SURNAMES IN SWEDEN.
RIGHTS OF FAMILIES.
TWO CASES IN COURT.
In Sweden there is at present a special law concerning family names, so that if an Andersson, a Pettersson or a Jofinsson wants to change his naino he has to apply to the authorities and pay a certain sum of money for a permit. Family names or noble names, even if extinct, are strictly excepted. This law lias existed for 25 years only. Previously any name could bo chosen. Thus, a taxi-driver in 1903 chose the name of Bildfc, which happens to belong to an ancient baronial family, and a few years ago the Barons of Bildt successfully applied to the Court for an interdict. Recently another application to the Court was made t>y a Count Railing, who complained that two Swedish officials were using his name, though they did not belong to the noble family. The two defendants argued that their family name of Kalling could be traced back as far as 1769. The Swedish press has unanimously condemned this attfinpt to rob people of their family names, even if they do happen to coincide with those of still more ancient families.-
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 14
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193SURNAMES IN SWEDEN. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 14
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