Where did the name LOFNES originate? |
Until the early 20th century last names, in Norway, were very random. Children often were given several names.
In 1923 it was ordered by law that each family should have a hereditary last name and only ONE last name. Some families took a patronymic, others a farm name, and of course the old hereditary names lived on.
The result was great numbers of Olsen, Hansen, Nilsen and names like that - old patronymics. Later on many last names of this type were replaced by farm or constructed names to avoid confusion.
Lofnes is the name of a farm in Leirgulen. It was first used by Samson Olsen Viik Lofnes (1840 - 1923). He was previously known by the last name Viik.
In 1850 he married Katherine Torgersdtr and they had eight children.
Today anyone who can find evidence of the name Lofnes in their genealogy is, almost certainly, a descendant of Samson and Katherine.
Their son Andreas was my husband's grandfather. He married Anna Kjerpeseth and they brought up their family in Leirgulen, in Nordjfiord. They had 10 children: Sigvald, Ole, Alf, Ottar, Kjellaug, Kristopher, Karen, Anny, Ragna and one child who died at birth. Farm Lofnes is owned today by Olaug and Gunner Torset. Olaug is Samson and Katherine's great grandaughter. |
Photographs of the area taken in the year 2000 |
Cousins Reunion in Rugsund
3rd& 4th June 2006 |
The children and grandchildren of Andreas and Anna Lofnes had a reunion in Rugsund, close to Leirgulen
where the family home was, on Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th June. Sig and Rosaleen were there along with 24 other adults and 12 children. Among them were Anna and Andreas' daughters Karen and Anne. Their son Alf was not able to be there due to ill-health but as he still lives nearby at Leirgulen, we were able to visit him on Sunday and he was very much involved.
Pictures of our week in Norway
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The Grandparents
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Andreas Lofnes
1890 - 1981 |
Anna Lofnes
nee Kjerpeset
1882 - 1952 |
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The Wedding
The wedding of Andreas Lofnes to Anna Kjerpeset
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Andreas and Anna Lofnes, my husband's grandparents
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My husband's uncle Alf Lofnes with his wife Karen
and his daughter- in-law at Leirgulen
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Sigvald Lofnes Senior with his mother
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Olaug and Gunner Torset came to visit us
Olaug is Kamilla Lofnes's daughter
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Our Norwegian cousin, Olaug wearing Norwegian National dress to celebrate National Day, May 17th
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Olaug and Gunner's daughter Audhild
with son Noa and new baby daughter Otilie
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Sigvald with Heidi,Alf Henry, Gunn Annett and Kjell Lofnes.
We met them for a meal when they were on holiday
in London. Kjell is Sigvald's cousin.
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Sig with Ann Hjort, his cousin who showed us round Oslo when we visited there on the crise ship the Norwegian Jewel
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