourth	\|	fæster	copyholder
fodgarder	guardsman	\|	fætter	male cousin
foged	bailiff	\|	fødested	birthplace
forhen	formerly, previously	\|	født	born
folketælling	census	\|	før	before, stout
forlovere	best men (marriage witnesses)	\|	først	first

		G

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
gammel (gl.)	old, aged, elder	\|	gudmoder	godmother
gartner	gardener	\|	guldsmed	goldsmith
garver	tanner	\|	gæstegiver	publican
gift (med), abbreviation: g.m.	married (to)	\|	gaard (gård)	farm, courtyard, garden
glarmester	glazier	\|	gaarde	farms, gardens
god	good	\|	gaardbeboer	farm resident
gods (i.e. ryttergods)	property, estate	\|	gaardejer	farm-owner
godsejer	squire, estate-owner	\|	gaardmand	farm copyholder
grund	leased plot on a farm	\|

		H

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
ham	him	\|	holtzforster	forest steward
handelsmand	tradesman, businessman	\|	hugger	hewer, logger
handskemager	glover	\|	hus	house
hans	his	\|	husbonde	head of household
har	has, have	\|	husejer	homeowner
hattemager	hatter	\|	husfoged	advocate, lawyer
havde	had	\|	husholderske	housekeeper
hellig	holy, pious	\|	husmand	smallholder
Hl. (abbreviation of hellig)	title for a clergyman	\|	husmoder	housewife
Hellig Tre Konger	Epiphany (January 6)	\|	hustru	wife
hende	her	\|	hvad	what
hendes	hers	\|	hvem	who
Herre (Hr.)	Mr. (only for upper class)	\|	hvor	where
herred	district	\|	hyrde	shephard, herdsman
herredsfoged	district bailiff	\|	højadel	a noble of the peerage
hjemme	at home	\|	højbaadsmand	boatswain
hjemmedøbt	home baptism	\|	haandværker	craftsman, tradesman

		I

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
i	in, at	\|	indsidder	tenant farmer
ikke	not, no (negative)	\|	introduceret	introduced into church
imellem	between, among	\|	isenkræmmer	ironmonger

		J

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
januar	January	\|	jordløs	landless
jeg	I	\|	juli	July
Jomfru	Miss (only for upper class)	\|	juni	June
jord	land	\|	jæger	hunter, game-keeper
jordbrug	farming	\|

		K

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
kaldet	called	\|	kongelig	royal
kapellan	curate	\|	Konstabel	Gunner (a Private in the Artillery Corps)
karl	farmhand (block)	\|	kopuleret	married
kiereste	(see: kæreste)	\|	kromand, krovært	innkeeper
kirke	church	\|	kræmmer	shopkeeper
kirkebog	parish register	\|	kuld	brood, litter
kirkebøger	parish registers	\|	kundskab	knowledge
kirkegaard	church cemetary	\|	kurator	trustee
kirkeværge	churchwarden, verger	\|	kusine	female cousin
klokker	sexton, bell-ringer	\|	Kvartermester	Quartermaster
kobbersmed	coppersmith	\|	kvinde	woman
kokke	cook	\|	kæmner	town treasurer
kokkepige	cook (feminine form)	\|	kæreste	fiancé(e), sweetheart
komme	come	\|	køb	purchase
kommune	municipality	\|	købt	bought
kone	wife	\|	København	Copenhagen
konfirmeret	confirmed	\|	købmand, kjøbmand	merchant
konge	king	\|	købstad	provincial town

		L

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
landmand	farmer	\|	linnedvæver	linen weaver
landsby	village	\|	liv	life
landsdommer	chief justice	\|	livstid	lifetime
landsret	high court	\|	lod	portion, share
Landsting	provincial congress or diet	\|	lods	pilot, steersman
lav	guild (i.e. skomagerlav)	\|	lov(en)	statute, permission
lavværge, laugværge	guardian (for a widow)	\|	læge	doctor
lejer	tenant	\|	lærer	teacher
lig	corpse	\|	lærling	apprentice
ligbærer	pallbearer	\|	Løjtnant	Lieutenant
lille	little	\|	lørdag	Saturday

		M

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
madmoder	housewife	\|	mester	master (in his profession)
mai	May	\|	moster	mother's sister
maler	painter	\|	mor, moder	mother
mand	man	\|	morbroder	mother's brother
mandag	Monday	\|	morfar, morfader	mother's father
mark (mk.)	a coin of the realm	\|	mormor, mormoder	mother's mother
marts	March	\|	murer	mason, bricklayer
Matrone	Mrs. (upper class matron)	\|	murermester	master builder
matros	navy seaman	\|	myndig	above age of majority
med	with	\|	myndling	under age of majority
meget	very, much	\|	mødte, møtte	present, in attendance
medhjælper	assistant	\|	møller	miller
mejerist	dairyman	\|	maaler	weight measurer
mejerske	dairymaid	\|	maaneder	months
menighed	congregation	\|	maaneder	months

		N

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
navn	name	\|	nuhavende	present
nemlig	namely	\|	nuværende	present
niende	ninth	\|	Nytaarsdag	New Year's Day
nogle	some	\|	nær slægt	close family
nord	north	\|	nær søskendebarn	near relation
november	November	\|	næringsdrivende	tradesman
nu	now	\|	nørre, nordre	northern

		O

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
offentligt fruentimmer	prostitute	\|	opførsel	behaviour, manners
og	and	\|	ophold(sted)	residence
oktober	October	\|	opsidder	farm manager
omkring (omk., o.)	circa	\|	opvarter	waiter
onsdag	Wednesday	\|	ottende	eighth
opdrage	educate, train	\|	over	upper

		P

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
parykmager	wigmaker	\|	proprietær	landowner
pelsner	furrier	\|	protokoller	register, ledger
penge	money	\|	provst	dean (clergy)
pige	unmarried female	\|	præste	clergyman
Pinse	Pentecost	\|	præstegaard	rectory
plejebarn (plejebørn)	foster child (foster children)	\|	paa	in, of
politibjent	police constable	\|	Paaske	Easter
pottemager	potter	\|	paatage	assume responsibility
prokurator	attorney	\|	paategnet	endorsed, signed

		Q

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
qvinde	(see: kvinde)	\|	Qvartermester	(see: Kvartermester)

		R

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
rebslager	rope-maker	\|	rokkedrejer	spinning wheel woodturner
ridefoged	bailiff, mounted police	\|	Rytter	Cavalryman
rigsdag	parliament	\|	ryttergods(et)	cavalry property
rigsdaler, rixdaler	royal dollar	\|	raadhus	town hall
ringere	less, minus	\|	raadmand	alderman, councilman

		S

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
sadelmager	saddler, upholsterer	\|	sognedegn	deacon, parish clerk
sagfører	lawyer	\|	sognefoged	parish bailiff
salig (sal., sl.)	blessed, deceased	\|	sognepræst	parish priest
samme	the same	\|	soldat	soldier
sammen	together	\|	som	who, which
sandemand	reeve	\|	spinder	spinner
sejler	sailor	\|	spinderske	spinner (feminine form)
september	September	\|	sted	place
selvejerbonde	freehold farmer	\|	stedbarn (stedbørn)	step-child (step-children)
sepultis (sep., sepul.)	buried	\|	stedfader, stiffader	stepfather
side	page	\|	stednavn	place-name
siden	since	\|	stilling	occupation
sig	oneself, themselves	\|	store (st.)	big, great, large
sidst	last, latest	\|	studiosus	scholar
sin	his, hers, one's	\|	styrmand	coxswain
sin egen	his/her own	\|	susceptrix (susc.)	godmother (witness)
sjette	sixth	\|	svarer	representative
skibskaptajn	ship's captain	\|	svend (i.e. snedkersvend)	journeyman
skibsror	navigator (of a ship)	\|	sviger	in-law
skifte	probate	\|	syd	south
skifteprotokoller	probate records	\|	syvende	seventh
skilling (sk.)	smallest coin of the realm	\|	søbruger	beachcomber
skipper, skibsfører	shipmaster (captain)	\|	søfarende	mariner
skoleholder	schoolmaster	\|	søfarer	seafarer
skomager	shoemaker	\|	sølvsmed	silversmith
skovrider	forest steward	\|	søn(ner)	son(s)
skriver	notary, secretary	\|	søndag	Sunday
skrædder	tailor	\|	sømand	seaman
skøde	deed of conveyance	\|	søndre, sønder	southern
slettedaler (sldr.)	silver dollar	\|	søskende	sibling
slægt	relative (i.e. cousin)	\|	søskendebarn	sibling's child
smed	blacksmith	\|	søskendebørn	sibling's children
snedker	joiner, cabinetmaker	\|	søster	sister
sogn	parish	\|	søstre	sisters (plural form)

		T

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
Tamburmand	Drummer (military)	\|	tobakshandler	tobacconist
testamente	last will and testament	\|	tolder, toldskriver	customs officer
testes	witnesses	\|	torsdag	Thursday
tiende	tenth, tithe	\|	tredie	third
til	at, to	\|	trolovet	betrothed
tirsdag	Tuesday	\|	Trompeter	Trumpeter (military)
tjene	servant	\|	træskomager	wooden shoemaker
tjener	work, earn	\|	tærskemand, tærsker	thresher
tjenestefolk	servants, labourers	\|	tømmermand, tømrer	carpenter
tjenestekarl	male servant, labourer	\|	tønde (td.)	barrel, cask
tjenestepige	female servant, maid	\|	tønder land (td.)	1.363 acres

		U

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
udbygger	tenant farmer	\|	undertagskone	retired woman
udenlands	abroad	\|	under	under, lower
udi	from, in	\|	Underofficer	Warrant Officer
udlandet	gone to a foreign country	\|	ung	young
ugift	unmarried, single	\|	ungefæhr	approximately
uge(r)	week(s)	\|	ungkarl	bachelor
uldspinder	wool spinner	\|	urmager	clockmaker, watchmaker
umyndige	under age (a minor)	\|	urtegaardsmand	herb & produce farmer
undentag, undertag	retired	\|	uægte	illegitimate
undentagskone	retired woman	\|

		V

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
vagter	guardsman	\|	vie	marry
vagtmester	duty officer	\|	viede, viet	wedded
var	was, were	\|	vielse	wedding (ceremony)
vaskekone	laundress, washerwoman	\|	vognmand	coachman, teamster
vejer	weigher	\|	vogter	herdsman
veladel	honourable (literal: very noble)	\|	vor	our
velagtbare	well respected	\|	vurderingsmand	evaluator
velbyrdig	well-bred, noble	\|	væbner	esquire
velbaaren	well-borne	\|	vægter	night watchman
velfornem(me)	distinguished	\|	værge	guardian
vest	west	\|	værtshusholder, værtshusmand	publican, innkeeper
vester, vestre	western	\|	væver	weaver
vidnere	witnesses	\|	væverske	weaver (feminine form)

		Y

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
yngre	younger, young	\|	yngst	youngest

		Æ

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
ædel	see: adel	\|	ægteskab	marriage
ædelsmand	see: adelsmand	\|	ældst	eldest, oldest
ægte (med)	married (to)	\|	ævred	yield for grazing from a harvested field

		Ø

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
øde	deserted	\|	øster, østre	eastern
øre	a copper coin of the realm	\|	Østersøen	the Baltic
øst	east	\|	øvrige	remainder

		Å	*(Aa)*

Danish	English	\|	Danish	English
		\|
aa	stream, brook	\|	aar gammel	years old
aager	money lender	\|	aarlig	yearly
aar	year	\|	aarsag	cause, reason

Further Danish-English genealogical oriented word lists can be found on the following websites:

· The Danish State Archive Genealogical Dictionary

· The FamilySearch website has a Danish Genealogical Word List

· Google has an excellent free service for translating documents and websites at Google translate