Smør
Encyclopedia
Smør, or after the coat of arms, "Leopard's head (under chevron)", was the name of a Norwegian
medieval family of the high nobility. The family was one of the few original noble families of Norway, as it, unlike many other families, did not originate from Denmark
or Sweden
. The family owned land in Norway, as well as on the Faroe Islands
and Shetland (which at the time was a Norwegian overseas possession). The male line of the family died out in the late 15th century.
, which in the Norwegian Middle Ages was an item of payment, and often one of the standard products of paying taxes with. As such, the family was named after one of the most important goods in society.
The contemporary use of the family name Smør has been contested, as it has been suggested that the name was more of a epithet
for only some of the members, as not all members of the family are known to have used it. Regardless, the, at least informal, use of the name Smør for the entirety of the family has, already since the 16th century, been a common standard.
. He was a knight
and riksråd
(cabinet minister). The first positively known member of the family was Jon Hallvardson Smør
.
The latter Jon's son, Svale Jonson Smør
, is one of the more well-known members of the family, becoming important in Norway during the early 15th century. He was a knight and Lord of Bergenhus Fortress
, and possibly the first to use Smør as a family name.
One of Svale's children was Jon Svaleson Smør
, also a knight, riksråd, and in 1482 was promoted to the highest title known of a member of the Smør-family, as he was elected regent
of Norway in the midst of a two-year interregnum. Jon, however, drowned the year after, in 1483, as the last man of the direct male-line of the family.
Through the female members of the family, the family survived by, among others, the noble families "Orm
", Galte and Benkestok
, into modern times. As such, some Norwegians, especially in Western Norway, can trace their ancestry back to some of the members of the Smør family.
Leopard's head under a red chevron. The family is sometimes alternatively called "Leopard's head (under chevron)" after the coat of arms.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
medieval family of the high nobility. The family was one of the few original noble families of Norway, as it, unlike many other families, did not originate from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
or Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The family owned land in Norway, as well as on the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
and Shetland (which at the time was a Norwegian overseas possession). The male line of the family died out in the late 15th century.
Name
The word "smør" is Norwegian for butterButter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
, which in the Norwegian Middle Ages was an item of payment, and often one of the standard products of paying taxes with. As such, the family was named after one of the most important goods in society.
The contemporary use of the family name Smør has been contested, as it has been suggested that the name was more of a epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
for only some of the members, as not all members of the family are known to have used it. Regardless, the, at least informal, use of the name Smør for the entirety of the family has, already since the 16th century, been a common standard.
People
The first person that can possibly (although disputed) be regarded as a member of the family was Jon SmørJon Smør
Jon Ragnvaldson Smør was a Norwegian knight and riksråd . He was also the gjaldker of Bergen....
. He was a knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
and riksråd
Rigsraadet
Rigsraadet, or Riksrådet, , is the name of the councils of the Scandinavian countries that ruled the countries together with the kings from late Middle Ages to the 17th century...
(cabinet minister). The first positively known member of the family was Jon Hallvardson Smør
Jon Hallvardson Smør
Jon Hallvardson Smør was a Norwegian nobleman. He was a son of the knight Hallvard Jonson Smør. In 1375 Jon was the ombudsman of king Haakon VI of Norway. He had two known children, the son Svale, and daughter Ulvhild .-Sources:*Handegård, Odd , , p. 109...
.
The latter Jon's son, Svale Jonson Smør
Svale Jonson Smør
Hr. Svale Jonson Smør was a Norwegian knight and riksråd .Svale was a son of the royal ombudsman Jon Hallvardson Smør. He was one of the most powerful men in Norway in the early 15th century. He lived in Bergen, and in 1404 was the lord of Bergenhus Fortress...
, is one of the more well-known members of the family, becoming important in Norway during the early 15th century. He was a knight and Lord of Bergenhus Fortress
Bergenhus Fortress
Bergenhus fortress is a fortress located in Bergen, Norway. Bergenhus fortress is located in the entrance to the harbor in Bergen. This is one of the oldest and best preserved castles in Norway.-History:...
, and possibly the first to use Smør as a family name.
One of Svale's children was Jon Svaleson Smør
Jon Svaleson Smør
Jon Svaleson Smør was a Norwegian knight, riksråd and regent.Jon was a son of the knight Svale Jonson Smør and his wife Sigrid Gunnarsdotter Kane. He was a knight from 1449, and cabinet minister from 1458. In the 1470s he was a fehird and høvedsmann of the king's farm...
, also a knight, riksråd, and in 1482 was promoted to the highest title known of a member of the Smør-family, as he was elected regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of Norway in the midst of a two-year interregnum. Jon, however, drowned the year after, in 1483, as the last man of the direct male-line of the family.
Through the female members of the family, the family survived by, among others, the noble families "Orm
Orm
Orm became an Anglo-Saxon personal name during period of the Danelaw...
", Galte and Benkestok
Benkestok
The Benkestok family is one of the original noble families of Norway and one of the few to survive the Middle Ages...
, into modern times. As such, some Norwegians, especially in Western Norway, can trace their ancestry back to some of the members of the Smør family.
Family tree
The following shows the family tree of the Smør-family: (Note that some uncertainty surrounds the first two generations; the following shows the most common rendering.)Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the Smør-family had a blue background, and a goldenGold (color)
Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold....
Leopard's head under a red chevron. The family is sometimes alternatively called "Leopard's head (under chevron)" after the coat of arms.