[#19525] Norwegian or German name Hartvig

[Guest Catherine Larsen]

Is Hartvig as in Lars Hartvig Larsen a Norwegian or German name and is Mira a female name or a title. Thank you.

[Guest Tore H Vigerust]

It's german (Hartvig).

[Guest Kjellaug Robberstad Petit]

It may be of German origin, but there are many people in Norway with this surname or a variation, just have a look at the 1865 census. LenkeWhen I was in highschool, there was a girl with that name (Odda) and she was definitely Norwegian.Kjellaug R.P.

[Guest Arnstein Rønning]

Hartvig is mostly a person's first name, I think.

[Guest Kjellaug Robberstad Petit]

Just checked with http://www.ssb.no/navn/47 men have Hartvik as a forename in Norway and 99 men have Hartvig as a forename, 42 people have Hartvig as a surname.K.P.R.

[Guest Barbara Lose]

According to my dictionary Hartwig is a christian name of German origin, derived from the old words 'harti' = strong and 'wig' = fight, war. The name was very popular in the Middle Ages and may have spread over Scandinavia, spelled Hartvig.I never met a person called Hartwig, but we have quite a few Hartwigsens here in our county. It is a common surname in northern Germany and probably Denmark. B. Lose

[Guest Arnstein Rønning]

My theory is that the surname 'Hartvig' is a shortened form of 'Hartvigsen' (my theories are not always relieable!).

[Guest Kjellaug Robberstad Petit]

And then Mira, there are 284 women with this forename in Norway tday : http://www.ssb.no/navn/Kjellaug

[Guest Kristian Hunskaar]

Arnstein,Hartvig may perhaps also be a name of a place; Larvik was spelled Laurvig earlier, for instance (vik/vig = small fiord, inlet).My theories are not always reliable either, though!

[Guest Otto Jørgensen]

Many in Trondenes has also that name, look into 'Folk og slekt i Trondenes' Mention back to at least 1600

[Guest Terje Hatvik]

To decide whether or not 'Hartvig as in 'Lars Hartvig Larsen' is a first name, a middle name or a surname, you have to provide further details concerning the initial person in question; i.e. Mr. Hartvig Larsen. No foregone conclusions should be made without further knowledge or looking deeper into the topic.With reference to how to explain of the word 'Hartvig', the best explanation (and thus the most correct) is given by Barbara here.But if Hartvig should be interpreted as a name of a specific place - if it is an actual geographical site; then Hartvig could be a deviation of my own surname; Hatvik - earlier also spelled Hatvig (though 'Hartvig' in this case probably is a first or middle name, as indicated above).As such, the first part of this word, Hat; has nothing to do with headwear (hats), but stems from the old norse word 'hapt' which means a link, a narrow passage/valley which chains to sites together, a pass or even a hip (for example a womans hip). The last part 'vik/vig)' is a minor and rather narrow bay.Thus the word 'Hatvik' then (in this context) simply means the place where it runs narrow passage between two adjoining narrow bays. And if you happen to know this place, you will be amazed by the accuracy of this rather topographical observation of the actual site. It is a very precise description.However, having said so - I have no indications whatsoever of any link between myself and the aforementioned person in question above.

[Guest Catherine Larsen]

Thank you ,everyone, for your help. The great grandfather I am researching was named Lars Larsen. I knew his birthdate and that he was from Drammen.I found him in the 1900 census for Drammen and that was when I saw his middle name was Hartvig. I was told many years ago that his father's name was also Lars Larsen and his mother's name was Andrea Mira. According to the census his mother's name was really Berthe Andrea Hermandsdatter so I don't know why I was told Mira! That is why I thought maybe it was a title,some form of address, but I see now it was probably a mistake by the old lady who told me. Her name was Anna Prunkl and she was the wife of Lars Hartvig Larsen. Thank you again for your help. Catherine