In the 19th century, many Europeans emigrated to the USA – The Land of hope and opportunities. Due to the huge economic recession, it’s stated that from 1820 to 1930 around 336.000 Danes choose to leave their home country and seek for a better life in America. At that time the expected average salary was much higher in the USA and people hope for a better and more free life.
It reproduces the atmosphere before the emigrants board one of Thingvalla Linien’s Atlantic steamers and sail from Copenhagen to New York City. On the right, a final farewell is taken. A single woman had to find the handkerchief. A group of bedraggled wives sit among their few possessions. The orange seller clearly has his business going. Photo: ARoS Aarhus Art Museum/Wikimedia Commons
Read more history (in Danish) about the emigration from Denmark to the USA
Fun facts. Did you know, that…
- Mount Rushmore was made by a son of a Danish immigrant (John Gutzon de la Mothe Borgium).
- That the huge amount of great Hollywood actors have Danish blood running through their veins. Like: Viggo Mortensen, Mads Mikkelsen, Connie Nielsen, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Scarlett Johansson. And movie directors like Bille August, Susanne Bier and Lars von Trier.
- Famous literature is created by Danish writers. Hans Christian Andersen, Karen Blixen and Søren Aabye Kierkegaard.
- Danish architect and designer. Part of the “Danish Modern” style. Jacobsen is famous for his furniture designs, such as ‘The Egg Chair’, ‘The Ant Chair’ and ‘The Swan Chair’. Also the Tech company B&O comes from Denmark.
- That the Danish company LEGO has taken the name from two Danish words, meaning Play Well (‘leg’ + ‘godt’). And the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos’ is a grandson of a Danish immigrant (Ted Jørgensen).
- Read more about Danish Americans on Wikipedia.
Some of the Thranum people went to the USA
We have Thanum people living in the USA. I have located people who mainly lived in South Dakota and Minnesota.
Here are my working notes for my work trying to connect all the dots.
At the moment I don’t know from which ancestors the USA offspring comes. It seems that some of the American citizens have a family source coming from Norway. And some coming from Denmark.
Thranum in Norway
USA is mainly a land of immigrated people. It seems that the Thranum family trees that I have found originate from Norway. E.g. migrated Edward G. Thranum from Norway and arrived to the USA in 1893 at a age of 22 years.
So let’s start by looking at some of the Thranum people who lived in Norway.
Search for Thranum in Norway
Search results from the homepage ancestry.com. Many of the data are protected behind a pay-subscription wall. But I can see a lot of names of Thranum people who live or lived in Norway.
- Kirsten Marie Gulbrandsen Thranum. Born xxxx. Death 1895
- Georg Johannes Thranum.
- Anton Thranum. Birth xxxx in Norway. Migrated to USA, arrival in New York (1873-1952). Residence: Minnesota USA.
- Johan Konvad Thranum. Birth between 1812 – 1938.
- Ingvald Jørgensen Thranum. Death 1912.
- Anne Marie Thranum.
- Edward Thranum. Birth 1817 in Norway. Residence South Dakota, USA.
- Edw S Thranum, spouse: Peter Frogge. Birth 1871 Norway. Arrival in USA, South Dakota
- Ole Thranum.
- ….
Ole Gulbrandsen Thranum
Ole Gulbrandsen Thranum, born 14. December 1868, Eidsvold, Norway.
OR…. born in 1865, which is written in Churchbook for the daughter (Kirsten Marie) christening/baptism.
Source: FamilySearch KK3F-TPT.
Different registrations of Ole Guldbransen/Guldbrandsen Thranum:
- Census 1900. Place: FamilySearch.org.
- Ole Guldbrandsen Thranum (with a ‘d’ in GulDbrandsen), Born 1868, Eidsvold, Norway.
- Wife: Anna Helene Thranum, born 1863, Urskaug, Norway.
- Daughter: Astrid Olufine Thranum, born 1896, Kristiania (= Oslo), Norway.
- Maid: Ingeborg Johnsen Krogvold, born 1866.
- Census 1910 December 1. Place/bopæl: Vilblomsten, Aker, Akershus, Norway (= Oslo, Norway). Distrikt: Lysaker. Source MyHeritage.
- Ole G. Thranum, born 14. dec. 1868 in Eirsvold(?), Norway. Occupation: xxx-rabs-fabrikant.
At the age of 42 years, in 1910 he lived with his wife Anna and their daughter. - Wife: Ann H. Thranum, born 01-07-1863.
- Daughter: Astrid Olofine Thranum, born 17-09-1896. Age in 1910: 14 years old
- I believe that the first daughter Kirsten Marie (Born 06-01-1895) perhaps died very young. In 1910 she would have been 15 years old. Or she could have left home and worked, e.g. as a Maid.
- In the same family, there is a man, Gulbrand Thorstensen, Relation til overhovedet = FI ??
Born 02-02-1827 in Odalen, Hedmark, Norge.
Death: 02-10-1917, buried 08-10-1917, Hauge, Oslo, Norge. Source MyHeritage.
Is Gulbrand Thorsensen the father of Ole Guldbrandsen Thranum? FamilySaerch. - Ole Gulbrandsen Thranum, could he be the father of Edward G. (=Gulbrandsen) Thranum (1871-1956) who migrated and started a family in the USA? This is just a presumption, no documentation found… jet.
- Ole G. Thranum, born 14. dec. 1868 in Eirsvold(?), Norway. Occupation: xxx-rabs-fabrikant.
- vv
Married with Anna H. Guldbrandsen (Thranum) (born 01-07-1865?? Perhaps 1863 ?)
Children:
- Kirsten Marie Gulbradsen Thranum. Born 06-01-1895, Baptism date 13-01-1895.
Text in the Norwegian Church book: Child name: Kirsten Marie. Parents (Forædre): “Ugift kjøbmand Ole Gulbrandsen Thranum f. 1864 og frue Anne Gulbrandsen f. 1863.”. ‘Ugift’ means unmarried. ‘Kjøbmand’ is the occupation Grocery/Merchant. Source FamilySearch.org/QHV-B3PG. - Astrid Olofine Thranum, born 17-09-1896 (in Kristiane?, Norway).
Thranum in the U.S.A.
If this record is true, is quite amazing…
Bernt Olaus Hagge (1822-1911) and Raghild Peterra (born Pedersdatter Nedvold) got many children. Two of their daughters, Petra Hagge and Ragna Hagge both got married to a Thranum – respectively Edward G. Thranum (1871-1956) and Anton Marinas Thranum (1876-1953). See family tree for Bernt Olaus Hegge at familySearch.org.
This is really amazing since the Thranum family is extremely rare and distinctive. At this moment I can’t find any relationship between Edward and Anton Thranum.
To my knowledge, they are not a part of my own family tree.
(image from a US family book, kindly supplied by April Thranum)
Thranum in South Dakota
There is a Thranum family living in South Dakota, USA.
The records start with Edward G. Thranum (1871-1956), born 19. May 1871 in Norway. Died 15. June 1956 in South Dakota, USA. Source: FamilySearch/GQVB-JD1.
Edward G. Thranum might be the son of Goodwin Thranum. (MyHeritage.com) (MyHeritage, Herb Tabert private Tree). Perhaps the son of Ole Gulbrandsen Thranum?
Edward G. Thranum migrated from Norway to USA. The 12. June 1893 he arrived at the age of 22 in Menno, South Dakota, USA
Edward G. Thranum got married to Petra Hagge the 13-04-1895 in Menno, Hutchinson Co., South Dakota (SD):
- Petra Johanna Thranum (born Berntsdatter Hagge).
Born 09-04-1879. Born in Menno, Hutchinson Co., SD, USA.
Death 19-05-1938. Died in Bon Homme Co, South Dakota, USA. (FamilySearch GQVB-CZC),
Petra was the daughter of Bernt and Ragnhild. Petra had many siblings.
In 1910 Edward Thranum lived in Yankton, South Dakota, USA with his wife Petra Johanna and their 5 children (source USA Folketælling 1910):
- Luverne B Thranum (1895-1918).
- Goodwin Thranum (1897-1988).
- Paul Ernst Thranum Sr. (1898-1956).
- Ragna Marie Thranum (1902-1982).
- Nellie Isabel Thranum. Born 1905 in South Dakota, USA. FamilySearch GQVB-86F.
Died June 1982, Menno, Hutchinson, South Dakota, USA. MyHeritage. MyH.
Census 1925. South Dakota, see MyHeritage.
In 1940 he/Edward Thranum lives in Yankton, South Dakota. Source 1940 USA Census.
1940 United States Federal Census for Edward Thranum, age 68 and one son (Goodwin), age 44 (Ancestry.com). South Dakota, Yankton, Township 96 Range 57, 68-28
See the family tree for Edward G. Thranum at FamilySearch.com.
See many search results for Eward Thranum at myheritage.dk.
See the above image, the family tree for ancestors after Edward G. Thranum in large format.
Our Savior’s West Cemetery
Yankton County, South Dakota, USA
Image source ancestry.com. FindAGrave.com.
Thranum in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
A record shows a Norwegian man, Gilbert Thranum, born in 1840 in Norway. (FamilySearch G4K9-K86). Married with Annie Marie Myher.
- His son, Anton Marinas (G.) Thranum (1876-1953) (familysearch G4K9-NSW) went to the USA and got married to Ragna Bargetta (Berntdatter) Hagge (b. 05.01.1872, died 12.01.1908). Married 09-04-1898 in Turner, South Dakota, USA
- Child/children named Ruth Alvina Thranum (G4K9-VWV). Marriage 9. April 1953 in Turner, South Dakota, USA
- Anton Marinas Thranum worked as a Farmer.
Born 13-12-1876, Eidsvoll, Akershus Fylke, Oslo Norway.
Died 30-05-1953 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota - Ragna Hagge is one of many children of Ragnhild Peterra Hagge and Bernt Olaus Hagge (birth Trondheim kommune, Norway. Death 2. Mar 1911 (aged 88) Menno, Hutchinson County, South Dakota, USA). See ancestry.com.
See Gilbert Thranum family tree at FamilySearch/G4K9-K86.
(image from a US family book, kindly supplied by April Thranum)
Thranum in USA
Search results from the homepage ancestry.com. Many of the data are protected behind a pay-subscription wall. But I can see a lot of names of Thranum people who live or lived in the USA.
- Petra J. Thranum. Death 1938 Bon Homme, South Dakota
- Anton Thranum. Birth xxxx in Norway. Migrated to USA, arrival in New York (1873-1952).
Residence: Minnesota, Hennepin, USA. = Anton Marinas G. Thranum? The son of Gilbert Thranum. - Anna G. Thranum. Arrival in New York, USA.
Perhaps this is Anna Guldbrandsen Thranum (born 01-07-1865), who was married to Ole Guldbrandsen Thranum. - Gekeo Thranum. spouse: Haggie, birth 1871 in Norway.
- Mr. H. Thranum, passenger list for arrival in New York. = Hubert Huller Thranum.
Hubert Fuller Thranum = Hubert Huller Thranum, who is the son of Joachim Otto Thranum and Juliette Davilda Mathilde from ‘my family tree’. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 - … and the list goes on and on…
Ancestry.com search name=_thranum from Norway.
Thranum who migrated to USA
At Dansk Emografisk Database / Dansk Data Arkiv = https://ddd.dda.dk/ there is a search functionality to locate people who left Denmark. A seach for ‘Tranum‘ (without H) gave this result: (source ddd.dda.dk)
| Navn: | Tranum, Maren | Stilling: | Barn |
| Alder: | 09 | Bestemmelsessted: | Genesqo, Illinois |
| Kontrakt nr.: | 613100 | Forevisningsdato: | 9/14/1869 |
| Sidste oph.sogn: | Øland | Sidste oph. amt: | Hjørring |
| Sidste oph.sted: | Øland S., Hjørring Amt | Bestemmelses land: | USA |
| Bestemmelses by: | Geneseo | Bestemmelses stat: | Illinois |
| Skibsnavn: | Indirekte | ||
| IDkode: | I6971T0315 |
| Navn: | Tranum, Kirsten Marie | Stilling: | Barn |
| Alder: | 11 | Bestemmelsessted: | Genesqo, Illinois |
| Kontrakt nr.: | 613100 | Forevisningsdato: | 9/14/1869 |
| Sidste oph.sogn: | Øland | Sidste oph. amt: | Hjørring |
| Sidste oph.sted: | Øland S., Hjørring Amt | Bestemmelses land: | USA |
| Bestemmelses by: | Geneseo | Bestemmelses stat: | Illinois |
| Skibsnavn: | Indirekte | ||
| IDkode: | I6971T0314 |
| Navn: | Tranum, Ane Jensen | Stilling: | Hustru |
| Alder: | 49 | Bestemmelsessted: | Genesqo, Illinois |
| Kontrakt nr.: | 613100 | Forevisningsdato: | 9/14/1869 |
| Sidste oph.sogn: | Øland | Sidste oph. amt: | Hjørring |
| Sidste oph.sted: | Øland S., Hjørring Amt | Bestemmelses land: | USA |
| Bestemmelses by: | Geneseo | Bestemmelses stat: | Illinois |
| Skibsnavn: | Indirekte | ||
| IDkode: | I6971T0312 |
| Navn: | Tranum, Niels Sørensen | Stilling: | Søn |
| Alder: | 15 | Bestemmelsessted: | Genesqo, Illinois |
| Kontrakt nr.: | 613100 | Forevisningsdato: | 9/14/1869 |
| Sidste oph.sogn: | Øland | Sidste oph. amt: | Hjørring |
| Sidste oph.sted: | Øland S., Hjørring Amt | Bestemmelses land: | USA |
| Bestemmelses by: | Geneseo | Bestemmelses stat: | Illinois |
| Skibsnavn: | Indirekte | ||
| IDkode: | I6971T0313 |
| Navn: | Tranum, Søren Pedersen | Stilling: | Landmand |
| Alder: | 53 | Bestemmelsessted: | Genesqo, Illinois |
| Kontrakt nr.: | 613100 | Forevisningsdato: | 9/14/1869 |
| Sidste oph.sogn: | Øland | Sidste oph. amt: | Hjørring |
| Sidste oph.sted: | Øland S., Hjørring Amt | Bestemmelses land: | USA |
| Bestemmelses by: | Geneseo | Bestemmelses stat: | Illinois |
| Skibsnavn: | Indirekte | ||
| IDkode: | I6971T0311 |
| Navn: | Tranum, Kirstine | Stilling: | Jomfru |
| Alder: | 26 | Bestemmelsessted: | Fremont, Neb. |
| Kontrakt nr.: | 181100 | Forevisningsdato: | 9/30/1885 |
| Sidste oph.sogn: | Aalborg | Sidste oph. amt: | Aalborg |
| Sidste oph.sted: | Aalborg | Bestemmelses land: | USA |
| Bestemmelses by: | Fremont | Bestemmelses stat: | Nebraska |
| Skibsnavn: | Hekla | ||
| Bemærkninger: | ANM: Hecla. | IDkode: | D8587T0102 |
The name changed from Thaanum to Thranum
According to the records found at familysearch this family changes the familyname during time. Starts with ‘Anders Taanum‘, then change to ‘Hans Peter Nicolai Thaanum‘ (KV2K-T18) and one of the later offspring is named Walter Mandrup Thranum (1899-1949).
- Henrik Vilhelm Thaanum (born 15-03-1861 in Aalborg, Denmark, death xxxx). Born in Denmark. Lived in USA. Source: US Census 1910, King, Washington, USA, familysearch.
- His son, Walter Mandrup Thranum real name should have been Thaanum. Source. FamilySearch.
Seach results for Thaanum at FamilySearch.com.
