[#75858] The Surname 'Kaia 'or ' Koien ' from Vinger or Austmarka

[Gjest Clark Monson]

My great grandfather and most of his brothers came to the USA from Vinger or Austamarka in the 1870's and 1880's. The family used the name 'Johnson' but were also often called the surname 'Kaia'. Can anybody tell me what this means? I know that the farm 'Ramtjernaasen' in Vinger is refered to by relatives in Norway as 'Kaia'. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Gjest Rolf Jerpseth]

Ramtjernaasen is a place under the farm Masterud in Vinger. Earlier it was written Ravntjernaasen after the bird crow/raven, that is Raven-pond-hill according to Vinger book III. The owner about 1880 was Johannes Johannessen Ramtjernaasen. I don`t know wat Kaia means.

[Gjest Berit Knudsen]

Maybe 'koja/kojen' - cabin(log-).

[Gjest Per Håkon Christiansen]

I don't know this area, but I would suggest that it means the same. Ramn = ravn = raven. Kaie is a jackdaw, a small black crow (corvus monedula). So 'Kaia' might simply be slang for 'the raven place.'

[Gjest Rolf Jerpseth]

According to the census 1865 Johannes Jans. Ramkjernaasen was a cottager. A 'koie' is a small hut, and cottages used as holiday places is often referred to as 'hytta' ('koia') but it does`nt make sence here.