Discover Your Danish Roots - September 2026
Course Type: Immersive
September 23, 2026 3PM ET
Find Your Ancestors Faster
It’s never been easier to discover your Danish roots, all without having to leave home. If you’re among the 1.5 million Danish-Americans seeking to research your roots, this course will explore the readily available online records that will jump-start your ancestral journey. First, the course will show how to identify your emigrant ancestors, trace their overseas journey, and map their parish back in the old country. We’ll explain how to access and interpret those parish records from the state Lutheran church that kept tabs on all Danes beginning in the 1600s, as well as Copenhagen police records meant to protect emigrants. We’ll also show how Denmark’s frequent and extensive census records can help trace your family’s story.
Even if you're new to Danish genealogy, you can easily master these common hurdles with our step-by-step guidance:
- Decoding Patronymic Surnames: Learn how to turn the naming system—where a father’s first name dictates the next generation's surname—into a roadmap for your research.
- Navigating Parish Geography: Master the parish-based organization of Danish records with expert guidance on how to pinpoint exactly where your ancestors lived.
- Overcoming Language Barriers: Demystify the Danish alphabet (including the unique characters æ, ø, and å) and build a toolkit of essential genealogical terms to help you read historical documents with confidence.
Experience Interactive Learning with an Expert
Join David Fryxell for this 3-hour, Immersive Course: throughout, demonstrations and case studies will help you navigate the websites essential to discovering your Danish roots.
David A. Fryxell is the author of The Family Tree Guide to Scandinavian Genealogy (Penguin Random House) and the founder of Family Tree Magazine. He continues to write for the magazine, now in its 25th year, as a contributing editor and “Now What?” columnist. He is the author of eight books, including, MicroHistory and Good Old Days, My Ass!. He edited The Family Tree Guide Book and The Family Tree Guide Book to Europe. He is half-Swedish (Fryxell is a Swedish army name), third generation, and has traced his Swedish family back to before 1600.
This course will teach you how to:
- Master Online Records: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the extensive digital records available, whether you are just beginning your Danish research or looking to advance existing projects.
- Optimize Search Strategies: Learn effective techniques to maximize the value of these resources and accurately interpret your findings.
- Overcome Common Hurdles: Discover simple ways to navigate and conquer challenges related to Danish naming conventions, language differences, and geography.
- Trace Immigrant Ancestors: Uncover practical clues—both from home sources and Danish records—to help identify and track your immigrant ancestors.
- Unlock Your Family History: Learn how to use a few key facts to break through roadblocks and trace your Danish family tree back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
How You'll Benefit:
- Expert Guidance: Learn directly from a renowned genealogy professional.
- Practical Handouts: Access downloadable resources to enhance your learning.
- PLUS - Registrants receive the digital Scandinavian Genealogy Cheat Sheet ($9.99 value) FREE
Can’t attend live? No worries! All registered students receive access to the session recording for a full year, so you can revisit the material whenever it’s convenient for you.
Join us for this transformative session and take your family history research to the next level.
Course Type: Immersive
September 23, 2026 3PM ET
Find Your Ancestors Faster
It’s never been easier to discover your Danish roots, all without having to leave home. If you’re among the 1.5 million Danish-Americans seeking to research your roots, this course will explore the readily available online records that will jump-start your ancestral journey. First, the course will show how to identify your emigrant ancestors, trace their overseas journey, and map their parish back in the old country. We’ll explain how to access and interpret those parish records from the state Lutheran church that kept tabs on all Danes beginning in the 1600s, as well as Copenhagen police records meant to protect emigrants. We’ll also show how Denmark’s frequent and extensive census records can help trace your family’s story.
Even if you're new to Danish genealogy, you can easily master these common hurdles with our step-by-step guidance:
- Decoding Patronymic Surnames: Learn how to turn the naming system—where a father’s first name dictates the next generation's surname—into a roadmap for your research.
- Navigating Parish Geography: Master the parish-based organization of Danish records with expert guidance on how to pinpoint exactly where your ancestors lived.
- Overcoming Language Barriers: Demystify the Danish alphabet (including the unique characters æ, ø, and å) and build a toolkit of essential genealogical terms to help you read historical documents with confidence.
Experience Interactive Learning with an Expert
Join David Fryxell for this 3-hour, Immersive Course: throughout, demonstrations and case studies will help you navigate the websites essential to discovering your Danish roots.
David A. Fryxell is the author of The Family Tree Guide to Scandinavian Genealogy (Penguin Random House) and the founder of Family Tree Magazine. He continues to write for the magazine, now in its 25th year, as a contributing editor and “Now What?” columnist. He is the author of eight books, including, MicroHistory and Good Old Days, My Ass!. He edited The Family Tree Guide Book and The Family Tree Guide Book to Europe. He is half-Swedish (Fryxell is a Swedish army name), third generation, and has traced his Swedish family back to before 1600.
This course will teach you how to:
- Master Online Records: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the extensive digital records available, whether you are just beginning your Danish research or looking to advance existing projects.
- Optimize Search Strategies: Learn effective techniques to maximize the value of these resources and accurately interpret your findings.
- Overcome Common Hurdles: Discover simple ways to navigate and conquer challenges related to Danish naming conventions, language differences, and geography.
- Trace Immigrant Ancestors: Uncover practical clues—both from home sources and Danish records—to help identify and track your immigrant ancestors.
- Unlock Your Family History: Learn how to use a few key facts to break through roadblocks and trace your Danish family tree back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
How You'll Benefit:
- Expert Guidance: Learn directly from a renowned genealogy professional.
- Practical Handouts: Access downloadable resources to enhance your learning.
- PLUS - Registrants receive the digital Scandinavian Genealogy Cheat Sheet ($9.99 value) FREE
Can’t attend live? No worries! All registered students receive access to the session recording for a full year, so you can revisit the material whenever it’s convenient for you.
Join us for this transformative session and take your family history research to the next level.