Baptismal Certificate


Brief Overview

A Baptismal Certificate (Dåbsattest) of Teodor Sørensen, 7 June 1880.

91.3.005F - Gift of Anna Sorensen estate.

A Baptismal Certificate of Emilie Nielsen, 23 May 1899. Printed on request in November 1945.

94.295.67 - Gift of Sandy Kuharick


Share this Resource

Resource Categories

Primary Sources

While today Denmark is a multicultural society, it is still a predominantly Christian Protestant country and most children, though not all, are baptized in the church. Following the baptism the child's information is logged in the church book and a baptismal certificate is issued. If it is lost, the owner may get a new one at the office in the church where the baptism took place. (Today, however, they are digitized and can be obtained from any church). 

Information contained includes the name of the child and the name and status of the parents (if they were unmarried this will be reflected in the earlier records).

In these two examples you will see the corresponding entry in the church book following each baptismal certificate. On the first half of the page is the name of the child and the date of birth and the names of parents, on the second half of the page are the names of the godparents and the officiating priest. The godparents are traditionally one from the mother's side of the family (sibling or parent) and one from the father's.

In the church book entry for Teodor Sørensen you can see that he had his name changed at age 33, in 1913. Church book entries will reflect such information and may be useful if you are having trouble locating your ancestor.

  • Church book entry of Theodor Sørensen showing the name change.

  • Certificate of Emilie Nielsen, 1899.

  • Second half of the church book entry.