Bromarv

Land & Livelyhood

According to accepted historiography, Swedish settlers began colonizing the coast of southwestern Finland in the 12th century. By the 14^th century, Bromarv had its own merchant fleet and documents show contacts with Stockholm. In the 17^th and 18^th centuries, fish and firewood were sold, and salt was purchased.  In the early 19^th century, shipbuilding began on a large scale. However, by the end of the 19^th century the shipping industry was hit by economic problems and the entire industry disappeared by the beginning of the 20^th century. ¹

Because countryside parish Communion records are listed by village and farm name and because these names often were used as a part of a person’s name, it is interesting to note these  names.

This map of Bromarv Parish from 1938 displays on the HisKi project website, made available by the Genealogical Society of Finland. ⁷

Parish Records

HisKi project findings were used as a starting point to identify parish villages.  Then Parish Communion Records of 1857 – 1863 were used to verify village and identify  farm names.

On the map you can see that Hangö is just to the south of Bromarv.  The 1857 – 1863  records include Hangö in the Bromarv parish because it wasn’t until later, in 1875, that Hangö became an independent city parish.

Additional parish records are available via HisKi project: 1864 – 1870, 1871 – 1880, and 1881 – 1890. ⁷

Because countryside parish Communion records are listed by village and farm name and because these names often were used as a part of a person’s name, it is interesting to note these  names.