Petersen and other patronyms in Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein

None of them were famous. None of them were wealthy. Our earliest Danish ancestors were poor and humble, metal-smiths or tailors, cottage-farmers and glaziers whose families were often large to make sure enough children would survive to adulthood. When surnames (rather than patronyms) became mandatory in the 1800s our ancestors adopted Petersen, but before that they possessed a passel of patronyms.

As a result the earliest documented ancestor whom we know from this region was called Christian Tyggesen or Thyggesen. We won't see an actual surname Petersen until 1822, when patronymic naming conventions gave way to a royal decree.

At this historical point in Denmark surnames were not used. Instead children usually had patronyms fashioned after the first name of their father, so the son of Hans would be Hansen, the daughter would be Hansdatter. In the case of our Christian Tyggesen, he employs a fully patronimical name, suggesting that his father was called Tygge or Tycho. Sometimes occupation names were used in cases where the parish priest wanted to distinguish one Christian from another identically named Christian in the same parish. In this case, our Christian Tyggesen seems to be the only one marrying and having children in the village of Øster Lindet in the district of Haderslev.

We know almost nothing more about Christian Tyggesen's origins, although the marriage record says he's from Øbjerg in the nearby district of Arrild, Hviding. The church books for his region are missing from 1667 until 1721. Water damage is evident, and an entire section of the book appears to be gone, just the part we'd need to verify his birth and baptism about 1710.

But we do know that Christian married Margrethe Hansdatter from Øster Lindet, whose father was likely called Hans, but we don't know more about Margarethe because the church books in her parish go back only to 1735.

It was in Øster Lindet where Christian and Margarethe had eight children between 1737 and 1756. One of the godparents to their fourth child, Tycho, born in 1744, was Anders Tyggesen from Øbjerg, possibly the father's brother or even his uncle. But we have no available records to prove the relationship, alas.

Christian Tyggesen is also our earliest male ancestor whose genetic DNA has been tested via one of his male descendants. Genetic genealogy allows us to trace deep ancestral origins. This paternal line is from a genetic group, or haplogroup, with the designation SNP G-Z6748. This is a very rare haplogroup for Denmark, occurring in only 2% of Danes. For more information about this rare haplogroup, check out this helpful website.

Christian's and Margrethe's second child and first son, Hans Christian Christiansen, born in 1739, migrated to the nearby village of Stenderup, Haderslev. His 1773 marriage to Bodil Marie Hansdatter was followed by the birth of a son, Peder Hansen, in 1774. Hans was a tailor, as was his son Peder. Remember that name: Peder Hansen. It will come up again shortly.

To follow his story and that of our more recent relatives, click here for Petersen part 2.