Searching for the origin of the Pros in the name Pros Per Persson

[Anton Hagelee]

I know this is a Norwegian genealogy website but I think quite highly of it and find it a very useful tool. I posted basically the same question back in 2023. The conclusion was the word Pros or Prose or Proth or Prosth is derived from either a farm or place name or reference to the father's name of Per. I did not get the impression that there was a certain explanation that best fits so I would like to try again. Here is some additional information that might help. 

 

The name is attached for the first time that I can find to:

 

Pros Per Persson

1755–1836

BIRTH 12 SEP 1755 • Gröntuv, Gagnef, Kopparberg (Dalarna), Sweden

DEATH 16 JUN 1836 • Grånäs, Gagnef, Kopparberg (Dalerra), Sweden

 

His father is 

 

Per Olsson

1719–1787

BIRTH 28 JUL 1719 • Gröntuv, Gagnef, Kopparberg (Dalarna), Sweden

DEATH 28 SEP 1787 • Gröntuv, Gagnef, Kopparberg (Dalarna), Sweden

 

and the previous thread was 

 

 

 

Endret August 8 av Anton Hagelee

[Ivar S. Ertesvåg]

have you tried any Swedish forum or similar?

Even thought some participants here have notable experience on Swedish matters,

it seems certain that you will find a lot more in a Swedish forum.

[Anton Hagelee]

Some links that might be helpful. 

 

First time that I can find that the family used the name is in an emigration record Nr 67 

 

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0012558_00038#?c=&m=&s=&cv=37&xywh=603%2C1378%2C3754%2C2827

 

 

[Anton Hagelee]

3 minutes ago, Ivar S. Ertesvåg said:

have you tried any Swedish forum or similar?

Even thought some participants here have notable experience on Swedish matters,

it seems certain that you will find a lot more in a Swedish forum.

 

 

No I have not. Do you have any suggestion on a good Swedish forum.

 

 

[Kristian Hunskaar (privat)]

It may not be relevant in this case, but Pros is actually a first name as well: https://lokalhistoriewiki.no/wiki/Pros_Lauritsen

[Anton Hagelee]

I am now leaning toward the Pros and its variants are a place name. Several trees on the site  Geneanet Community Trees use a prefix with the names of the people. Here is one example. 

 

Örns Margta Persdotter

in the Geneanet Community Trees Index

NameÖrns Margta Persdotter

GenderF (Female)

Birth Date21 juil. 1790 (21 Jul 1790)

Birth PlaceN.Gröntuv Gagnef Dalarna, Gagnef, Dalarna/Kopparberg (Dalarna), Suède (Sweden)

Marriage Date26 déc. 1819 (26 Dec 1819)

Marriage PlaceGagnef Dalarna, Gagnef, Dalarna/Kopparberg (Dalarna), Suède (Sweden)

Death Date21 déc. 1857 (21 Dec 1857)

Death PlaceJur Gagnef Dalarna Sverige, Gagnef, Dalarna/Kopparberg (Dalarna), Suède (Sweden)

FatherPer Danielsson

MotherÖrns Anna Matsdotter

SpouseErkers Anders Ersson

ChildErkers Brita Andersdotter

 

You can see other prefixes as well here, such as Hol, Erkers, Jur, 

 

https://gw.geneanet.org/ksiljebro?n=persdotter&oc=&p=orns+margta&_gl=1*9kpbhb*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MjAwMzY5NjEuQ2owS0NRanc3Wk8wQmhEWUFSSXNBRnR0a0NpZUs5SF9VbWZJc1pwSzUtOW9zblQyNUhtRmVrRDhnQW52SzlJa2RiYnNQcVhfekZFQm9pRWFBbnE5RUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_dc*R0NMLjE3MjAwMzY5NjEuQ2owS0NRanc3Wk8wQmhEWUFSSXNBRnR0a0NpZUs5SF9VbWZJc1pwSzUtOW9zblQyNUhtRmVrRDhnQW52SzlJa2RiYnNQcVhfekZFQm9pRWFBbnE5RUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MjEzOTc1Nzg3LjE3MTc3OTIwNjM.*_ga*ODgyMzc4OTQxLjE3MTAwMTUyMzA.*_ga_LMK6K2LSJH*MWYxY2RmNDAtZGQ4My00YjFlLWI1MWYtMzBhN2JmNjg0ZDNkLjE4Mi4xLjE3MjMxNTU4MzQuMC4wLjA.

[Anton Hagelee]

Here is an example from the son of Per 

 

Pros Olof Persson

in the Geneanet Community Trees Index

NamePros Olof Persson

GenderM (Male)

Birth Date12 janv. 1787 (12 Jan 1787)

Birth PlaceGrånäs Gagnef Dalarna Sverige, Gagnef, Dalarna/Kopparberg (Dalarna), Suède (Sweden)

Marriage Datenov. 1810 (Nov 1810)

Marriage PlaceGagnef Dalarna, Gagnef, Dalarna/Kopparberg (Dalarna), Suède (Sweden)

Death Date31 déc. 1827 (31 Dec 1827)

Death PlaceLindan Gagnef Dalarna Sverige, Gagnef, Dalarna/Kopparberg (Dalarna), Suède (Sweden)

FatherPros Per Persson

MotherKerstin Andersdotter

SpouseHol Brita Matsdotter

ChildHol Anna OlsdotterHol Carin OlsdotterHol Cherstin OlsdotterHol Mats OlssonHol Per OlssonHol Per Olsson

 

https://gw.geneanet.org/ksiljebro?n=persson&oc=&p=pros+olof&_gl=1*1feoyrd*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MjAwMzY5NjEuQ2owS0NRanc3Wk8wQmhEWUFSSXNBRnR0a0NpZUs5SF9VbWZJc1pwSzUtOW9zblQyNUhtRmVrRDhnQW52SzlJa2RiYnNQcVhfekZFQm9pRWFBbnE5RUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_dc*R0NMLjE3MjAwMzY5NjEuQ2owS0NRanc3Wk8wQmhEWUFSSXNBRnR0a0NpZUs5SF9VbWZJc1pwSzUtOW9zblQyNUhtRmVrRDhnQW52SzlJa2RiYnNQcVhfekZFQm9pRWFBbnE5RUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MjEzOTc1Nzg3LjE3MTc3OTIwNjM.*_ga*ODgyMzc4OTQxLjE3MTAwMTUyMzA.*_ga_LMK6K2LSJH*MWYxY2RmNDAtZGQ4My00YjFlLWI1MWYtMzBhN2JmNjg0ZDNkLjE4Mi4xLjE3MjMxNTYzODYuMC4wLjA.

[Even Stormoen]

2 timer siden, Kristian Hunskaar (privat) skrev:

It may not be relevant in this case, but Pros is actually a first name as well: https://lokalhistoriewiki.no/wiki/Pros_Lauritsen

 

I am twisting my brain, and searching through my huge database –

 

Once upon a time (as all good fairytales are supposed to start) I came across a Pros-something, quite infamous in his time, as an admiral(?) or at least a high-ranking naval officer? Turned pirate, or was comissioned as such by the ‹king-in-charge› as far as I can remember – I might be mixing things up. Memories are not what they used to be . . . 😉

 

Well, I was thrilled, because his surname (whatever that was) could indicate that he was a very distant and very colourful relative of mine.

It turned out he was not, so appearently I never made any notes or any ‹entry› in my database. Darn!

 

But I strongly support Pros as a first name. Could the name be dutch? Or from the Netherlands somewhere?

 

Regards

[Ivar S. Ertesvåg]

9 timer siden, Anton Hagelee skrev:

No I have not. Do you have any suggestion on a good Swedish forum.

I have never worked with Swedish matters and have no experience on this. However, a possibility seems to be

"Røtters Anbytarforum" https://forum.rotter.se/

 

May be others can supplement.

 

 

[Leif Biberg Kristensen]

Pros has been used as a first name in Norway, albeit fairly uncommon. I've got one here: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nielsen-13752

 

I can also recommend "Anbytarforum" mentioned by Ivar above

[Carl Nilsen]

The question has already been asked in Anbytarforum:

https://forum.rotter.se/index.php?topic=164538.0

[Dag F Gravem]

Typical of the Dalarna naming traditions where a farm name (Pros) is placed before the first name. This article attempts to explain:

https://www.etgenealogy.se/farmname.htm

[Dag F Gravem]

There are/were at least four Prosgården/Prosgårdarna in the Siljan region. The etymology for the one in Borlänge is explained as a conctraction of "Per Olovs gård", that is a farm founded by one Per Olov, see page 10 (in Swedish): https://www.borlange.se/download/18.38f9fe4d170346e58ae74f0/1581244230108/11. STADSDEL -HUSHAGEN.pdf

 

My guess is that the etymology for the one in Gagnef is similar. I recommend the Dalarna subforum of Anbytarforum to find friendly and helpful people for more information:

https://forum.rotter.se/index.php?board=239.0

Endret August 9 av Dag F Gravem
stavefeil

[Anton Hagelee]

Thanks to all for the amazing help. My best guess at present is that 

 

Pros Per Persson

1755–1836

BIRTH 12 SEP 1755 • Gröntuv, Gagnef, Kopparberg (Dalarna), Sweden

 

started using the Pros part of his name to distinguish himself from all the other Pers in the Gagnef parish. Perhaps deriving  it from his father who was a Per Olson. I have not found a connection for this family to the several farms named Prostgården in this parish so am reluctant to use  that as an explanation for his use of the term Pros.  

 

In the Sweden, Church Records, 1451-1943 from Ancestry.com the family is found on the Gröntuv (farm or village ?), Gagnef parish Kopperberg county. 

 

Sweden, Church Records, 1451-1943

CountyKopparberg (Dalarna)

ParishGagnef

Village, Farm or CroftGröntuv

CountrySweden

Record TypeHusförhör (Household Examination)

Year range1757-1775

GID Number2201.5.11800

VolumeAI:3

Roll/Fiche NumberFA-103

Page number39

 

Endret August 9 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

6 hours ago, Dag F Gravem said:

My guess is that the etymology for the one in Gagnef is similar. I recommend the Dalarna subforum of Anbytarforum to find friendly and helpful people for more information:

https://forum.rotter.se/index.php?board=239.0

 

Thank you for this recommendation. I have registered with the forum and will see what other information it yields. 

 

 

[Ivar Moe]

Olof Andersson (1692–1753) • Person • Family Tree • FamilySearch

 

If you are using MyHeritage, perhaps you should try to contact the Ekroth Web Site

 

 

[Ivar Moe]

It looks like the Pros name in Kopparberg was in use in modern time as well.

 

tgivelsessted	Borlänge, Kopparberg, Sweden
Dato	27. nov 1895
Tekst	"...Olof Albert, son till Karls Olof Persson i Gröntuf. Döde: Pros Olof Anderssons änka Anna Mattsdotter i Gröntuf, 70 år och 3 månader. ..."

[Ivar Moe]

I cant find Pros as a farm name.

You can search here

 

Sökning: pros - Riksarkivet - Sök i arkiven

[Dag F Gravem]

1 time siden, Anton Hagelee skrev:

Thanks to all for the amazing help. My best guess at present is that 

 

Pros Per Persson

1755–1836

BIRTH 12 SEP 1755 • Gröntuv, Gagnef, Kopparberg (Dalarna), Sweden

 

started using the Pros part of his name to distinguish himself from all the other Pers in the Gagnef parish. Perhaps deriving  it from his father who was a Per Olson. I have not found a connection for this family to the several farms named Prostgården in this parish so am reluctant to use  that as an explanation for his use of the term Pros.

 

 

I wouldn't rule the farm connection out, Anton. This is the normal naming procedure in this neck of the woods. Prosgårdarna were likely part of Gröntuvs skriftlag, which runs from page 29 to 41 in the examination protocol you linked to (see its index). A skriftlag was a group of farms that were "household examined" at the same occasion, and these two seem to be almost neighbouring farms: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Prosgårdarna,+Djurås,+Sverige/Gröntuv,+785+30+Gagnef,+Sverige/@60.5785567,15.1032584,3793m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x4667842325e72ed1:0x7c3a89b83cabb6ba!2m2!1d15.123244!2d60.574855!1m5!1m1!1s0x466785ca0c8b3031:0x13a02a88bf9c020!2m2!1d15.0925139!2d60.5908211!3e2?entry=ttu

 

But do ask the people over at Anbytarforum in the Gagnef subforum to the Dalarna subforum about this.

Endret August 9 av Dag F Gravem
stavefeil igjen

[Anton Hagelee]

Thanks Dag, Looking at your map does change the picture somewhat. 

[Dag F Gravem]

This 1817 map from the Great Partition land reform seems to confirm that Prosgårdarna were part of Gröntuv village, page 11. https://historiskakartor.lantmateriet.se/hk/viewer/share/20-gag-83/0003uw42/lm20/REG/20-gag-83/Storskifte

 

Compare with:

https://minkarta.lantmateriet.se/plats/3006/v2.0/?e=507158&n=6715610&z=12&mapprofile=karta&layers=%5B%5B%223%22%5D%2C%5B%221%22%5D%5D

 

It makes total sense to me that someone from Prosgårdarna would be registered as belonging to Gröntuv in various church records. I also notice that in some of the documents that you have linked in the previous post, the geographic references seem to be to villages and not to farms, indicating that the village level of detail was sufficient for the sacerdotal authorities. But again, Anbytarforum is the place to verify this. If no one responds there, try contacting Gagnef Hembygdsförening

https://www.hembygd.se/gagnef

 

Prior to the Great Partition, village land was communally owned by the village farmers. This age of enlightenment rationalization effort from the authorities made farming more efficient but also contributed to increased social inequalities. The picturesque village settlement structure did survive the land reform in Gagnef and adjacent parishes. I do recommend a visit around Midsommar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Partition

[Dag F Gravem]

Gagnefs Släktforskarförening is another option:

https://gagnefsslaktforskarforening.se/styrelsen/

 

A book was fairly recently published documenting all the 195 farms belonging to Gröntuv village, Gröntufs gårdar och släkter:

https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/historien-om-byns-gardar-har-blivit-bok-drom-som-gatt-i-uppfyllelse

 

An image search on rötter.se also confirms that Prosgårdarna belong to Gröntuv, documenting several people with the farm name or surname Pros in different variations:

https://www.rotter.se/faktabanken/portrattfynd/sok-portratt/advanced-search?sokord=prosgårdarna&cat_id=0&task=listall&searchcondition=1&option=com_mtree&Itemid=645