The Nordic Genealogist

06/11/2026

Did your ancestors use the patronymic -datter or -dotter?

That one letter difference can sometimes provide clues about where your family lived. But like most things in genealogy, it’s not always that simple.

Have you found either versions in your family tree?

I put together a simple guide explaining Scandinavian patronymic naming traditions. Link in bio.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Music: Dusty Road Magic - Chris Haugen

06/04/2026

Today marks 27 years since my Grandpa Al passed away.

As I went through old home videos, hearing his voice made me cry. 

I’m grateful for every photo, home video, and ordinary moment that someone thought to record.

Miss you always, Grandpa. ❤️

05/17/2026

Celebrating Syttende Mai in Ålesund back in 2019 is still one of my favorite travel memories. 🇳🇴

Bunads, children’s parades, Russ jumpsuits, champagne breakfasts, and endless daylight made the celebration feel so magical. 

I had planned to spend the day kayaking, but the festivities and people-watching were too good to leave behind.

Hurra for Syttende Mai! ❤️🤍💙

05/14/2026

I’ve been thinking a lot about what my ancestors experienced on their journeys to America.

Not just the big, dramatic moments but the small ones that stayed with them long after the voyage ended.

Sometimes I wonder what we carry forward without realizing it.

Have you noticed phobias or quirks in yourself that might trace back to an ancestor’s experiences?  

Photos: Library of Congress, Digitalt Museum, Wikimedia Commons, Ephemeral New York, and family collections.

Music: Frozen in Love - Aakash Gandhi

05/13/2026

Lately, I've had random songs from my childhood pop into my head. Today it's "Aloutte."

According to Wikipedia, "Many US Marines and other Allied soldiers learnt the song while serving in France during World War I and took it home with them, passing it on to their children and grandchildren."

I had a few ancestors stationed in France during WWI and it makes me wonder if they learned the song there.

Had any of you heard this before?

"Alouette" ([aluɛt(ə)]) is a popular Quebecois children's song, commonly thought to be about plucking the feathers from a lark. Although it is in French, it is well known among speakers of other languages; in this respect, it is similar to "Frère Jacques". Many US Marines and other Allied soldier...

05/11/2026

My 2nd cousin Brandon recently visited the old Bloomquist farm and took photos in the same places where our ancestors once stood over 100 years ago.

There’s something a little eerie about seeing the photos back to back - like they’re alive in one photo and gone in the next. I can almost feel the passage of time.

The house is still there. The trees are still there. But an entire lifetime exists between the two images.