Preface to the 1989 edition

Persons doing genealogical research in Norway find their research is much easier if they can find a published local history or genealogy. These books, known as ættarbøker, often vary greatly in arrangement, content, population coverage, and quality. Most often they have no name indexes which makes their use difficult. This work is an index of farms found in the Ættarbøker of Øyfjord (Eidfjord), Granvin, Kinsarvik, Odda, Udlesvang (Ullensvang), & Ulvik parishes in Hordaland County, Norway. These books are arranged by farm, then by family and give reference to other farms, or ættarbøker where further information on an individual can be found. The ættarbøker for Eidfjord, Ulvik, Kinsarvik, Odda, and Ullensvang were prepared by Aamund Knutsen Bu, and Henrik Meyer Kvalem did the ættarbok for Granvin.

This index is divided into two sections. The first lists each farm in the ættarbøker alphabetically. The second sections lists each farm alphabetically by parish. It is sometimes necessary to refer to Oluf Rygh's Norske Gaardnavne to identify by what name some of the farms are referred to. For example, Jødnø farm is not found in any of these ættarbøker. But by checking in Norske Gaardnavne you will find that it was also called Djønne farm. And Djønne is found in the ættarbok for Kinsarvik.

All farm names in the Ættarbøker are indexed with and without descriptive adjectives. For example, Nedre Børvæ is found under Nedre Børvæ and Børvæ, Nedre. Volume two of the Kinsarvik ættarbok includes some name variations. These variations have also been indexed.

All of these Ættarbøker are on microfilm at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah (the ættarbøker for Granvin, Kinsarvik and Odda are also in book form). Since they are on microfilm rather than in separate books it is sometimes difficult to use them when following families who moved back and forth between parishes. This farm name index was prepared to make genealogical research somewhat easier.

The information contained in these ættarbøker is very acurate. The format used in these books makes it possible for a person to accomplish in a short while what would normally take years of research. I sincerely hope that my efforts contribute to making it still a bit easier.

As of 1989 the film and call numbers of these ættarbøker were as follows:

Øyfjord (Eidfjord): film # 1,259,725 (1); 1,259,727 (1)
Granvin: film # 1,124,552 (1); book # 948.32/G1 D2k
Kinsarvik: film # 1,259,725 (3, 4); 1,259,727 (3, 4)
book # 948.32/U3 D2ba
Odda: film # 1,259,725 (5); 1,259,727 (5); 1,259,728 (1)
book #948.32/U3 D2b
Udlesvang (Ullensvang): film # 1,259,728 (2)
Ulvik: film # 1,259,725 (2); 1,259,727,(2)

The numbers in parentheses refer to item numbers on each roll of film.

Jeffrey M. Svare
May 1989
Salt Lake City, Utah