NAVIGATING PATRONYMICS IN SCANDINAVIAN RESEARCH Part 2, Linking Patterns
Jenny Hansen, AG® [email protected] www.MyFavoriteAncestor.com
Purpose: At the end of this session, each student should understand the basic linking patterns used to determine family groups in Scandinavia.
Linking Patterns When we look at families in Scandinavia, the first big challenge is the lack of original names. You may have noticed that it seems there are about ten names for men and ten names for women that appear in very high repetition. Patronymics can make this even more difficult. When we identify these six patterns for our Scandinavian families, it helps us realize who belongs to the family and who is part of the neighbor’s family. The patterns to watch for include names, siblings, chronology, geography, occupation and social status.
Names Types of surnames: Patronymics—The father’s given name with either -son or -daughter attached is used as the surname for children. (Example: Peterson, Jensen, Hansdatter, etc.) Occupational—The individual’s occupation is used as a surname. These occupational names are typically used in addition to the patronymic name. Occupational surnames usually only held for one generation. (Example: Smed, Møller) Geographical—The name of the town or farm where a family lived is used as a surname. These are used in addition to a patronymic name. Geographical surnames are most common in Norway and Sweden. They could be used for several generations, and even became the permanent surname for many families. (Example: Liljenquist, Lundberg) Nickname—A physical feature or personality characteristic could be used as a surname. These were in addition to patronymic names, and they only lasted for a single individual’s lifespan. (Example: Erik the Red) Surnames became permanent by the mid-1800s, depending on the area where your family lived. Women did not change their name at marriage.
Sibling Children were typically born two years apart. Naming patterns First sons after grandfathers, first daughters after grandmothers Given names reused if child died
Chronology Do the dates for the family events follow a logical time frame? Age at marriage: Male, 25; Female, 21 First child born about 1 year after marriage Children born in logical succession Average life expectancy past infancy: 70s Childbirth was deadly Quick remarriage after widowed
Geography Families very rarely moved far from their original hometown. See maps on FamilySearch Research Wiki for jurisdictional boundaries.
Property Land was often passed from father to son. Farm names used to distinguish between individuals with same name.
Social Status Individuals typically stayed within the same social class. Rags to riches (and vice versa) were highly uncommon. Trades passed generationally.
Bibliography Bukke, Inger. The Comprehensive Genealogical Feast Day Calendar. Bountiful, UT: Thomsen’s Geanealogical Center, 1983.
Derry, T.K. A History of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. University of Minnesota Press, 1980.
Johansson, Carl-Erik. Cradled in Sweden: A Practical Help to Genealogical Research in Swedish Records. Logan, UT: Everton Publishers, 1972.
Johansson, Carl-Erik. Thus They Wrote. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1970.
Smith, Frank and Thomsen, Finn. Genealogical Guidebook & Atlas of Denmark. Bountiful, UT: Thomsen’s Genealogical Center, 1986. (available for other countries, as well)
World Conference on Records: Preserving our Heritage, vol. 8, Scandinavian Family and Local History. Salt Lake City, UT: Family History Library, 1980. (Available in digital format via Family History Library Catalog, www.FamilySearch.org)
Websites Google Maps: www.google.com/maps Helps visualize proximity of towns
FamilySearch: www.familysearch.org Records index can help with a quick check of parish records and census records
Timeline for Scandinavia: www.timelineindex.com Enter Scandinavia for the search
Scandinavian Immigrant Experience: www.plu.edu/siec Oral interviews of individual who emigrated from Scandinavian countries to the Pacific Northwest. These give a great picture of the immigrant experience.
FamilySearch Research Wiki: https://wiki.familysearch.org Request your country of interest. These pages include word lists, feast day calendars and basic research guides. These are a MUST for successful research.
Check growing collections of Scandinavian record images and new indexes on commercial sites including www.Ancestry.com and www.MyHeritage.com.
Personal timeline software: www.twile.com This is a free program that transforms your tree into timeline format. Others may be found by performing a broad search for timeline software.
Denmark Danish National Archives: http://www.sa.dk All Danish parish records, census records, probates and more are included and available for free.
Danish Demographic Database: http://ddd.dda.dk This includes the most complete index of the Danish census records and is available for free.
Norway Norwegian Digital Archives: www.DigitalArkivet.no All Norwegian parish records and census records are included and available for free.
Norwegian National Archives: www.ArkivVerket.no See the Genealogical Research section for great information about starting your research in Norway. They also have a great photo collection.
Sweden Swedish National Archives: http://www.ra.se This houses all Swedish parish records. The records are free to access.
Swedish church record images: www.ancestry.com and www.myheritage.com Subscription service, free with LDS login. Growing collection of Swedish records with indexes.
Swedish church record images: www.arkivdigital.net Subscription service, available free of charge at FHCs. Full color images of all Swedish parish records. Excellent search capabilities.