Gustav Marthinius
Andersen Bjerkøe
(1846-1926)
Son of Anders
Kristoffersen Bjerkøe
(see right)
The present Bjerkøe family at London Temple being sealed for
time and all eternity (July 1959).
Right:
Fulehuk lighthouse
(click for larger image)
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The
Bjerkøe-name's origin:
The
name was in old Norwegian Bjarkøy, possibly from
the name of the tree 'birch'. The name was in 1396 spelled - Biarkøy,
in 1593 - Birckøen, in 1668 and
1723 Birchøen
(varying with Bierchøen), but later
most often with Bierchøe.
Even though the old Norwegian form suggests an origin from the name of
the tree 'birch', it is more
likely originating from something else. Most researchers assume that
the first part of the word is derived from the Dutch word berèk, which means 'judicial
district' or 'jurisdiction'. In other words - an island where aliens,
especially northern German merchants conducted trade in prehistorian
time and also during the viking age, and where they enjoyed some sort
of judicial protection.
Bjerkøy,
in the meaning of trading place, is also supported by the name Knarberg
on the west side off the Bjerkøy island. This name is connected
to the old merchant ships, which were called 'knarrs' (knarrer).
Several families have taken the name Bjerkø
or Bjerkøy as their
family name, thus indicating origin from the Bjerkøy island.
Our family took the name Bjerkøe
- with an unpronounciated 'e' at the end, thus differentiating from the
other families that also originate from the island. This name change
was done appr. 1840 by Anders Kristoffersen Bjerkøe (1796-1880).
Reinert Hansen (b.1769 in Kristiansand) was the first lighthouse
keeper that was employed on Fulehuk. He was the father-in-law of Gustav
Marthinius Andersen Bjerkøe (see upper left picture). |
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Above: Vrengen at
dawn
(click for larger image)
Below: Map of Bjerkøy
(click for larger image)
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