Re: 1865 Swedish photo of C. A. Hederstedt & first wife Emma?
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In reply to:
1865 Swedish photo of C. A. Hederstedt & first wife Emma?
Paul Peterson 8/14/11
Based on Ingela's comments, I searched the DISBYT database (composed of information submitted by members of the Swedish genealogy society, DIS) for the surname, Hederstedt, in the date range 1600-1900 from all over Sweden. The search returned 265 entries (many are duplicates). The interesting thing is (as Ingela found), the vast majority (> 95%) were born in Gotland or, if born elsewhere, had one or both parents from Gotland. In fact, the search only returned 6 individuals who were unequivocably from someplace other than Gotland (all born in the early 1700s and probably all from a single family originating in Råggärd parish in Älvsborg county). It is quite unusual, in my experience, to find a Swedish surname so concentrated to one particular locale. Generally, Swedish "town name" surnames (like Hederstedt) arose independently in many different parts of the country.
I did not see your Carl Alfred Hederstedt on DISBYT, which is a pity. However, I did find that virtually all the Hederstedt entries were associated with Gotland parishes located south or east of Visby. There were a lot of parishes mentioned so a "brute-force" search for the birth of your Carl Alfred would be difficult at best. However, it would appear that southern Gotland looks very promising as a possible point of origin for your ancestor.
Cheers,
Jeff
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Re: 1865 Swedish photo of C. A. Hederstedt & first wife Emma?
Paul Peterson 8/15/11