What is the purpose of the prefix and suffix boxes in the name field. Can the suffix field be used t

Eugene Curtis53

What is the purpose of the prefix and suffix boxes in the name field. Can the suffix field be used to identify where a person is from i.e. Ole Olsen suffix- (of Marum Farm) Norwegian Example

multiplesons1.5294187457446106E12

Here is an article on entering names in Family Tree: https://www.familysearch.org/help/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Entering-names-on-Family-Tree&lang=en

 

Generally it says to use Sr, Jr, III...but I'm forwarding this question to the @Nordic Countries Genealogy Research​ group to see if they have recommendations.

Liv Anderson2

As it is not part of their name, but the name of the farm where they lived, it is nice to put it in a note. Since this is their address, it help identify that you have the correct person. Also, help find that person in the farm book.

Gordon Collett

I have only used the suffix box a couple of times in my Norwegian research.

 

I recall a pair of sisters who were both named Anna and throughout the parish records and in a bygdebok which included them, they were referred to as Anna den eldre (or Anna d.e.) and Anna den yngre (or Anna d.y.)

 

The other time was a father and a son both named Ola Olsson Høyland. Throughout the bygdebok in which they are found and in the parish records they were Ola Høyland den eldre and Ola Høyland den yngre.

 

Since these were used so many times this way in the records, I took this as convincing evidence that the suffixes were appropriate to use in Family Tree.

 

I've never had occasion to use the prefix box.

 

By the way, the majority of family trees I have seen created by Norwegians do consider the farm name to be part of a person's name and they enter it in the Last Name field, not the suffix. You can see this customary and widespread usage at My Heritage. Here, for example is one random search:

https://www.myheritage.com/research?action=query&formId=master&formMode=1&qname=Name+fn.Håkon/3Torsson+fnmo.2+fnmsvos.1+fnmsmi.1+ln.Holmedal+lnmo.4+lnmsdm.1+lnmsmf3.1+lnmsrs.1&qevents-birth0=Event+et.birth+ey.1815+ep.Skånevik,/3Hordaland,/3Norway+epmo.similar&qevents-death1=Event+et.death+ey.1882+epmo.similar&qevents=List&utm_source=partner_familysearch&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=research&csrf_token=T_536v0b9oeb65bh53_vtb4zb33p655e69w.1586825904.315621e31066b10f23cc76d614c6aff5&fspid=K2FN-5BZ

Of the twenty trees on the first page which all include the farm name as part of the gentleman's name, eighteen of the trees are managed by people with very Scandinavian names. So feel free to include the farm names on people who would have used them in regions such as rural western Norway where they were considered part of a person's name.

Dennis J Yancey

normally this info you allude to could be added to the Notes or Life Sketch section

 

but are you implying that among the Norwegian families - that indeed would have been used as a prefix?

Tanner Blair Tolman

For Norwegians I like to put the farm name as a suffix. Legally it was not part of their name but it is frequently recorded right after their name in the parish records so I like to.

Eugene Curtis53

I have been putting the Farm Name from the Parish Birth/Christening Record to the suffix box. I have another FS Person now removing the farm name from the suffix box because they claim that's not what the box is for and it changes the persons name. I think it clarifies who OLE OLSEN is and exactly where he was born. If it is not a purpose for that box I will quit doing it and put it where it belongs,or other FS patrons will remove them for me. Where would be the proper place to put that type of information? This would probably apply to most Scandinavian Names. Thank for your efforts in this matter..Eugene

Dennis J Yancey

note you can add an "alternate name" that does have the farm as you refer to. (though some of the "purists" among us - may still complain about that)

or you could put it in some custom field.

or in the life sketch section.

 

Eugene Curtis53

Thanks for the response. Patronymic Naming is interesting to say the least. Farm Names are also interesting. I believe the two combined are valuable ways to identify Nordic People. I visited several Norwegian cemeteries and a majority of the headstones show First Name, Middle Initial (which is the 1st Letter of the Patronymic surname) and the Farm Name as the surname. I saw an old picture (1900) of approx. 50 Norwegian Men with their names listed. None of the names listed a patronymic surname. In my many years of Norwegian Research I have encountered more records and information with farm names than patronymics.

If the record doesn't include a patronymic name I have to look for that person on a census record where they are listed by patronymic name. I guess I'm suggesting FamilySearch consider allowing Nordic farm names as an option for the suffix box with the purpose of showing clarification without changing patronymic birth names. A legal name is a legal name-no question. Farm Names are not part of the legal name. However, they do take their farm names seriously over there.

My cousins that I meet over there a while back go by their farm names. The name game in Norway has had many interesting twists over the many years. Would using the example you shared be considered as altering the persons name? Why can't the two be used together to give a better picture of the person? Thanks Again... The End!

Dennis J Yancey

I suggest using the "alternate name" option in FS.