What Are Bygdeboks?

Bygdebøker are books that contain the history of a small rural area such as a community or parish. They often have a general history of the area, and then they have history of each farm in the area, including a chronological list of owners going back many generations.

These websites will help you learn more:

• A 'bygdebok' - what is that?
• How to use a Norwegian "bygdebok" in your genealogy research

Lodge Members' Bygdeboks

Several GIG members own one or more Bygdeboks, and are willing to share them with other lodge members who are researching their family history.

• Bømlo, Hordaland Volume III (copies of 12 of 21 farm chapters) - Burt
• Gol, Buskerud (photocopies of some pages) - Christine
• Hitterdals-boken, Heddal, Telemark - Pam
• Holt, Aust Agder - Burt
• Jølster, Sogn og Fjordane - Rick
• Lom, Oppland (all four volumes) - Christine
• Sande Community, More og Romsdal - Marvin
• Sveio, Hordaland volumes 1 & 2 - Burt
• Vanylven Community,More og Romsdal - Marvin

Finding Bygedeboks

Lists of Bygdeboker - Links by Norwegian county/parish to lists of bygdeboks.  Some bygdebok descriptions include lists of farm names.  A few bydgeboker are now on the internet.  Gives full title, author, publisher & publication date (needed for requesting a bygdebok through inter-library loan).

How to obtain a bygdebok by Inter Library Loan - Bygdeboks are available through interlibrary loan in the Fairfax County Public Library system, as well as other libraries. You may be required to pay a small fee.