Dødsåret

Dødsåret is a term used in Norwegian biographical and genealogical contexts to denote the year in which a person died. It is commonly recorded together with fødselsår (birth year) to outline a person’s lifespan. The word combines døds- meaning death and året meaning the year.

In English-language scholarship the direct equivalent is the year of death, while historians sometimes use the Latin expression annus mortis. In Norwegian reference works, dødsåret helps readers quickly grasp the historical period in which a person was active and to situate their life within broader events.

Usage and interpretation: dødsåret is primarily a data point in biographical databases, encyclopedias, and genealogical records. It enables calculations of approximate age at death (death year minus birth year, with adjustments if exact dates are known) and supports cross-referencing with contemporary sources. When only the year is known, the dødsår may be marked as approximate or uncertain in some datasets, and dødsdato (the exact date of death) may be recorded separately if available.

Limitations: historical records may list only a year for death, leading to imprecise age estimates. Variants in spelling or transcription can occur across sources, and some individuals have disputed or unclear death dates. Users should consult primary sources or museum and archive catalogs for verification when precision is essential.

See also: fødselsår, dødsdato, annus mortis.