I have created family trees on MyHeritage, Geni, FamilySearch FamilyTree and Ancestry. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, and as my research has grown, I’ve wanted a place where I can organise information in a clearer way. This website lets me bring everything together in one place.
My Family Tree
I am Kirsten Harriet Osa [G1] and these are my direct ancestors. This is an ongoing project with many gaps still to fill. I will continue to add, update and link information as I find it.
David Osa (1920-1965) [G2]
My father’s side of the family is from Vestlandet (Western Norway). Looking at the geography is easy to see why they are concentrated in certain areas.
This is the branch where lots of people emigrated to the Americas. Below is a list of his direct ancestors. Check each page for information on emigrations.
My mother’s side of the family came from Østlandet (the middle eastern part of Norway) and beyond. Going back, I have found links to other parts of Scandinavia and Germany. I have also been told that some came from Scotland, but I have yet to find that connection. Her parents were Harriet Næss and Asbjørn Skogsrud, and their direct ancestors are listed below.
Johanna Margretha Jaspersdatter (1751-1835) 2x [G8]
Finding the Data
Below is a brief overview of the main sources I use. For a full list of links, see the Resources section.
Sources
Church Books: Parish registers contain records of baptisms, marriages and funerals. The oldest surviving register dates from 1623, although record‑keeping only became common from around 1720. Many registers have been lost to fires, but a large number are now available online, often searchable. Older entries can be difficult to read, but there are forums that can help.
Censuses: Regular censuses were taken in 1801, 1865, 1875, 1891, 1900 and 1910, and these are available online. Some areas also have male‑only lists dating back to 1664.
Bygdebøker (Farm Books): These books contain local history and trace the families who lived on each farm. Many are available through the Norwegian library system.
Norwegian Names
In Norway, fixed surnames were not widely used until the 20th century. Before that, people used a combination of patronyms and farm names, indicating both their father’s name and their place of residence. As people moved from farm to farm, the last part of their name changed accordingly. Spelling variations add another layer of complexity, so I include alternative names where relevant.
In 1925, fixed surnames became compulsory. Some families chose the patronym; others chose the farm name. My father’s family chose Osa, the name of their place of residence.
