Larsen from Norway

[Geoff Rogers]

Having reflected on the Larsen name mystery I can only think that on
arriving in Australia the name Tellefsen may have been a bit confusing
to people and that he changed it to Larsen, son of Lars, his father
first name. When he married he had to give Larsen as his fathers name
to avoid questions, but gave his fathers real surname on his
naturalisation papers in case the authorities checked up on him.

Thanks to those who have helped with my query.

Regards

Geoff Rogers

[Dave Hinz]

On Fri, 8 Jul 2005 21:04:31 +0000 (UTC), Geoff Rogers <[email protected]> wrote:

Having reflected on the Larsen name mystery I can only think that on
arriving in Australia the name Tellefsen may have been a bit confusing
to people and that he changed it to Larsen, son of Lars, his father
first name. When he married he had to give Larsen as his fathers name
to avoid questions, but gave his fathers real surname on his
naturalisation papers in case the authorities checked up on him.

Ah. Not illogical. Also, patronyms were replaced by family names right
around there in the nordic parts of the world. You had to pick a name
for your family and stick with it. So, that may have entered into it as
well. Since you have the 1900 with what is clearly your people, I'd
consider that to be the name that he probably went by (birth records for
Lauritz would be the clincher), and resarch accordingly. A last name
cited long later in a land far away is less reliable as an indicator of
his dad's name. I can certainly see how trying to explain why dad has a
different last name that I do, to a records clerk in a country with a
very different culture, would be more hassle than it was worth. "Yeah,
Larsen, that's fine. Spell it with an O? OK, if you want, just get me
out of here."

Some of my ancestors changed their "place name" somewhere mid-ocean on
the way over here. Kind of like me, though. If I'm near my house,
"where do you live" gets an answer of which road I live on. If I'm in
the nearest major town, an hour away, it's "Halfway between (this major
town) and (major town 2 hours west of here)". If I'm in a different
state, it's "near Milwaukee", and if I'm in a different country, it's
"near Chicago". I'm not from Chicago, but telling someone in Norway
that I live in (town) on (road) would be pointless and silly.

[8050]

"Geoff Rogers" <[email protected]> skrev i melding
news:[email protected]...

Having reflected on the Larsen name mystery I can only think that on
arriving in Australia the name Tellefsen may have been a bit confusing to
people and that he changed it to Larsen, son of Lars, his father first
name. When he married he had to give Larsen as his fathers name to avoid
questions, but gave his fathers real surname on his naturalisation papers
in case the authorities checked up on him.

Thanks to those who have helped with my query.

Regards

Geoff Rogers

To Geoff Rogers.

My late wife was great grandchild of Lars Tellefsen`s brother Tobias
Tellefsen and her cousin has all the information you are looking for. I have
already been in contact with him and I will help you with your inquiry.

Best regards
Pål W. Martinussen