NORWAY-L Archives

From: "christopher flak" <>
Subject: Re: FLAK
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998 13:53:48 +1100

Thanks for that , I am still very new to the Norwegian naming conventions,
use of farm names, etc.
The basis for the Flakstad theory is one of family lore. However the links
are yet to be traced.
One supporting factor is that my g-grandfather was a seafaring man,
involved in sailing ships, possibly the Lofoten or Shetland fisheries or
both.
I am currently in a dialigue with the Shetland historical society to see if
I can unearth any traces there.
My g-aunt Isabella "Milly" visited Flakstad somewhere around 1900 and was
able to find information
about our family and Flakstad. Whether or not this information is correct,
or borne of fantasy, is open to
conjecture as that information has been lost to the family.

Thanks again for the info, I will file it for future reference.

I
I feel if I can trace my g-grandfather's birth certificate, which should
indicate his parent's names, then I'll
be on my way.

E.B Flak was a very reticent man, who never talked to his children, so the
trail is very cold however.

Regards,
Christopher J Flak
----------
From: Knut Bryn <>
To:
Subject: Re: FLAK
Date: Monday, 2 March 1998 0:48

Chris!

I have read your mails about your connections to Flakstad in Lofoten and
your
theory about the Flak name being a short of Flakstad. When Norwegians left
Norway 100 years ago or more, they were not used to surnames as we are
today,
and many emigrants choosed surnames in strange ways. So your theory might
be
right. However, a more common base for the choice of surname was the name
of
farm the emigrants came from or had some family connection to. Therefore I
will
list some farms in Norway which may give you a clue for your further
research:

Name Type of farm Parish Kommune County

FLAK Main farm Byneset Trondheim Sør-Trøndelag
FLAK Main farm Fosnes, Namsos Nord-Trøndelag
Klingen,
Namsos
FLAKK Main farm Birkenes Birkenes Aust-Agder

The parish of the second farm has changed quite much due to changes in the
borders and/or organization of the parishes.

I also have to mention a farm in Høylandet, Grong, Nord-Trøndelag which is
called FLAKKEN. In everyday talk this farm is also called FLAK.

But what about Flakstad in this? Flakstad is very far from These FLAK
farms.
However, a lot of young people moved from Trøndelag to Lofoten between 1850
and
1875 because of some very good years in the Lofoten fisheries. Some of
these
people later on emigrated to Amerika. I have to underline, however, that
this
is just some information that you may keep for later use if you're hitting
the
wall. Probably it is better to focus on Flakstad.

Knut Bryn

==== NORWAY Mailing List ====

----------

This thread:

• Re: FLAK by Knut Bryn <>

  • Re: FLAK by "christopher flak" <>