minow (09/22/82)
Now Swedes Can Choose Among Many Names
[This note is abstracted from an article in Gult och Blatt, a
newsletter for Swedes in and around Boston which in turn,
summarized an article in Svenska Dagbladet, June 14, 1982]
>From this summer on, it is much easier to change your name
in Sweden. Simple changes need only be registered at the
parish civil registry. A couple who marries may choose the
woman's family name, or -- as now -- the man's, or may keep
their individual family names after marriage.
The Parliment has also formulated a new "Name Law" which will
take effect in 1983. Next year, a new-born child will automatically
take the mother's family name if the parents don't register it
under the father's. It will also be easier to change one's family
name or add or drop first- or middle-names. In certain circumstances,
one may change one's last name to a form consisting of the father's
or mother's first name with a "-son" or "-dotter".
The new law was defended with arguments of increased equality and
with reference to the personal ID numbers that now identify
all residents of Sweden.
A Short History
The new law implies a change in the circa 300 year old "father-based"
name usage. The custom that a woman takes the husband's family name
is, however, younger and was seen first in the 19th century.
In early Swedish history, there was no permanent custom regarding
names. The choice of first name was important as it both identified
the individual and specified his family membership. The family name
was determined by adding "-son" or "-dotter" to the father's first
name. Thus, the last name changed in every generation. During
the middle ages, family membership was often shown by the name of
the farm one lived at. One was of, for example, "Vinstorpaslaekten"
[Vine-farm-'s-family].
Historically, a family was identified by the "heraldic weapon" which
was inherited, while the last name changed. The knighthood used
a "shield" while farmers and others used a house mark [like a
cattle brand?].
[Because of the prevalence of -son names, Sweden has had to deal
with the fact that about 10% of its citizens are named Peterson.
Up until the mid-seventies, the telephone directories sorted names
by "lastname/title/firstname" which could be confusing to a new
resident. There was a fair amount of propoganda for new names,
including a booklet of interesting new names for Petersons tired
of the confusion. Some of these are euphonic sound combinations,
while others were compounds formed from common words. Thus
"Bergman" == "mountain man", "Lindblad" == "linden leaf", and
"Engstrom" == "meadow stream".]
Translated quickly and crudely by
Martin Minow (name courtesy of American Immigration)
decvax!minow