Haugan Family History

Hi Everyone, This page begins some of the family histories on both sides of the family.  I made a slide presentation in a PDF of your family history on the Haugan side of the family or Nana’s ancestors on her mother’s side who came from Norway. Interestingly, the word for children/family in Norwegian is barn.

Your great, great, great grandparents, Nils and Marie Charlotte Haugan, were lighthouse keepers for several years. You will learn more about that below in the slide presentation.

Nils (or Niels) Martin Haugan is even listed in the genealogy sheet of records  in Norway as a lighthouse keeper. He was, also, a captain on a ship engaged in foreign trade, and listed as co-owner of a trading firm in Molde, Norway  His parents were Lorentz Daniel Haugan and Metter Kjerstine Ekker (born 1818).  Nils was born in 1837.

In the Norwegian Census of 1885,  Niels Martin Haugan is found with his family in the city of Molde. His place of birth was in Fosnes in Nord-Trøndelag. He was an executive leader of the trading and shipping company, “Herrer Loennechen & Co” in S. Bjørnsund, Norway. His wife, Marie Charlotte Haugan, was born in Sweden in 1847.  Their seven children were listed in the census.  The lighthouse was  located in the Lofoten Islands, pictured below, which is above the Arctic Circle. The islands are so beautiful.  Again, more details are in the slide presentation.

That is quite a highway, isn’t it?

You can view the PDF here. Just tap the picture:

Many families have Family Crests or Family Coat of Arms. These emblems were sometimes placed on their front door, put on a flag and hung outside the house, or placed somewhere of prominence inside the home such as over the fireplace.
This is the Haugan Family Crest.

The meaning of the name Haugan:
Haugan is a Norwegian surname which originated as a farm name.
The name Haugan is derived from the Old Norse (medieval Norwegian language)
haugr which can be translated to mean hill, knoll, or mound.

Below is a photo of Great, Great Grandmother Haugan, Great Uncle Henry, and my mother
your Great-Grandmother Holub.
This was their passport picture to go to Norway for 6 months. Great Grandmother
missed her family and Norway very much.

When your ancestors lived in Norway, the winter days were very short,
and the summer days were very long.  A friend of mine in Norway sent me
this photo she took of a sunset, at 3 pm in the afternoon a few days ago-
it was the beginning of February, 2018-around the area
where the family had the lighthouse.
This is what it would have looked like. It is so beautiful!

In this photo, your Great Grandfather Jens Andreas Haugan is on the right and his brother,
Great Uncle Carl Axel, is on the left..
Great Uncle Axel was a house mover in Chicago. He had a car
and would take the children to Lake Michigan in the summer months.

When I found out that the Haugan family home was
on the internet, I was so excited.
The home was in the family for nearly 70 years.
Great-great Grandfather Haugan was very proud of his home.
All his brothers and their families would
gather there and play music and enjoy family time.
Relatives from Norway would come to visit,
and they would stay with them.
Click on the image below, and see where your ancestors once lived.
The house is empty in the photos, but put on your imagination hat,
and see the house filled with family, your family, and love.

Click the buttons below to learn more about your family history.

If you would like to hear how any foreign word is pronounced,
this is a good site for reference: www.wordhippo.com