• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • My Account
  • Join
  • Register
  • 0
Find a Swede

Find a Swede

SWEDISH GENEALOGY

  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Genuinely Swedish favorites
  • Work with me
Swedish Genealogist Annika

Hej,

I’m Annika Höstmad, a Swedish genealogist, member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the owner of Find a Swede.

Find a Swede aims to guide descendants of Swedes to their heritage through curiosity, effective methods, and in-depth research.

My own journey in family history has a clear starting point. It was September 2009. A job interview out of town took me by my late grandparents’ home. It was the first time in over a decade. For the next three months I would pass it twice every weekend. As the memories of family stories came back, I wanted to know the truth and turned to the records.

As a beginner I got my clues from family trees online. Since then I’ve studied records and methods, both at the university and through public and professional conferences. And discovered countless life stories along the way.

Through a DNA test, I’ve had the fortune to find distant cousins outside of Sweden. As fun as it was to connect, some of them struggled with their Swedish genealogy. It’s no wonder. I started Find a Swede to provide correct and relevant context, so that you can understand your ancestor’s life in Sweden.

Who I work with

I work with descendants of Swedes around the world to help you understand your family history.

Shortcut to Sweden

If you’re curious about your Swedish family history, I have a bi-weekly newsletter just for you. It’s an introduction to Swedish genealogy with the context that makes sense of it. Or as I like to say; connect to your Swedish ancestry when your only clue is that one guy from Småland. Sign up.

Let’s Find a Swede

For you that want to crack a brick wall, I offer a done with you program. This is a program where you get direct help and feedback on your research over eight weeks. Learn more.

Genealogy Research

I research your Swedish ancestor and present their life through records, photos and maps. Details coming soon. In the meantime, send us an email.

Case study

Anders emigrated from Dalsland in Älvsborg County in 1863. Six months before emigrating, he served 28 days on bread and water. Anders had been convicted of spreading misleading doctrine and distributing the Holy Communion. He and his family were Mormons. All this can be confirmed through the records. The trials were referenced in the newspapers.

This was before passenger lists were kept in Swedish ports, so in order to document his emigration, I went through the newspapers. They mention that a few days after the family left their home, there’s was a gathering of Mormons outside of Gothenburg. There’s a good chance the family attended that meeting. It was early spring and the river boats were just about to start going. It’s quite possible that the family walked the 18 hours to get to the gathering. The newspapers even detailed how the group took the train to Gothenburg, before their departure to America.

The journey itself can be confirmed by a letter to a Gothenburg newspaper. A woman described how her former husband was changed by joining the Mormons, to the point where she was granted a divorce, which was uncommon at the time. She then goes on to tell how her ex tried to kidnap their child when emigrating.

Together with the regular records, custom maps, contemporary maps, and photographs, my client got a glimpse of Anders’ life in Sweden and the conditions for his emigration.

Our values

Find a Swede is based on the conviction that everyone has the right to search their personal history. Whether we’re searching our past to uncover a family secret or from pure curiosity.

findaswede

Annika Höstmad – Swedish Genealogist
I love to search the Swedish records. To sort out I love to search the Swedish records. To sort out the contradictions, name changes and gaps. 
What's even better is when my clients get to know their family. From a different country and a different time. 
#familyhistorymatters #genealogistsofinstagram #swedishfamilyhisory #clientlove #familyhistorian #swedishancestry #swedishamerican #ancestry #ancestors #genealogista #genealogywork #femalesmallbusinessowner
The cherry trees are finally in full bloom here in The cherry trees are finally in full bloom here in Gothenburg, Sweden. I love it! True to an old port, the international influences are many in Gothenburg and Hanami is celebrated here every year.
Here are some of my recent favorites. They can all help you with your Swedish family history.
 
🌸 @riksarkivet_sverige has a database with Swedish censuses (Folkräkningar) between 1860 and 1930.
🌸 @lantmateriet just updated their site for historical maps (Historiska kartor). You can now search a larger area via the map. And the historical maps are divided between overview (översiktliga) and detailed (detaljerade).
🌸 @thecreativefamilyhistorian shares how to present your research in a structured and appealing way. Check out her Youtube channel.
 
Have you used any of these before? What are your favorites for family history?
#familyhistorymatters #genealogistsofinstagram #swedenisfantastic #cherryblossom🌸
Are you just starting on your Swedish family histo Are you just starting on your Swedish family history? 
If that's you, I have a tool for you. My free guide Four steps to remember a Swedish ancestor. It helps you remember everything you don't know that you know about your Swedish ancestor. By asking the right questions and giving your brain a nostalgic squeeze. :)
My clients come to me prepared with records and certificates about their ancestor. They want help with a mystery that may have been on their mind for decades. Who was my great grandfather? Where did he come from? 
And despite being prepared, a week later something more has popped up. Each and every time. Because we know more than we think we do. It may seem insignificant, until we start solving  the mystery.
You can make this process a little quicker with my free guide. Get it through the link in my bio.
#familyhistorian #swedish #familyheritage
It warms my heart knowing you can find your ancest It warms my heart knowing you can find your ancestor in Sweden, just like this client did. 
That even if you start out with only a few names - and they turn out to be wrong - you can trace your ancestor in the records in Sweden, rather than leaving it up to family tree hints. 
Here's what our client had to say:
"If you like to participate in searching for your Swedish ancestors then Find a Swede is for you. Due to the unique structure of Swedish records expert help is very useful. The possibility of getting that professional advice & guidance in structured way is extremely valuable when coming across questions or difficulties in finding information."
To connect with your Swedish ancestry, you must use reliable sources, so decide how you want to do it, rather than leaving it up to family tree hints.
#genealogyresearch #familyhistoryoninstagram #ancestralknowledge
Are you wondering where to start on your Swedish f Are you wondering where to start on your Swedish family history? 
What if I told you there was a way to research your ancestry in Sweden without relying on family tree hints? 
Yes, you can in connect with your family’s history all the way in northern Europe. Know where to look next for your ancestor and read about their family, home, and occupation. 
Does this sound sound like you?
* You don’t know where to search for your ancestors or how to read the records.
* You can't read the language.
* Your ancestors didn’t pass on their Swedish culture and you can't make sense of what you’re finding online.
Now imagine that
* You know which records to use and how to find them.
* You know the most important words for genealogy.
* You recognize the Swedishness in your own family members or even yourself.
#swedishlanguage #genealogy #familyhistory
In your Swedish family history, you want to keep t In your Swedish family history, you want to keep track of the place names. It's extra important in Sweden because family names were uncommon. And many had the same names.
To  make it even more interesting, many places have the same name.
Perhaps you know your ancestor was born in Nora.
But is Nora the name of a settlement? I get 12,766 hits on the map for Nora.
Or is it the name of a parish? There have been three different parishes with the name Nora.
In Swedish genealogy, you need three things for an address. They are in this order.
1 .Settlement or Village
2. Parish 
3. County
Keep track of which category a name belongs to.
When I was starting out, I mixed them up all the time, costing me countless hours of research.
So I can assure you, this is going to make your Swedish family history much easier.  Keep track of which category a place name belongs to.
#savefamilystories #ancestryresearch #swedishhistory
Connect with your Swedish ancestry with our upcomi Connect with your Swedish ancestry with our upcoming newsletter. 
Learn how to understand your family history in Sweden. Every other Saturday, straight into your inbox.
Sign ups open on February 22.
#ancestralknowledge #swedish #findyourroots
Is Sweden not making sense to you? I get it. #swe Is Sweden not making sense to you? I get it.
#swedenimages #knowyourroots #genealogistsofinstagram
We all have ancestors with a story. They disappear We all have ancestors with a story. They disappeared, had several families, or were orphaned at an early age. It makes you wonder.
I love to show descendants of Swedes what really happened.
You want to know what life was like in Sweden. You don't want a list of names and dates, but to really understand your ancestor and their family.
Starting with your stories, you get the data and the context that brings it all together.
#ancestralknowledge #swedish #findyourroots
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Footer

Explore

Blog
Contact
Cyndi's List
Four Steps to Remember a Swedish Ancestor

 Trust

apg member


Connect

Join the newsletter for updates and special offers.

  • contact
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Design by · Creative Goods Co.