Danish Naming Traditions

1
Danish Naming Traditions

• Chaos versus Order
• Freedom versus Bureaucracy

2
In 2000, Danish Americans numbered 1,430,897
persons down from 1,634,648 in 1990.1 The top 5
states with the largest Danish American
populations are California, Utah, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, and Washington.2 The top 5 surnames
among Danish Americans are Jensen, Nielsen,
Hansen, Pedersen, and Andersen.3
The U.S. Census
Two Danish Americans at a 1995 Ethnic Festival.4
3
The Danish Elite
In 1526, King Frederik I decreed that all Danish
noble families shall have family names.
Therefore, the first people in Denmark to acquire
hereditary names were the nobility. Many of these
were based on their coats of arms.5 Over the
next two centuries, the custom spread into the
lower ranks of the bourgeoisie and the clergy
class.6
The Danish Royal Family Coat of Arms.7
4
The Danish Peasantry
Among the peasantry, traditional names using
patronymics remained popular until the early 19th
century.8 However, this practice proved chaotic
and, in 1828, the government instituted a freeze
of last names. Patronymics officially became
family names.9 The peasantry largely ignored
this and continued their traditions well into the
1870s, even with several additional orders in
1829 and 1856.10
Dragör Peasant.11
5
Patronymics
Childrens forenames were often taken from a
deceased relative. Surnames were traditionally
composed of the fathers first name and the
suffixes sen or datter, meaning son of or
daughter of, respectively.12 This, however,
proved very difficult to record for official
purposes and the new law froze all patronymics,
effectively turning them into hereditary family
names.13
Skagen Fisherman and Child.14
6
Denmark Today
Of the 100 most common surnames, 64 of which are
derived from patronymics.15 Names today are
strictly controlled by the Ministry of
Ecclesiastical Affairs. Boys names are
restricted to 7,296 and girls names restricted
to 9,607. Another category also exists for
surnames, of which there are 185 available. All
other names have to be submitted and approved
before being granted.16
Traditionally Dressed Woman in Aarhus.17
7
Sources

• Documents
• 1 lthttp//www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pd
  fgt
• 2 lthttp//www.euroamericans.net/danish.htmgt
• 3 lthttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Danish_Ame
  ricansgt
• 4 lthttp//www.everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Danish-
  Americans.htmlgt
• 5-6, 8-10, 13 lthttp//everything2.com/index.pl?nod
  e_id1499398gt
• 7 lthttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageDenmark_larg
  e_coa.pnggt
• 11 lthttp//www.gutenberg.org/files/20107/20107-h/2
  0107-h.htmgt
• 12 lthttp//www.sa.dk/content/us/genealogy/danish_n
  amesgt
• 14 lthttp//www.gutenberg.org/files/20107/20107-h/2
  0107-h.htmgt
• 14 lthttp//mydanishroots.com/surnames/100_most_com
  mon_surnames.htmlgt
• 15 lthttp//www.familiestyrelsen.dk/navne/1/?no_cac
  he1gt
• 16 lthttp//www.ambwashington.um.dk/en/menu/Informa
  tionaboutDenmark/Culture/DanishNationalSymbols/Nat
  ionalDressandFolkDancing/gt
• Photos
• Photo 1 lthttp//www.everyculture.com/multi/images/
  gema_01_img0070.jpggt
• Photo 2 lthttp//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com
  mons/4/43/Denmark_large_coa.pnggt
• Photo 3 lthttp//www.gutenberg.org/files/20107/2010
  7-h/images/illus002.jpggt
• Photo 4 lthttp//www.gutenberg.org/files/20107/2010
  7-h/images/illus007.jpggt
• Photo 5 lthttp//www.ambwashington.um.dk/NR/rdonlyr
  es/148CC70A-5A65-45B7-86A3-3AB76B9F960D/0/DanishFo
  lkDress.jpggt