Last Names
laxfanI have been looking thru the census for the yrs posted-and can someone tell me when the wife started taking her husband's last name? In my situation that is the only way I can find my great grandmother listed(even though I know her maiden name). They are all listed under Nicolai Jonassen in the 1900 census for Buskerud-either Drammen or Modum district. This makes it confusing as I cannot locate her in her fathers' house-before marriage. One my ?,where can one find access to birth records? Where would I write to? Thanks
HopkinsNicolai Johansen in Drammen for the 1900 census is listed as a widower. Who is the 'they' you found listed under him?
laxfanNIc's last name is spelled Jonassen,not Johansen(however when he came to Cda he changed it to Hanson)- The census list's his wife Mina Jonassen,& kids Karl Gustav,Asta Josefina & Thorlief Gabriel,the only child missing is Norman but he was born in 1903,so not showing on the census. But why does Mina use his last name,instead of how things were done?
TrondMina’s name is listed as Mina Karoline Jonassen b. Feb. 14 1870 when she [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=EMIOSLO&gardpostnr=203477&merk=203477#ovre"]left Oslo[/url] for Winnipeg together with her children in 1908.
laxfanThank You for finding that- I have been looking thru the ships records but could never find her & the kids-Their father came to Cda in 1903 and I had found him no problem. BUt can you tell me why her last name is the same as her husband?-They usually kept thier own last name-was this just coming to be- I don't know when they got married-am assuming before 1895-birth of 1st son.
HopkinsWhy isn't she using her patronymic surname form? She and/or her husband must have chosen to identify themselves in that manner. I find more than 100,000 married women using the ....datter (patronymic form) in the 1900 Norwegian census. As of today - where I live in the US there is no LAW that women must change their names when they marry - it is just the usual custom.
TrondGenerally in and around 1894 (when they married) there was tradition to use husbands name as surname. This tradition started in cities and towns mid 1800 and lasted all the way up to 1980’s. A little later this tradition started on the countryside. [url="http://www.norwayheritage.com/articles/templates/genealogy.asp?articleid=2&zoneid=2"]See Those Norwegian names, tips for the online researcher [/url]
askeroi1980s was a bit late, Trond? From my experience from the Haukeli mountain area it wasn't at all common untill way up in the 1900s. I guess that's what you meant?
laxfanTrond,you state that they were married in 1894?- where did you find that? I would love to see a marriage license or any documentation on that. This side of my family(mothers side) has been very difficult to find any info on and there are a few of us trying to search Thank you in advance of any help Diane
HopkinsThe census entry gave you a location where 'Mina' was born and her approximate birth year. You say you know what her maiden name was. Her first child was also listed with a birthplace that I seem to remember was the same as his mother's. You could look at marriage records from the Norwegian church registers in that parish -- find the marriage entry and it will probably list at least the fathers of the bride and groom and may also give information about where they live. Most of the Norwegian church books (kirkebøker) have been copied to microfilm by the LDS Family History Library that you could order at your nearest LDS Family History Center.