WE Seniors Genealogy Meeting – Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Topics: Scandinavian Immigration and Settlement in Western Canada
Presenter: Ingrid Urberg, Professor of Scandinavian Studies, University of Alberta
Overview: There are two terms used when referring to the Northern European regions:
- Scandinavia: Refers to the countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark
- Norden: Originates from the Scandinavian word ‘North’ and refers to the
areas/countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, the
Faroe Islands and Aland.
History: Prof. Urberg provided a brief summary of the history of the Norden Region to provide an understanding of the background and development of the region. Since 1262, the member countries were absorbed into one another and later gained autonomy. Self-government was not fully gained by all the members until Iceland separated from Denmark in 1944.
Immigration: The majority of Norden residents came to The United States initially, some
through New York, others down the St. Lawrence River. They made their way into the US Midwest, settling in Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas. Cross border immigration followed with many moving north into Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Principal Reasons for Immigration:
1. Economics: Only 3% of the land in Norway was considered arable. Farming was a difficult process in the rocky, stoney landscape resulting in most farming being of a subsistence nature.
2. Landownership: A great many of Scandinavian immigrants were tenants in their homeland, and the attraction of land ownership in North America appealed.
3. Industrialization and Urbanization: Many Scandinavians had moved into urban centers as the area saw the rise of industrialization. Life was often hard though – long hours, poor working and living conditions, disease and illness.
4. The Power and Centrality of the Lutheran Church: The church in Scandinavia held great power. Before residents could immigrate, they were required to obtain the permission of their priest who in turn controlled the drain of talents as a deterrent to immigration.
Yet the motivation to create a better life both economically and socially brought Scandinavians to North America. The attraction of land ownership, religious freedom, the ability to start a new life, and even in some cases to escape family and relationship difficulties contributed to their leaving their homeland. The emigration of Norwegian Quakers in July 1825 to New York is identified as being the beginning of immigration from Scandinavia. By the 1840s increasing numbers crossed the Atlantic which continued until the First World War in 1914. Most immigrants came as a family, but as the years passed single men and women
were known to make the journey to North America where they worked as labourers and domestics. Initially the majority of Scandinavians made their way to the Upper US Midwest predominantly in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio and the Dakotas. Second generation settlers later spread throughout the US through to the Pacific Coast and others north into the Canadian Prairie Region.
As the early settlers established themselves in a new life in North American, word was sent back home encouraging further settlement by family, relatives and friends. Two further waves of Scandinavian immigration followed after WWI: the first from 1920 through the WWII (1939), and then a third following WWII through to the 1970s.
It is estimated though that 20% to 25% of the Scandinavians who immigrated to North America returned to their homeland.
Settlement in Western Canada:
1. Norwegians: Several of the Norwegians immigrants entered Canada through the St. Lawrence River and made their way into the US Midwest. From there, several moved north into Central Alberta around the villages of Camrose, Wetaskiwin, Bardo, New Norway and Olds.
2. Swedes: Like the Norwegians, many Swedes entered the Prairie Regions via the US Midwest. Swedish settlers were known to integrate with existing settlements rather than their Scandinavian counterparts who tended to settle in groups, but Swedish settlements were evident in the regions southeast of Edmonton. Thorsby, Alsike, New Sweden, Calmar, Malmo and Amisk saw significant Swedish settlement.
3. Danes: An estimated 300-350,000 Danes are believed to have come to Alberta. They settled in Central and Southern Alberta around the villages of Dickson, Standard and Dalum. Dickson was founded in 1903 by Carl Christiansen where the Danish Canadian National Museum was created.
4. Icelanders: Iceland is a harsh land where an estimated 2% of the land is considered arable. It is also a region that has seen a great number of natural disasters in its history – volcanic eruptions, avalanches, earthquakes. A severe avalanche disaster in 1885 at Mt. Bjolfur resulted in the destruction of several villages and deaths in the region. Icelanders predominantly settled in Manitoba particularly around the village of Gimli (known as Paradise in Icelandic).
5. Finns: Finland of all the Scandinavian countries has suffered the most challenging history. It was under Swedish rule from the 12 th century for some 600 years, then was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the early 1800s. With the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917, Finland fell into Civil War – a struggle between the Whites seeking independence and the Reds supporting a more communist philosophy. Following the country’s winning of independence in 1918, many Finns immigrated to Canada with heavy concentrations in Northern Ontario
around the Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie regions where they worked on the railways, in the mines and in lumbering.
Scandinavian Culture in Canada:
Today several Scandinavian cultures and traditions continue in Canada. Although as time passed, later generations became integrated into North American ways of life, aspects of their Scandinavian origins continue.
In Canada Norwegian descendants celebrate Norwegian Constitution Day (May 17) with gatherings, community dinners, outdoor festivals. Traditional Norwegian foods are enjoyed like ice cream, waffles and kransekake (tower cake made from stacked almond cookie rings). Lutefish is a favourite dish – a seafood dish made from aged air dried fish (usually cod) that is dehydrated and soaked in a lye solution. Farikal – a stew of mutton with cabbage, black pepper and served with potatoes. Lefse too is common – a soft flatbread made from potatoes, flour, butter and cream.
Norwegian language continues to survive and is taught in schools and churches, while museums commemorating the Norwegian heritage can be found in rural regions of Alberta.
One interesting characteristic of Norway was the structure of names. Prior to the passing of the 1923 Names Act, Norwegian names were structured using a patronymic or farm name. Children did not take a status family surname but a son’s last name was his father’s first name plus ‘sen’ (son of) and a daughter’s name used ‘datter’ (daughter of). Families also used the name of the farm or place where they lived as a secondary identifier. The name would change if the family moved to a new property. With the passing of the 1923 Name Act, a person’s given name would be one or multiple names, followed by a middle name (often a former family surname or farm name) then a surname.
Prof. Urberg provided two handouts for the attendees:
1. ‘Resources’ listing several website links useful when researching Scandinavian family history.
2. Suggested Resources and Books which contain information about Nordic migrants and their descendants in Canada.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | WE Seniors Boardroom
Topic: ‘What Historical Newspapers Can Tell Us About Our Ancestors
Presenter: Jean-Yves Vanier-Verbeek