Appreciate that feedback! What other family names are out there that reflect occupations? And are some of those occupations "long gone"? We still have millers, but we are out of charcoalburners... or? Since Nordic folk had a long tradition with the seas, are there many / any occupational names that clearly relate to that? Mange tack, eh! AJ! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Olaf" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 12:38 AM Subject: Re: [GEN-NORDIC] Occupational names. > Hei! > I was referring to Norwegian names. But I did read an article in a Danish > newspaper some time ago where they listed the most common names in Denmark. > Only when they got past 20 'sen' names did an occupational name come in at # > 21 - Møller (miller) and then more 'sen' names. > Olaf > > > > If occupational names were uncommon, when did they come into use? > > > > Smed is also Belgian for Smith [ de Smed ] > > And they have Koopmans > > > > Hi Bo! > > > In earlier times occupational names did not seem to be very common, > > > presumably because of the patronymic and farm name systems. Even our > very > > > common Smith's equivalent, Smed is only used by 5 people in 2001. > > > Incidentally, Kjøbmand has its equivalent in Scotland as Chapman. > > > Olaf > > > > > > > > > > Were occupational names common as family names in the Nordic area? > > > > > > > > For instance "Kjobmand " only gives abt 88 hits on Google. > > > > And many are for the same person... > > > > > > > > > > > > >