Generation Six

Sophie Beate Huitfeldt

Sophie Beate Huitfeldt
10 Jan 1724 – 14 Jun 1785

Daughter of Henrik Jorgen Huitfeldt and Birgitte Christine Kaas

Wife of Hans de Tonsberg

Mother of Helene Christine Elizabeth de Tonsberg

Hans de Tonsberg

Hans de Tonsberg
1720 – 24 Jun 1770

Son of Wilhelm de Tonsberg and Helene Sophie Kaas

Husband of Sophie Beate Huitfeldt

Father of Helene Christine Elizabeth de Tonsberg

[Read more…] about Hans de Tonsberg

Heritable family names (surnames) were generally adopted rather late within Scandinavia. Nobility were the first to take names that would be passed on from one generation to the next. Later, clergy, artisans and merchants in cities took heritable names. Family names were still used together with primary patronyms (father’s name plus an affix denoting relationship), which were used by all social classes. This meant that most families until modern times did not have family names. Scandinavian patronyms were generally derived from the father’s given name with the addition of a suffix meaning ‘son’ or ‘daughter’. Sometimes the family name of the mother would be given to the children if that name carried status or an inheritance came from the mother’s side. The names of family farms or other place names were also used. A nobleman had the right to write himself to (Norwegian: til) the seat farm(s) or the estate(s) on which he resided, for example ‘Hans Kaas til Rostrup’.

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Generation Six

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Note on Naming Conventions