Swedish names and their English counterparts;
Anders
Andrew
Bengt
Benedict, Benjamin
Carl
Charles
Christiern
Christian
Eskil
Ezekial
gosta, Gustaf
Justa
Hendrick
Henry
Jons
James or Johas
Joran, Goran
George
Lars, Lasse
Lawrence
Mans
Moses
Nils
Nicholas
Olof, Olle
Wolley, William
Marten
Morton
Matthias, Mats
Mathew
Pal
Paul
Peter, Pehr, Per, Pelle Peter
Staffan
Stephen
Sven
Swan
Anna, Annika
Ann
Brita, Brigitta
Bridget
Catharina, Karin
Katherine, Cary
Christina, Stina, Kirstin Christiana
Elisabeth
Elizabeth, Ella
Gertrud
Hiertrude
Gunnilla
Jane, Jean
Helena
Eleanor, Ells
Johanna
Hannah
Magdelena, Lena
Maudlin
Margareta, Greta
Margaret
Maria
Mary
Walborg
Barbara
Surnames
Swennson
Swanson
Niellsson
Helsson Lycon
Gostaffsson
Justis, Justison
Johesson
Jones
Jurensson
Urian
Longaker
Longacre
Hollsteen
H olstein
Wheller
Wheeler
Mollika
Mollica
Buur
Boore
Konig
King
Tay
Toy
Fisk
Fish
Matzson
Matson
Hellm
Helm
Lockenij
Lock
Lockeny
Petersson
Hoppman
Hoffman
Hallton
Holton
Telleij
Talley
Knuttzon
Canuteson
Franke
Friend
thate
torton
Adrean
Arian and Archer
Labb
cobb
Stallcopt
Stalcop
Sinnike
sinnicksson
Wallrawen, Wallreven Walraven
Ommersson
Noversson and Numbers
Vm der Ver
Vander Veer
Mounsson
Mounson
Tossa
Tussey
rose
Rawson
Iwarsson
Evertsson
Parkom
Parker
Stalpkoft
Stalcop
Botzman
Batsman
Osterrson
Eustason
Reepoot
Repot
Slobbe
Slubey
Jacobs
Jacobsson
sinneke
Sinnickson
Weinom
Weinam
Torsson
Tussey
Tossa
Tussey, Jorransson
Dunnis
Dennis and Denny
Roberton
Robeson
Sahlunge
Salung
Holling
Huling
There are by no means all the changes, but enough to
give some idea of the complexity of Swedish research. And, it does
not take into very considerable problem of the Swedish patronymic naming system;
instead of a surname, boys and girls generally were know by their father's first
name, followed by "son" and "dotter". Thus, the
soldier Jons Nilsson named his eldest son Nils Johasson (Jonas's son).
Society presures were to add a surname or alias, especially when there were 2 or
more persons with identical first names and patronymics. When surnames
were selected and applied, however, they did not always stick. In
addition, not
infrequently, sons adopted their father's patronymic. Thus Peter, the son
of Mans Petersson Stake, was called Peter Mansson, Peter Petersson and Peter
Stake in contemporary records. He died as Peter Peterson, which became his
family's surname.
The following list are some of those from "Campanius' description of
New Sweden" printed
in 1702 at Stockholm. Many of the names have, since that day, undergone
great changes in their orthography, and in some cases so great as to
destroy the resemblance.
Bond has changed to Boon
Bengtsson = Bankson
Cock(s) = Cox
Kyn = Keen
Halling = Hewlings
Kalsberg = Colesberry
Wihler = Wheeler
Joccom = Yocum
Stille = Stilly
Dahlbo = Dolbow
Seneca = Sinnex and Sines
Johansson = Johnson
Thomasson = Thomson
Paulson = Poulson
Meyer = Myers
Van Culen = Culin/Cillin
Van Nemans = Vanneman
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