Patronymic surname suffixes throughout Scandinavia often changed depending on which country controlled the area. When researching your ancestors in Sweden, Norway or Denmark, it can be helpful to know when these changes to surnames occurred.
The naming trends on this chart hold true through most of the 18th and 19th centuries. As Scandinavian countries began requiring fixed surnames, families slowly began adopting and passing them on. Late in the 19th century many families, especially in Denmark, began using the male extension for both sons and daughters.
| Country | Son | Daughter |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | -sen | -datter |
| Sweden | -son | -dotter |
| Norway | Before 1814 (Danish rule): -sen 1814-1905 (Swedish rule): -son After 1905 (independence): -sen | Before 1814: -datter 1814-1905: -dotter After 1905: -dotter |
Tip: Sometimes a record will show a female’s surname ending with –dtr. That’s just an abbreviation for the full extension, not the actual surname.
Danish surnames can be tricky. Make sure a record didn’t list your ancestor’s occupation as part of his name using these tips.
Want to know more about surnames? Follow our guide to find out where hereditary family names came from and how to learn more about your last name.
Scandinavians were among the earliest American explorers and settlers. Were your ancestors among them? Find out with these five research steps.
