A Brief History of A.K. and Hannah Hanson
ANCESTRAL FAMILY TREES
(SPREADSHEETS)
The ancestry of A.K. Hanson begins entirely in Norway. There are 21 counties (like American states) in Norway, and within each county are administrative districts named municipalities. Our grandfather, Andrew Karl (A.K. for short) was born in Sogn Og Fjordane County, and in the Aurland district.
Sognefjord is the longest fjord in Europe, fully 126 miles in length and up to 4,290 feet deep. Several side fjords connect to this primary fjord, creating an extensive waterway and making it a spectacular tourist attraction featuring high snow-capped peaks, steep cliffs, waterfalls, and rustic villages within the valleys. Cruise ships can navigate the entire length of the fjord.
But as you look at the landscape, 70% of Norway’s land is uninhabitable! And the land that is marginally useable for agriculture is often on a steep and rocky slope. Thus, farming was a subsistence enterprise, but it was the occupation chosen by A.K.’s ancestors. At that time, it was typical for a couple to have 5-8 children or more. It was also the custom that only the oldest son was granted inheritance of the farm where he was born, and if any of the daughters didn’t marry one of these fortunate “elder sons” from another family, the career possibilities were very limited. Fishing and forestry were often jobs for the sons that were not the eldest, and these sons could then marry the daughters yet available. So, for most of the young people that were not fortunate to be “first born”, or married to one, the outlook for a good life was limited. Thus, the great migration from Norway to America that began in 1825 is an important part of our A.K. Hanson Family history, and probably was caused in part by overpopulation, and the hope to have a better life in another more agricultural area.
To read the history, please download the file here.
