[#14549] Abelsted surname

[Gjest Arne Mikal Mikkelsen]

My g-g grandfather was Halvor Michelsen Abelsted (born sometime before 1824). I thought Abelsted was probably a farm name, and I did find one farm 'Abelstad', in Vaage Parish, Oppland.But then I searched the 1865 Census and found 14 people in Norway with the surname AbelstEd (not AbelstAd). They were born many different places (6 in Oslo), but none were from Oppland. Is there some other explanation for this surname? It seems odd that none of the people spelled it like the farm.I would greatly appreciate it if someone could explain this!Helsing, Arne Mikal

[Gjest Yngve Nedrebø]

The farm Abelsted/Abelstad is in Sel, Vågå, and is farm number 283. It is not old as a farm, and the name is believed to have its origin from a person called Abel.You will not find Abelstad/Abelsted in the 1801 census, nor the neighbouring farms Vaspladsen, Dissen and Grotet. My guess is that they all are found as parts of the Brekken farm in the 1801 lists: LenkeBrothers Ole and Hans Abelsen lived at a cottagers place at this farm, and could perhaps be sons of the person giving Abelstad its name.Abelsted is also an old family name, perhaps with its origin from Denmark, and with no relations to the farm in Vågå. Peter Abelsted (1696-1757) was a minister in Slidre, Valdres 1724. He was the son of Hans Abelsted in Christiania, and from Peter's son Hans Abelsted (1724-1791), a major, descends a huge family.A book alled 'Familien Abelsted, en gren av Christianiaslegten Leuch' was published in 1933 by S. H. Finne-Grønn, and the same man has told the story of this family in Norsk Slektshistorisk Forenings Skrifter III (1932), page 225-232.