gjerdet

[Jay Hagfeldt]

I often see residences in birth/baptism records that end in gjerdet.  Google translate gives its definition in English as 'the fence'. 

 

Is there a better translation from Norwegian?

 

Is there a connotation with residences ending in 'gjerdet' that I don't understand?

 

Thanks for any help that can be provided.

 

Jay Hagfeldt

 

 

[Ivar S. Ertesvåg]

The background for the name is an enclosed (fenced) field.

At some point of time, this piece of land became the main part of a new farm unit/holding ("bruk", "plass").

The name easily became "Gjerdet" - and to distinguish from others with the same name,

it was called by the farm name + gjerde (e.g. "Breivikgjerdet" under Breivik), or a person's name + gjerde  (e.g. "Hansgjerdet", after the first user, Hans).

[Jay Hagfeldt]

Thanks so much, Ivar.  Your explanation gives a lot of context.

[Helge Simon Møll]

Her er Ryghs (Norske Gaardsnavne) forklaring: https://www.nb.no/items/beb425cbe446c1519718f3276326bc6b?page=73. 

[Jay Hagfeldt]

Thanks, Helge.