Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1964, Síða 183
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SUMMARY
A considerable part of the Faroese infield names (infield: cultivated
area in the neighbourhood of the houses) were recorded in conjunc»
tion with the valuation of all land in the Faroes taking place during
the years from 1868 to 1871. Out of the approximately 2000 names of
parts of the old infield recorded in conjunction with the appraisement
abt. one third are names indicating the situation of the fields and abt.
one third reflect ownership. Field names of which personal names form
part, constitute half of the names suggesting ownership, which seems
to show that each named piece of ground was originally owned by a
person. Within the other half of the names indicating ownership, some
names are to be found which show that the land belonged formerly
to the Church, some which show that the land was owned by a person
outside the community, and a few indicate noble ownership.
Half of the remaining third of the field names (i. e. one sixth of
all names) consists of qualificatory names, i. e. names giving the quali*
ties of the soil, extent of tilling etc.
The last sixth of the names form a heterogeneous group. We find
among these names abt. 100 having relation to plants and animals,
domestic as well as wild animals. Among the animal names it is worth
pointing out some names referring to pigdíeeping, although pigskeep*
ing was presumably given up in the Faroes about the Reformation.
Among the plant names we find some which have relation to the
growing of angelica, and a single one which seems to show that flax
was formerly grown in the Faroes.
A closer study of the field names is not likely to change the picture
of the development ownership and the agricultural history very much,
but will supplement this picture in several respects.
LITTERATUR
1. Debes, Lucas: Færoæ et Færoa Reserata. 1673.
2. Hjalt, Edward: Sands søga. 1953.
3. Jakobsen, Jakob: Shetlandsøernes Stednavne. (Aarbøger for nordisk
Oldkyndighed og Historie. 1901).
4. Joensen, Hans Debes: Um hvonnina í Føroyum, serliga um nýtsluna
til matna og um hvannsárið. (Heiðursrit til Rasmus Rasmussen. 1951).
5. Lange, Johan: Ordbog over Danmarks plantenavne. 1959—61.
6. Lockwood, W. B.: The Faroese Bird Names. (Færoensia V. 1961).
7. Matras, Chr.: Stednavne paa de færøske Norðuroyar. 1933.
8. Petersen, Ludvig: Sandavágs søga. 1963.