68
edits
m
no edit summary
(Rearranged paragraphs for better flow) |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
*Spelling was not standardized in Norway until 1917 | *Spelling was not standardized in Norway until 1917 | ||
=== Abbreviations === | ===Abbreviations=== | ||
When recording surnames, it is important to remember that patronymics were frequently abbreviated in the records. The abbreviations dr., dtr., d., are all substitutes for -datter and -dotter. Likewise, male patronymics are frequently shortened to s. In a parish where most of the population has a surname ending with datter or sen, recording the name in full would be needlessly redundant. | When recording surnames, it is important to remember that patronymics were frequently abbreviated in the records. The abbreviations dr., dtr., d., are all substitutes for -datter and -dotter. Likewise, male patronymics are frequently shortened to s. In a parish where most of the population has a surname ending with datter or sen, recording the name in full would be needlessly redundant. | ||
Abbreviations in the records are not limited to surnames. Some given names are frequently abbreviated as well. Perhaps the most commonly encountered abbreviation is in names containing the word Christ, where it is written as X, it being a modern siglum of the Greek Χρ, representing the first two letters in the Greek spelling of Christ. | Abbreviations in the records are not limited to surnames. Some given names are frequently abbreviated as well. Perhaps the most commonly encountered abbreviation is in names containing the word Christ, where it is written as X, it being a modern siglum of the Greek Χρ, representing the first two letters in the Greek spelling of Christ. | ||
=== Name Frequency === | ===Name Frequency=== | ||
A study of the 1865 census of Vågå, Norway identified 430 men (11% of the male population) with the given name of Hans. Of these 430, 22% were surnamed Olsen, 20% Hansen, 6% Johnsen, and 4% Knudsen. Because of the high numbers of people with the same given name and patronymic surname it was necessary to include a person’s residence (usually a farm, but it may also be a house) as part of their name. | A study of the 1865 census of Vågå, Norway identified 430 men (11% of the male population) with the given name of Hans. Of these 430, 22% were surnamed Olsen, 20% Hansen, 6% Johnsen, and 4% Knudsen. Because of the high numbers of people with the same given name and patronymic surname it was necessary to include a person’s residence (usually a farm, but it may also be a house) as part of their name. | ||
| Line 130: | Line 130: | ||
Centuries before 1923, when the first law regarding surnames was passed, some people had already adopted the practice of using a permanent family name to be passed to successive generations. The 1923 law continued the previously established law that certain family names were protected and could only be adopted by individuals who could show proper inheritance of the name or by the unanimous consent of all others who bore the name.<ref>National Library of Norway, [https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008120304033 Lov om personnavn : tradisjon, liberalisering og forenkling : utredning fra en arbeidsgruppe oppnevnt av Justis- og politidepartementet ved brev 22. april 1999 : avgitt 20. desember 2000], page 71.</ref> | Centuries before 1923, when the first law regarding surnames was passed, some people had already adopted the practice of using a permanent family name to be passed to successive generations. The 1923 law continued the previously established law that certain family names were protected and could only be adopted by individuals who could show proper inheritance of the name or by the unanimous consent of all others who bore the name.<ref>National Library of Norway, [https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008120304033 Lov om personnavn : tradisjon, liberalisering og forenkling : utredning fra en arbeidsgruppe oppnevnt av Justis- og politidepartementet ved brev 22. april 1999 : avgitt 20. desember 2000], page 71.</ref> | ||
=== Farm Names === | ===Farm Names=== | ||
It is believed the oldest place names in Norway are more than 2,000 years old. The practice of identifying a person in connection with their named residence (for example, ''Stein på Børve'' farm from a record in 1563) is easily that old. The earliest records we have from Norway generally identify people by their given name and residence. As these records are for the assessment of taxes, generally only landowners are identified. From other extant records, it is clear most of the population used a patronymic surname. | It is believed the oldest place names in Norway are more than 2,000 years old. The practice of identifying a person in connection with their named residence (for example, ''Stein på Børve'' farm from a record in 1563) is easily that old. The earliest records we have from Norway generally identify people by their given name and residence. As these records are for the assessment of taxes, generally only landowners are identified. From other extant records, it is clear most of the population used a patronymic surname. | ||