Peterson vs. Joramo: 52 Ancesotors Prompt "Context"

The Surname Battle: Peterson vs. Joramo

Paul Peterson (1867-1942) and Jacob Joramo (1864-1934)

            My grandfather Paul Peterson emigrated from Norway with his parents and three siblings in 1870 when he was just three years old. Paul and his descendants used the surname “Peterson.” However, his brother and neighbor, Jacob, used the surname “Joramo”. Jacob’s descendants all say our side of the family uses the “wrong” surname, but our side insists they are the ones in the wrong. I could never understand how this conflict arose. How could two brothers end up with different surnames? Once I started researching Norwegian immigrants and surnames, I discovered the reason for the confusion and conflict. 

An article on a Norwegian immigrant history site explained it quite succinctly: “In Norway prior to the 1860s families did not use fixed surnames. They used a patronymic pattern in which children were named after their father. Hence, John Andersen = John, the son of Anders. And Mari Andersdatter = Mari, the daughter of Anders. Anders himself would be named Anders Olafsen = Anders, the son of Olaf. The full family unit could include Anders Olafsen (father), Mette Evensdatter (mother), John Andersen (son) and Mari Andersdatter (daughter). Mette Evensdatter will not have a name corresponding to her husband.” 

The author goes on to explain, “This system definitely gets confusing when you encounter names as common as Ole Olsen or Nils Hansen, so they often used their farm names to clarify their identity when conducting official business or traveling. In church records, for example, they would typically append the farm name to the patronymic name to be more precise, for example “Anders Olafsen Sandness” (or “Anders Olafsen på (from) Sandness” if Anders merely worked at Sandness). It’s very important to keep in mind that when a farm name is used, it is the farm at which they currently reside, rather than the farm at which they were born. The use of farm names is very helpful to keep in mind when looking at old records, since Norway only gradually adopted fixed surnames from the mid-1800s until they were required in 1923.”

This explains my family’s dual names. “Peterson” was the patronymic: Paul and Jacob’s father was Peder Pederson or Peter Peterson, depending on the record. He used the surname “Peterson/Pederson” fairly consistently. After his death in 1880, only ten years after the family arrived in Minnesota, the rest of the family swung back and forth between “Peterson” and what must have been the name of the farm where they lived in Norway, “Joramo”.  

                                      Jacob Joramo with wife Stina and son Carl about 1890

The 1875 state census listed the family as Peterson. The 1885 state census lists mother “Anna Joramoe” living with sons Jacob and Paul “Joramoe”. The 1895 census shows Paul Peterson and wife, plus Paul’s mother Anna Peterson, all living next door to Jacob Joramo and his wife. Paul and Jacob’s sister listed her maiden name on at least one record as “Marit Peterson Joramo”, so she split the difference, combining the patronymic with the farm name. Their other sister Julia gave her maiden name as “Peterson”. 

                           Paul Peterson and wife Regina Severson, 1892

My father said that his father Paul felt that Jacob was being disrespectful of their father, Peter, by choosing to adopt Joramo as a surname. I suspect Jacob felt Paul lacked respect for the land they left behind in Norway. Jacob was three years older than Paul, so probably had fond memories of the farm where he was born and the family they left behind in Norway, so place was more important to Jacob’s sense of identity. 

Jacob’s 1934 obituary lists his name as “Jacob Peterson Joramo”, so in the end, Jacob honored both the patronymic and the farm names. 

          Paul Peterson and his four Joramo nephews: Sam, Carl, Joe and Olaf, about 1940

Understanding the context of Norwegian surname variations helped me respect Jacob’s decision, However, I am glad my grandfather Paul chose the surname Peterson.  I am proud to have Peterson as my maiden name, and to honor the great-grandfather who died long before I was born. 

Quotes from “Understanding Norwegian Naming Patterns” by Eric https://norwegianridge.com/2011/07/10/understanding-norwegian-naming-patterns/