Nyland

Borgå

Parish Records

In Finnish, ‘Ruotsalainen tuomiokirkkoseurakunta’ means Swedish cathedral parish. Swedish-speaking towns people and Swedish-speaking country people were both part of the Swedish cathedral parish.  Records were divided into two sections; those who lived in the town and those who lived in the country.   You may notice these terms:

  • Kaupunkiseurakunta – city parish
  • Maaseurakunta – countryside parish

For this project, the Maaseurakunta records were used.

Because countryside parish Communion records are listed by village and farm name and because farm names often were used as a part of a person’s name, it is interesting to note these names. HisKi project findings were used as a starting point to identify parish villages.  Then the Maaseurakunta Parish Communion Records of 1880-1889 were used to confirm village and identify farm names. 10

Over 95 historic villages have been documented in Borgå. 2 

This map of Borgå Parish from 1938 displays on the HisKi project website, made available by the Genealogical Society of Finland. 1

Of Interest

This parish name is Borgå in Swedish and Porvoo in Finnish. In modern times, the Finnish name is used more often.

The cathedral was the site of the opening of the first Diet of Finland on March 28, 1809.  It was at this time Finland was declared an autonomous Grand Duchy, with the Emperor of Russia as the Grand Duke of Finland. 4

Picture on the Right: Tsar Alexander I opened the Diet of Porvoo in 1809

Attribution: Emanuel Thelning / Public domain In the US, this work has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights.

Villages and Farms

  • Antas
  • Nygrannas
  • Påvals
  • Sigfreds
  • Smeds

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880-1889

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880-1889

  • Ångsåg

  • Hommas
  • Nilsas
  • Nygrannas
  • Spakis
  • Spakis-Halsvik
  • Storspik-Skeppar
  • Storspik-Barnvik
  • Storspik-Qvarnvik
  • Hommas-Störsvik

  • Nybygge
  • Backman
  • Drengar

  • Boe Gård/Boegård

  • Frugård
  • Bertils

  • Antas
  • Dampas
  • Klockars el. Ollas
  • Stor Kornäs
  • Kärras
  • Nilsas
  • Qvipars
  • Tunnäs

  • Qvarnen och Sågen
  • Snickars

  • Box
  • Fogdas
  • Hommas
  • Norkulla
  • Landondas
  • Orra el Broas
  • Smeds

  • Eknäs
  • Ekbacka

  • Essvik
  • Stor Ömans
  • Lill Ömans

  • Eriksdal

  • Backas
  • Henrikas
  • Mattas

  • Brinkens el. Brusas
  • Knapas
  • Stor Knuts
  • Lill Knuts
  • Martens
  • Påås

  • Hammars

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880-1889

  • Bökars
  • Henrikas
  • Mattas

  • Högbacka el. Broas

  • Örnshamn
  • Sjökulls

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Hummelssund

  • Bergs
  • Wäfvarsbacka
  • Clemets
  • Er
  • Fasa
  • Gästgivars
  • Jontas
  • Kaspers
  • Kraufvars
  • Niku
  • Sanis
  • Smeds
  • Qvarnarne

  • Jackarby
  • Rabbas

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Qvarnvik

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Filppula
  • Gretas
  • Hannula
  • Heikkila
  • Iso Huovilla
  • Wähä Huovilla
  • Holsti
  • Ilmokasi
  • Klemo
  • Pelto-Knaapila
  • Kylä-Knaapila
  • Knaapila
  • Iso Kupari
  • Wähä Kupari
  • Laurilla
  • Kylän-Pietilä
  • Metsä- Pietilä
  • Seppälä el Langis
  • Sihvola

  • Kaunissaari

  • Hannula
  • Heikkilä
  • Henttala
  • Jaakkola
  • Jussila
  • Klemola
  • Kylän-Lampila
  • Lampila
  • Uusi-Lampila
  • Mäki-Lampila
  • Lassila
  • Lunkila
  • Iso-Ojala
  • Wähä-Ojala
  • Ollila
  • Skrana
  • Tiittula
  • Tukkila
  • Iso-Tuomala

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Nietos
  • Nikus
  • Nybondas
  • Nygrannas
  • Yrjas
  • Lill Yrjas

  • Stor Krognäs
  • Lill Krognäs

  • Dobbas
  • Storgård
  • Frogdas
  • Påvals

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Kulloo
  • Andersas
  • Backas
  • Lill Bengts
  • Broas
  • Stor Jontas
  • Lill Jontas
  • Lavers
  • Nyby Nybyggars
  • Nygrannas
  • Nyby Sisbacka
  • Smeds
  • Nyby Storbondas

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Lasses

  • Fejars el. Backas
  • Gråbonds
  • Nybondas
  • Starkis
  • Tellen

  • Gilders
  • Grannas
  • Svarthomen

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Ellmattas
  • Hornhattas
  • Kilas
  • Knuters
  • Knutsbacka
  • Piltars
  • Snickars
  • Stens
  • Yrjas

  • Molnby
  • Nybygget

  • Mårtens el. Simons
  • Nybondas
  • Yrjas

  • Clemets
  • Gästgifvars
  • Hannusas
  • Henrikas
  • Jonnas
  • Knuts
  • Lasas
  • Mattas
  • Qvarnen

  • Weterby Nygård
  • Nederstugu
  • Smedens

  • Näsegård

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Fadders
  • Kattslätt
  • Orras
  • Dyvik
  • Getviken

  • Pirlax

  • Domprostegården
  • Kapellansgården
  • Tingsgården

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Pörtölandet
  • Söderskär
  • Tullstaten

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Knuts
  • Lassas
  • Mattas
  • Nikus
  • Ollas
  • Sipas

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Sannäs
  • Nybygget

  • Bengtsas
  • Erikas
  • Finnalais
  • Gabbers
  • Hakas
  • Hansas
  • Hästlakärs
  • Krogars
  • Martis
  • Michels
  • Månsas
  • Nickars
  • Nikus
  • Saxaniemi
  • Smeds
  • Starkis
  • Kurulais

  • Hannusas
  • Herrbacka
  • Stor Ollas
  • Lill Ollas
  • Påvals
  • Sparvvens
  • Staffans

  • Antas
  • Fasa
  • Jontas
  • Nygramms
  • Sillvastas
  • Sipas
  • Strengas

  • Baggas
  • Brukars
  • Erikas
  • Gries
  • Mattas
  • Qvis

  • Sköldvik
  • Gamla Sköldvik

  • Backas
  • Kärras
  • Qvarnen

  • Stensböle

  • Brandts
  • Tallas
  • Glosholmen
  • Gråns
  • Mattas
  • Ollas
  • Reimars
  • Smeds
  • Staffans
  • Wafvärs

  • Biskopssätet

  • Sundö
  • Gräsörn

  • Brasas
  • Lillvik Bryggars
  • Hinders
  • Karlby Ingas
  • Kaspersbacka
  • Kenpas
  • Koskos
  • Labbas
  • Langis el. Pellas
  • Mensas
  • Sillvik Nilsas
  • Påvals
  • Uppgrindas
  • Upplabbas

  • Svinö

  • Brasas
  • Lillvik Bryggars
  • Hinders
  • Karlby Ingas
  • Kaspersbacka
  • Kenpas
  • Koskos
  • Labbas
  • Langis el. Pellas
  • Mensas
  • Sillvik Nilsas
  • Påvals
  • Uppgrindas
  • Upplabbas

  • Bryggars
  • Nilsas

  • Tolkis

  • Backas
  • Bryggars
  • Clements
  • Dalas
  • Erikas
  • Filplåts
  • Gjelas
  • Katrons
  • Käldas
  • Labbas
  • Stor-Maris
  • Lill-Maris
  • Markusas
  • Nygrannas
  • Ulas
  • Utegård

  • Tarkmans el Pellas
  • Tarkmans Tallbacka
  • Wentzells gård

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Markusas
  • Nybondas

  • Nisssas
  • Nygrens
  • Ulas
  • Yrjas

  • Hnnula
  • Hommas
  • Markusas
  • Mutti

  • Knuts
  • Lisus
  • Warmans

  • Domargård
  • Heikkilä
  • Honga
  • Klemts
  • Mandela
  • Myllybacka
  • Staffans

  • Farm names not in parish records of 1880–1889

  • Johans
  • Rånäs
  • Henrikas

  • Baggas
  • Finnas
  • Hommas
  • Lassas
  • Nybondas

  • Antas
  • Hommas
  • Jeppas
  • Mattas
  • Petas
  • Uppstugu

  • Åbygård

  • Greis
  • Grindas
  • Henttala
  • Jobs
  • Mickos
  • Nybacka

  • Jobs
  • Jontas
  • Kockas
  • Poisas
  • Sigfers
  • Storstuga

Parish History

  • Borgå parish likely formed in the latter half of the 1200’s. Written evidence from 1327 supports this belief.
  • The area was extensive. The following independent parishes were once a part of the Borgå parish:
    • Sibbo
    • Helsingfors
    • Nurmijärvi (Tusby and Kervo)
    • Pernå (Pyttis, Strömfors, Elimäki, Anjala, Lappträsk, Mörskom, Liljendal and Lovisa)
    • Mäntsälä
    • Askola (1639 became an independent parish)
    • Pukkila (old Swedish name was Savijoki)
    • Borgnäs
  • The Porvoo or Borgå parish became a cathedral parish in 1723 when the bishop’s seat in Viborg’s diocese was relocated to Porvoo.9

Porvoo Cathedral 

Parish Church

History 5, 6 & 9

  • History goes back to the 13th century when the town was still an insignificant trading post
  • Built high on the hill to overlook the town
  • Originally made of wood
  • First stone walls built 1410-1420; expanded in 1450
  • Burned four times during war:
    • 1508
    • 1571
    • 1590
    • 1708
  • During the Continuation War in 1941, the church was hit by a bomb

 Main image Attribution: Ad Meskens /CC BY-SA 7
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Attribution: Ad Meskens / CC BY-SA 8
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Folk Dress

Each parish has a unique folk dress.  Parish folk dress can be recognized by its style, colors, and patterns.

Borgå folk dress photos used with permission of the Brage costume agency. 3

Resources:

  1.  Borgå Parish, Genealogical Society of Finland, HisKi project,, http://hiski.genealogia.fi/hiski/aba128?en+0412
  2. Borgå Parish, http://hiski.genealogia.fi/seurakunnat/srk?CMD=SRK&ID=412&TYPE=HTML&LANG=EN
  3. Borgå Folk Dress image, Brage costume agency, Men’s – https://www.brage.fi/sve/draktbyra/draktbyran/folkdrakter/view-163648-104 Woman’s – https://www.brage.fi/sve/draktbyra/draktbyran/folkdrakter/view-163648-105
  4. Diet of Finland at Porvoo Cathedral, image https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diet_of_Porvoo.jpg
  5. Porvoo Cathedral: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porvoo_Cathedral
  6. Porvoo Cathedral: https://www.domkyrkan.fi/kyrka-och-lokaler/borga-domkyrka
  7. Porvoo Cathedral image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Porvoo_Cathedral_03.jpg
  8. Porvoo Cathedral image showing bell tower: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Porvoo_Cathedral_03.jpg
  9. Porvoo Parish: http://hiski.genealogia.fi/seurakunnat/srk?CMD=SRK&ID=412&TYPE=HTML&LANG=EN
  10. Porvoo Parish Communion Records: 1869-1878 – https://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/kirjat/Kirkonkirjat/porvoo/rippikirja_1869-1878_ruotksrk_mko422-457/1.htm 1880-1889 – https://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/sivut/HisKi-digiarkisto.php?bid=11742 
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