What's in a Name? (part 2)

My gg-grandfather, Sevat, was born in Norway and came to America as a young adult. He lived first in Wisconsin where his eldest sons were born, then moved to Iowa where the family continued to grow and where he became a naturalized citizen of the United States . He eventually moved to Dakota Territory (present-day Jerauld county, South Dakota ) where he filed a homestead claim and lived out his remaining days. It is in South Dakota that his surname changed. Census records in Wisconsin document him as Severt Knudson and his son as Knudson Severtson. In Iowa census records, the family members are recorded with a common surname based on his patronym, Knuteson or Knudtson (spelling dependent on the recorder.) Census, land, and historical records in South Dakota identify the family as Starkey or Stake. (1)

The explanation for the change from Knudson to Starkey is found in Sevat's homestead land documents. The claim was filed under "Sevart K. Stake". In proving his claim, Sevat (or Sevart), was required to fulfill the terms of the Homestead Act: he had to provide evidence he had filed a claim for the land at least five years earlier; was a U.S. citizen or intended citizen; had never borne arms against the U.S. Government; had lived continuously on the land; and had improved it by growing crops and erecting a structure at least 12 feet by 14 feet in size. In reviewing his evidence, a discrepancy was noted between the name recorded on his naturalization papers and the name under which the claim was filed. To remedy this inconsistency, Sevat provided an affadavit of explanation which was then added to his documentation. The following is an excerpt from this affadavit recorded by a clerk on Sevat's behalf.
 

"...he was a native of Norway. that by the custom of that country his name was Severt Knudson, "Stake" the latter part not being used except as a distinction in case of similar names that is if literly translated he would be known as Severt Knudson of "Stake" the word "Stake" referring to the name of the farm or district where he was born and had no other significance. After he came to this country and at the time he took out his citizen papers in Waukon Allamakee county Iowa on the 9th day of September A.D. 1857 he was told that Severt Knudson would be the proper name in this country, in consequence thereof he took out his citizen paper as Severt Knudson. In 1883 when he came to Dakota to take his homestead he was informed that in all land matters he must give his name in full spelled out in full. In consequence thereof he gave his name in full, being unable to write his own name or read writing, the party who made his papers wrote his name to the filing papers. affient signing with "his mark" upon recipt of his Recipt he was informed that his name had been written Sevart K. "Stake" thinking the change imaterial he became known among his neighbors as Sevat K. "Stake"." (2)
  

In this way, Sevat traded his name for his home. He relegated the patronym he'd carried since birth to his middle name and adopted the name of his home in Norway as his new surname. In so doing his name no longer conveyed as clearly his relationship with Knud, his father, but it continued to convey a connection to his heritage. His sons then passed on to their heirs, not their grandfather's, their father's, nor their own name, but the name of a place far away where many of their family traditions had originated and continued to be observed. And so, the name I still carry, does indeed tie me to my heritage -- not just my family, but the home they left over 150 years ago.   Heritage is what is in my Nordic name!
  

Endnotes

1. 1850 United States Federal Census, Schedule I, Rock County, Wisconsin, District No 21 of Avon, page 749, Dwelling 3, Family 3, Severt Knudson household, (online database: www.ancestry.com,, accessed 31 August 2001.)

Severt Knudson, 28 years, male, farmer, $350 [value of real estate], Norway [birthplace]

Kari Knudson, 32 years, female, , , ditto [refers to Norway as birthplace]

Knudson Severtson, 1 year, male, , , Wisconsin [birthplace]

1860 United States Federal Census, Schedule I., Allamakee County, Iowa, Supervisor’s Paint Creek township, page 224, Dwelling 1664, Family 1629, Severt Knuteson household (online database: www.ancestry.com,, accessed 31 August 2001.)

Severt Knuteson, 38 years, male, farmer, 2,000 [value of real estate], 600 [value of personal property], Norway [birthplace]
Caroline Knuteson, 45 years, female, housekeeper, , , do [refers to Norway as birthplace]
Knute Knuteson, 11 years, male, , , , do [refers to Norway as birthplace], attended school
Sivert Knuteson, 10 years, male, , , , do [refers to Norway as birthplace], attended school
Cristen Knuteson, 8 years, female, , , , Iowa [birthplace]
Louis Knuteson, 5 years, male, , , , do [refers to Iowa as birthplace]
Even Knuteson, 2 years, female, , , , do [refers to Iowa as birthplace]

1870 United States Federal Census, Schedule 1, Allamakee County, Iowa, Paint Creek township, Elon and Waterville post office, page 11, dwelling 73, family 76, Severt Knudtson household (online database: www.ancestry.com,, accessed 31 August 2001.).

Severt Knudtson, 57 years, male, white, farmer, 4600 [real estate], 1786 [personal property], Norway [birthplace], father of foreign birth, mother of foreign birth, cannot write, male citizen over 21 years
Caroline Knudtson, 57 years, female, white, keeping house, , , Norway [birthplace], father of foreign birth, mother of foreign birth, cannot read, cannot write
Christena Knudtson, 18 years, female, white, at home, Iowa [birthplace], father of foreign birth, mother of foreign birth, cannot write
Lenia Knudtson, 14 years, female, white, at home, Iowa [birthplace], father of foreign birth, mother of foreign birth, attended school, cannot write
Edward Knudtson, 9 years, male, white, at home, Iowa [birthplace], father of foreign birth, mother of foreign birth, attended school
Gilbertson, John, 19 years, male, white, farm laborer, Norway [birthplace], father of foreign birth, mother of foreign birth

1880 United States Federal Census, Schedule I., Allamakee County, Iowa, Supervisor’s District 2, Enumeration District 14, Paint Creek township, page 2, Dwelling 173, Family 179, Severt Knudtson household (online database: www.ancestry.com,, accessed 31 August 2001.)

Sivert Knudson, white, male, 55 years, married, farmer, cannot read, cannot write, Norway [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace]
Carrie Knudson, white, female, 59 years, wife, married, keeping house, cannot read, cannot write, Norway [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace]
Even B, white, male, 20 years, son, single, laborer farm, Iowa [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace]
Olina, white, female, 24 years, daughter, single, at home, Iowa [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace]
Caroline, white, female, 16 years, daughter, single, at home, Iowa [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace]
John, white, male, 14 years, son, single, at home, Iowa [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace

1900 United States Federal Census, Schedule 1, Jerauld County, South Dakota, Wessington Springs township, Supervisor district 2, Enumeration District 202, sheet 8, dwelling 113, family 113, Andrew Gilbertson household (online database: www.ancestry.com, , accessed 31 August 2001.)

Andrew Gilbertson, head, white, male, May 1845 [birth], 55 years, married, 26 years married, Norway [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace], 1870 [year of immigration], 30 [years in country], Naturalized citizen, farmer, able to read, cannot write, speaks English, owns farm with mortgage, farm schedule 51.
Christina Gilbertson, wife, white, female, Jan 1843 [birth], 47 years, married, 26 years married, 10 births, 7 living children, Iowa [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace], able to read, able to write, speaks English.
Gilbert Gilbertson, son, white, male, Nov 1877 [birth], 22 years, single, Iowa [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Iowa [mother’s birthplace], farm laborer, able to read, able to write, speaks English.
Adeline Gilbertson, daughter, white, female, October 1884 [birth], 15 years, single, South Dakota [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Iowa [mother’s birthplace], attended school 4 months, able to read, able to write, speaks English.
Edward S. Gilbertson, son, white, male, September 1886 [birth], 13 years, single, South Dakota [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Iowa [mother’s birthplace], farm laborer, attended school 4 months, able to read, able to write, speaks English.
Carl A. Gilbertson, son, white, male, September 1885 [birth], 12 years, single, South Dakota [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Iowa [mother’s birthplace], farm laborer, attended school 6 months, able to read, able to write, speaks English.
Richard A. Gilbertson, son, white, male, January 1891 [birth], 9 years, single, South Dakota [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Iowa [mother’s birthplace], attended school 6 months Clarence E Starkey, nephew, white, male, May 1879 [birth], 21 years, single, Iowa [birthplace], Wisconsin [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace], farm laborer, able to read, able to write, speaks English.
Carrie Starkey, m-in-law, white, female, May 1815 [birth], 85 years, widowed, 58 years married, 6 births, 6 living children, Norway [birthplace], Norway [father’s birthplace], Norway [mother’s birthplace], able to read, cannot write, does not speak English.

Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Land Management Land Patent Details (www.glorecords.blm.gov : 16 Sep 2006), Sevart K Stake Homestead Claim, Patent Certificate Number 10330, Accession/Serial Number SDMTAA 140743, Montana State Land Office.

2. Bureau of Land Management, Sevart K Stake Homestead Claim, Patent Certificate Number 10330, Accession/Serial Number SDMTAA 140743, Montana State Land Office.