Swedish Language and Naming Traditions

Understanding Patronymics

Patronymics is the process of obtaining a surname based upon the given name of the father, thus consistently changing the surname from generation to generation unless the given name and surname were identical. Then dotter or sson was added for gender distinction. For example: Anders Persson would have been the son of Per—(Per’s son). If Per’s surname was Bengtsson, he would have been the son of Bengt. Sissa Månsdotter was the daughter of Måns—(Måns’ dotter). 

The practice of patronymics was generally abandoned by the turn of the twentieth century. For some families, however, it was not employed even in earlier records. As well, some families took on an additional surname to help distinguish them from others with the same surname. These names were generally indicative of a place or profession. “Berg,” for example, means “mountain.”

You can research some names online in the Swedish Naming Archive and in a site that describes the History and Meaning Behind Swedish names.

Essential Vocabulary and Pronunciation

Birth- född(e) Illegitimate- oäkta
Christening- döpt(e) 
Engagement/Banns- lysnings 
Marriage- vigd(e), gift(e) 
Death- dödde 
Burial- begravd(e) 
County- län
Parish- socken, församling
Year- år
Month- månad
Day- dag
Clerical Survey- husförhörslängd 
Moving in- inflyttning
Moving out- utflyttning
Probate/Inventory- bouppteckning

''y'' is always used as a vowel and pronounced "I".

''AA'' and ''aa'' are pronounced as in ''awe.'' (Å and å are the letters in Sweden.)

''Æ'' and ''æ'' are pronounced like in "air." (Ä and ä are the letters in Sweden; but they can be AE or ae in plain text on the web.)

''Ø'' and ''ø'' are pronounced like in ''earl.'' (Ö and ö in Sweden; but OE or oe in plain text.)

''j'' is pronounced just like the consonant ''y'' is said in English.