when were norwegians told to adopt surnames

Norwegians were generally told to adopt fixed surnames in 1923 , when Norway’s first Personal Name Act came into force. By then, many families had already started using inherited surnames gradually during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Quick history

• In the 1800s, many Norwegians still used patronymics, like names ending in -sen or -datter , rather than permanent family surnames.

• The change happened gradually, with most of the country moving toward fixed surnames by around 1900.

• The legal requirement made that practice official in 1923, so children would inherit the same family surname going forward.

Why it matters

This is why so many Norwegian surnames today end in -sen : those older naming patterns became fixed family names when the law changed.

Bottom line

If you want the shortest answer: 1923 is the key year.