Norway Naming Customs

Understanding surnames and given names can help you find and identify your ancestors in the records.

Surnames
Before record-keeping began, most people had only one name, such as John. As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. The problem was usually solved by adding descriptive information. John became John the skredder (tailor), John the son of Matthew, John the short, or John from Nordgaard (farm). At first, such "surnames" applied only to one person and not to the whole family. After a few generations, these names were passed from father to son.

Surnames developed from four major sources:


 * Patronymic, based on a parent's name, such as Siver Jensen (son of Jens)
 * Occupational, based on the person's trade, such as Hans Smed (Smith)
 * Nicknames, based on a person's characteristics, such as Olav Blatann (Blue tooth)
 * Geographical, based on a person's farm name, such as David Mundal

Surnames were first used by the nobility and wealthy landowners. Later the custom was followed by merchants and townspeople and eventually by the rural population.

The predominant type of surname in Norway is patronymic. Such names are based on the father's given name. This "last name" changed with each generation. For example, Sjul Gulliksen was the son of a man named Gullik. If Sjul had a son named Hans, the son would be known as Hans Sjulsen (Hans son of Sjul). His brothers would be called Sjulsen, while his sisters would be known as Sjulsdotter (daughter of Sjul). Where the population used patronymics, a woman did not change her name at marriage.

After about 1850, it became the custom in the cities to take permanent surnames. By 1900 most of Norway began doing so. In some places, the patronymic naming customs continued until 1923, when a law was passed requiring persons to adopt permanent family names to be passed to successive generations. When this happened, many Norwegians chose to use the name of their farm (residence) as their surname.

Given Names
A specific naming pattern was very common in Norway until about 1900. Although not always followed strictly, the following pattern may be helpful in researching family groups and determining the parents of the mother and father:


 * The first male child was usually named for the father's father.
 * The second boy was named for the mother's father.
 * The first female child was named for the mother's mother.
 * The second girl was named for the father's mother.
 * Additional children were often named for the parents' grandparents.
 * If a spouse died, and the surviving spouse remarried, the first child by the same sex was named after the deceased spouse.

If the wife's parents were deceased, or the couple were living wife's parents farm, her folks may have priority in the naming.

Sometimes, two or more children within a family were given the same first name(s). In some cases it was done because an older child died and the next child of the same gender was given the name. However, two or more children by the same given name could also have lived to adulthood. Do not presume that the first child with that same given name died unless the actual death record is found.

Some unusual male given names used in 1743: (most still in use today) For a more comprehensive list of given names, see the article Scandinavian Given Names.

Aasmund, Aaven, Anfin, Aslak, Asar, Asbiørn, Biørn, Buu, Eschel, Guldbrand, Gulmund, Guttorm, Rejar, Harald, Orm, Sebiørn, Siul, Tharald, Torbiørn, Torm, Yven.

Some unusual female given names used in 1743: (most still in use today)

Aase, Astri, Gonor, Groe, Guri, Live, Ragnil, Ramfrie, Siri.

Some given names used in heathen times (pre- year 1000) in use in 1743: (most still in use today).

Male names: Aasmund, Ambiørn, Amund, Asbiørn, Asgier, Asle, Amund, Knud, Talach.

Female names: Aastni, Ambiør, Gunild, Tore, Ulwild, Walbor.

Norway/American Name Changes:

Anders Halvorsen of Stordahl farm married Kari Knutsdatter

Their children:
 * 1) Halvor Andersen b. 1830
 * 2) Anne Andersdatter b. 1832
 * 3) Knut Andersen b. 1834
 * 4) Mari Andersdatter b. 1836
 * 5) Erik Andersen b. 1838

Halvor Andersen lived at Bråten farm before emigrating to the US in 1855. Uses the name Halvor A. Bratten in the US.

Anne Andersdatter emigrates with her brother in 1855. Uses the name Anderson when married in 1857 in Minnesota.

Knut Andersen emigrates in 1856. Uses the name Knut A. Stordahl in the US.

Anders Halvorsen and his wife Kari Knutsdatter emigrated with the two youngest children in 1862. They and the two children carry on with the name Halvorson in the US.

Online Resources

 * Å kallast med sitt rette namn : person- og stadnamn i lokalhistoria
 * 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
 * Norwegian Names