Many Norwegians dropped the old farm names, however, and adopted patronymics as their surname. Sometimes the immigrants might take the name of another farm where they had once lived. Usually this third name was the name of the farm they had just come from. On arrival in the United States, Norwegian immigrants either already had three names or, in many cases, adopted a third one. In Norway, the use of fixed family names was not made compulsory by law until 1925. Family names in Norway are, in fact, a product of only the last few generations, except among the traditional upper classes (the clergy, military, civil servants, and the wealthy bourgeoisie). You should realize, therefore, that a surname in addition to the Christian name and the patronymic is not always the same as a modern family name. In this way, a cotter connected with the farm Lunde might be called Hans Petersen Lunde, or sometimes Lunde-eie (eie = possession), even if his home locally was called something else. Sometimes the preposition "under" was put in front of the place-name. Similarly, a tenant farmer (a cotter or husmann) was often listed in the official registers under the name of the farm to which his little home belonged. Sometimes, however, the preposition "på" (meaning "at") was placed between the patronymic and the farm name, indicating that the person in question was employed at that particular farm. A farm laborer could be named in the same way, even though he was not related to the farmer. If farmer Ole Olsen Li moved from Li to another farm, such as Dal, he would then be known as Ole Olsen Dal. This "surname" did not necessarily identify a family or a relationship it signified a place of residence. In addition, a third name was often used. (The surname might also be spelled "Håkonsdotter"). (The surname might also be spelled "Håkonsson" or "Håkonsøn.") And Sigrid Håkonsdatter was the daughter of Håkon. For example, Olav Håkonsen meant that this man was the son of Håkon. In the old days, Norwegians were identified by their Christian name and their father's name, plus the appropriate suffix. The following is excerpted from How to trace your ancestors in Norway, by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: For example, "Bengtsson is Swedish surname that translates to "son of Bengt." Scandinavians are also known for re-using several of the most popular first names and last names, so it's not uncommon to come across many people with identical names in this region.Home > Genealogy > Norwegian Naming Conventions Norwegian Naming Conventions Scandinavian last names typically end in -sen or sson meaning "son" or –datter or - dotter, meaning daughter. Therefore, their baby names indicate relationships and a sense of community. Patronymic names use the father's given name plus a suffix at the end to indicate relationship. Most surnames follow the practice of patronyms that incorporate a person's father's name. Family names are often passed down generations. Scandinavian names follow specific naming patterns. Like other regions throughout the world, Scandinavia was late to adopt surnames. Once those countries did, they were used in conjunction with patronyms. Jensen - An extremely popular Danish surname meaning "Son of Jens." Today, Jensen is also a popular first name for boys.Nielsen - A Danish patronymic surname meaning son of Niels.Karlsson - A patronymic surname meaning "Son of Karl." Karlsson is one of the most common surnames in Sweden.Christensen - (Kristiansen) - A name derived from Danish origins, meaning "Son of Christen/Christian".Andersen - A Danish-Norwegian patronymic surname meaning "Son of Anders".Larsen - A Danish and Norwegian patronymic from "Son of Lars." Lars is the Scandinavian equivalent of the Latin first name Lawrence.Olsen - Dervied from Old Norse, meaning "son of Olaf.". The 10 Most Common Scandinavian Surnames (with English translations) The naming customs in Scandinavia also have their own fascinating history. The Scandinavian region is famous for its breathtaking landscapes including fjords, mountains, and beautiful beaches. In modern times, Norse Gods such as Odin, Thor, Freya, and Loki have become well-known figures in pop culture thanks to Marvel's Thor movies. They most often practiced Norse Mythology. The Vikings, also called Norsemen, were well-known sea-faring people with a reputation for raiding and pirating throughout Europe and Asia. The history of Scandinavian people can be traced back to The Vikings. The Scandinavian languages include Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, and Faroese. These three countries are also part of a larger group called the Nordic countries that includes Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. The region of northern Europe made up of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark is called Scandinavia. Brief Historical Context of Scandinavian Names and Language
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |