Peder Pedersson Porkka

   Other names for Peder were Peder Pedersson Bork, Peter Pedersson Porkka and Peder Pedersson Burk.

  Research Notes:

1. NOTE: As with many countries, Finland has gone through changes in it's administrative structure. For the most part, I have tried to record the parishes, provinces and counties that were in the place at the time of the event (birth/marriage/death, etc).

- the area of Siikojaki parish was traditionally located in the province of Pohjanmaan lääni (Finnish) or Österbottens län (Swedish) or Ostrobothia (EnglIsh). Sweden ruled (controlled) most of modern day Finland from the 1200's until 1809. In 1634 Sweden was reorganized into various counties (Län) and so at that time, Finland became re-organized into various Lääni
- Pohjanmaan lääni was in place until about 1775 when there was a further reorganization when the province of Oulu lääni (county) came to be used for this area. Siikojaki parish is about 60 kms south of the current town of Oulu. Oulu is along the far nothern part of the Baltic coast, and about 130 kms north and west to the Torino, Finland at the Swedish border.

- Many family trees (FT) and researchers use the modern county and province. Also, many use the Swedish name rather than Finnish. I have chosen to use the Finnish name, although there are likely examples where I had earlier recorded the Swedish name.


2. Sources:

Kenneth Bergman data [ http://www.kenalexis.se/p8de812be.html ]
geni.com FTs, [1.] https://www.geni.com/people/Lars-Klemetsson-Porkka/6000000021095518033; and , [2.] https://www.geni.com/people/Peder-Burk/6000000049287177183, [links to information posted by Espen Michael Clarke Øjerud, maybe updated December 30, 2020; with the first person as "Peder Burk and, https://www.geni.com/people/Marit-%C3%96rjansdotter/6000000018908211804 - see point 6 ]
Runnsjön as it was by Roland Kihlstadius, http://start.varmlandsrotter.se/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/va2011_2.pdf
Manuel Aguilar Henriksson Ahnentafel Report (received 31 Mar 2019) - see my PC document
FamilySearch - family tree, ID # LV7N-SH7 (this FT leads to Lars Klemetsson); LHQF-8V6 (FT leads to Peder Pedersson Soikainen - point 7 and 8)
Svedjefinnar ; <http://www.finnfalla.se/forsk/finnamn/finskanamn.htm> - this is the main page; Porkka page: http://www.finnfalla.se/forsk/finnamn/porkka.htm>
Richard Broberg, "Svenska Landsmål ....."

NOTE: Not all of the above sources make mention of the father of Peder Pedersson Porkka (Burk). Much of the information on this page is from the geni.com FamilyTrees and the Anbytarforum posts noted in my document, "Porkka - Burk/Bürk surname posts from Anbytarform", 1999-2001. Also it is important to remember that the above sources do not provide very much in terms of 'source citiations' and although some of the information is likely reasonable, there is no definitive proof. But I am fairly confident that as early as 1642 there is documented evidence of the family at Runnsjön in Fryksände parish.

NOTE: the name of Peder Pedersson Porkka's wife is NOT KNOWN.


3. As I have noted in the document, "Porkka - Bork/Bürk surnames, from Anbytarforum, 1999-2002" document, the origin of the family surname is not very clear. Additionally, there are a number of spellings of the "Bork" surname: "Bork, Borch, Burk, Bürk". For simplicity, I have used the spelling "Bork". Apparently (but I have not been able to verify), the Finnish language does not have a letter, "P", and thus sometimes in Sweden there is the use of the surname "Bork" (or various spelling variations). In Swedish the usual family name is "Porkka".

As recorded in "Svedjefinnar ....", Carl Axel Gottlund (an early researcher/traveler through Värmland) had noted the family name of "Bork" at Fäbacken, Kalvhöjen (or Gräsmark), Runnsjön, Lekvattnet, and at Brandval parish in Hedmark county in Norway (bordering Värmland).

Richard Broberg ("Svenska landsmål ...."), records that the family Porkka in the taxation books (mantal), are usually called Burk or Bork, and in Runnsjön, which in 1650 is taxed for 1/4 domestic tax. (page 111of the PDF). On page 109 of the PDF, Broberg refers to "Mathis Burck" as well as "Mattz Bork", and thus there are indications of the different spellings of the surname, Bork. Richard Broberg also notes that in a part of Fäbacken there is a farm, which today is called Burken or Borken. (see research notes his son, Klemet Pedersson Porkka b 1575, for more information based on the work of Richard Broberg).

b. How did the family name "Bork" (or Burk) change to "Porrka" ???

The most likely explanation: in Finnish there is no letter "P" and so the family name became "Bork or Burk".
See below for more details

Using the Geni.com FT [FT 2, above], there is a note by Espen Michael Clarke Øjerud, that may have been added 17 Jun 2018
[ google translate, 7 Feb 2020]:

"Peter (Peder) Burk is said to have been born around 1500 in Belgium. He was a walloon [French dialect and live in southern and eastern Belgium and neighboring parts of France] and gunsmith and must have come to Sweden in the 1530s and then to Karelia in Finland. He must have been sent to Viborg to manufacture weapons for the Finnish-Swedish army [at this time, it must have been only the Swedish army with Finns enlisted or drafted]. The name of his wife is not known. After his stay in Viborg, he and his family, together with 147 other families, likely moved to Österbotten as a settlers. One brother, Anders, was a blacksmith and ended up in Västergötland in Sweden. Since there is not a letter "B" in the Finnish alphabet, he was called Porkka (in Finnish) instead of Burk.
It is not known when or where he died. He is likely to have died in Siikajoki in Ostrobothnia (Oulu), Finland [Siikajoki, Pohjanmaa lääni, Finland].
That the first ranks of this genus would be of Walloon descent have been discussed at Anbytarforum, but no one has yet been able to provide the people with any source references! All information about this ancestry refers to Börje Olsson as a submitter." [note, as of 14 Feb 2020, I have NOT found any genealogical information on Börjge Olsson, or any google 'hits']

HOWEVER: there seems to be disagreement regarding the above (that is, Peder Bork was born in Belguim). And I have noted this in my document, "Porkka - Bork/ Bürk surname posts, from Anbytarforum, 1999-2002". Jan Myhrvold, 3 Sept 2002 noted that, "The theory that Bürk should be a Walloon genus [or family] is a wishful thinking and a result of insufficient insight into the writing of the 17th century. Bürk was one of the ways to write Burk with the free writing method of the time."

From some of my previous research, the letter "ü" was not part Swedish written language (at least usually), and in the some of the early church records it is very hard to differentiate the handwriting of the letter "ü" with the "ö".

In my same document noted above, there is another post by on 4 May 2001 by Fredrik Derefeldt that notes "Neither Porkka (which clearly sounds Finnish) and Burk / Bürk are not French (Walloon), but rather German in that case, [and] there was no Walloon immigration to Sweden that happened so early, but it is possible there were German blacksmiths". [from wikipedia post, Walloon imgrimation to Sweden started around 1620].

Again using Wikipedia, Viborg became the capital of the Swedish Province of Karelia that was established in 1323 after the Swedish-Novgorodian Wars by the Treaty of Nöteborg. Karelia remained in Swedish control until 1721 and 1743 when all of Karelia was ceded to Russia with the Treaty Nystad (1721) and the Treaty of Åbo (1743). Note that Viborg is about 250 kms east of Helsinki and about 135 kms north and a bit west of St Petersburg].

Conclusion: It is reasonable to conclude that Peder Bürk (b abt 1500) was likely born in the northern part of Germany. But this is not proven. Although it might be plausible that this Peder Bürk is the first ancestor of the family name "Porkka", there does not seem to be original sources to verify this.
At some point, around 1520, this Peder Bürk may have joined the Swedish Army and was stationed at Viborg, Karelia where he worked as a blacksmith or possibly as a gunsmith. By 1535, it is possible that he moved to Siikajoki parish, Pohjanmaa lääni, Finland since it is believed that his son, Peder Pedersson Porkka was born around 1535 at Siikajoki parish, Pohjanmaa lääni, Finland. It is also reasonable to conclude that his family surname was known as Porkka in Swedish.
NOTE: at this point, I do not know how the above conclusion can be proven, and my comments are speculation only. Since the above named "Peder Bürk" may OR may not be the earliest of a direct line ancestor, I have not recorded his name as a 12th great-grandfather. At this point in my research, there is too much speculation and no source material that I have access to.
[ written, 14 Feb 2020 ]



4. Although it is not proven, there seems to be a general consensus that Peder Pedersson Porkka (b abt 1535)** was born in Finland. It appears that at least one of his sons, Klemet Pedersson Porkka (b abt 1575) moved the area of the current Stöde parish in Västernorrland in Sweden sometime before 1600 and that Klemet had later moved to Fryksände parish in Värmland by the early 1600's in about 1620. It is not clear if Peder Pedersson Porkka (b abt 1535) had left Finland with his son Klemet.

Some of the other Family researchers' FT (Family Trees) record that Peder Pedersson Porkka (b abt 1535) had at least 3 sons:
(1) Lars Pedersson Porkka, born abt 1570
(2) Peder Pedersson Porkka, born abt 1575 (also recorded as Peter Pedersson)
(3) Klemet Pedersson Porkka, born abt 1575
Note that the one FT [#2 from above] records that Peder and Klemet are both born around 1575, but is doubtful that they were twins. It is likely that Peder Pedersson Porkka (b abt 1535) had more children, but their names are not known.

Klemet Pedersson Porkka is 'our' direct family ancestor. So far, I have not been found any information about the oldest son, Lars b abt 1570. Both the geni.com FTs and FamilySearch FT records more information on Peder Pedersson Porkka, but this information is not proven - this and other geni.com FTs also his name as 'Peder Pedersson Porkka, Soikkainen which is NOT LIKELY. All three sons are thought to be born at Siikajoki parish, Pohjanmaa lääni, Finland.

** There are a couple of Family Trees (FTs) on Ancestry that record Peder Pedersson Porkka (b abt 1535) in Finland died around 1634 at Siikajoki, Oulun Laani, Finland. However, there is no source material/evidence that supports this. These FTs cite other FTs, but with citation. The date/location of death is likely correct, but I have not recorded this information

andersson Släktträd, [bara_marina]; accessed 19 Jul 2021
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/51964473/person/13338979465/facts



5. See Klemet Pedersson Porkka's research notes page for his information on his move to Värmland in Sweden.

6.

Link to above geni.com FT [1.] leads to Marit Örjansdotter; https://www.geni.com/people/Marit-%C3%96rjansdotter/6000000018908211804 ; owner/manager, Karin Frigaard Rybråten, date of 4 May 2018; information as above, along with some descendants
- Klemet Pedersson's wife as Karin Örjansdotter, born abt 1590 but no location is noted ; only notes her father's name as 'Örjan'
- 3 "Örjansdotters sisters" are noted: Karin b abt 1590 married to 'our' Klemet Pedersson Porkka; Marit Örjansdotter married to Sigfrid Josefsson Hämäläinen (see Klemet Pedersson Porkka's, b abt 1575, research notes point 3 for information); and

Kari Örjansdotter b abt 1610 in Sverige (Sweden) and died 1686 at Abrahamstorpet /Langperstorpet, Austmarka, Vinger, Norway and married to Peder Pedersson Soikkainen (b abt 1575 in Finland and died abt 1616 at Stormörtsjön, Torp, Medelpad., Sverige (Sweden).

But this is a bit confusing: since this FT records that Kari was married to "Peder Pedersson Soikkainen (Porkka) or in Finnish, Pekka Pekanpoika Soikkanen (Soikkainen) and also known as"Per / Peder Persson / Pedersen Soikkainen / Porkka". AND
- if we connect back to the geni.com FT managed by Marie Olaug Mellembråten Skålerud, and noted in point 2 above, it is recorded that the father of Klemet Pedersson Porkka was:
Peder Pedersson Porkka b abt 1535 , and he had 3 sons:
(1) Peder Pedersson Soikkainen (Porkka) b 1575 ???
(2) Lars Pedersson Porkka b abt 1570
(3) Klemet Pedersson Porkka, b abt 1575 ????

Thus, this geni.com FT notes that Kari Örjansdotter and Karin Örjansdotter married brothers; Kari m. Peder Pedersson and Karin m. Klemet Pedersson
- the above tree also notes that Kari was married again to Jacob Kirnuinen (1600-1640), and they likely had 2 children Jacob Pedersson Soikkainen b abt 1640 at Brandval and Jacob 1623-1715

AND I believe that some descendants of thei Peder Pedersson married to Kari Örjansdotter stettled in Brandvall, Grue parish in Norway - see point 7 below.


7. There is not any signficant agreement on Kari Örjansdotter who was b abt 1610 and who married to Peder Pedersson Soikkainen (Porkka). The use of the Finnish Family Name (FNN) of "Soikkainen" along side the FFN of "Porkka" is very unusual. If Peder Pedersson "Soikkainen" is the son of PederPedersson Porkka (b ab 1535) then his FFN should be "Porkka" and not "Soikkainen", and is NOT Supported [as indicated below in point 7]

This uncertainity is highlighted by connecting to a FamilySearch.org family tree"

son, Peder Pedersson Porkka, (Soikainen), born abt 1575; FamilySearch id, LHQF-8V6
and one of this sons, Johan Persson Soikainen, b abt 1666; FamilySearch id, MWXZ-BRW
- on this page there at least 3 articles that have been translated into English.
I have copied this into a document, "Porkka Family Name, from Family Search FT" (document created 14 Feb 2020)

Initially posted by Rolf Ketil, 7 Jan 2018 was a note, SKOGFINSK GENEALOGI, and this is linked to what is likely an article on "finnia.nu" [unfortunately I can not connect to this website - I think it is related to a Finnish historical society or association, but I can't seem to connect"]
- it appears that this article is written in Swedish, and a "poster or researcher, named B.V.E" had posted Englsh translations on 7 Feb 2019. However, this translation is a 'google translation' and therefore has many limitations.
- on the "sources page" for the Johan Persen Soikkainen FT, (id, MWXZ-BRW), a source is noted as: Vinger Bygdebok, Gards og Slekshistorie, by Eybind Lillevold, 1972-1977, 3 Volumes; Vol 3, pages 518-520

The following is my understanding of the the notes recorded on the 2 Familysearch FTs:
1). 2 farms, Øyern (Øieren or in Swedish, Öieren) and Varaldskogen (about 15 kms north/south of each other) were settled/cleared about the same time. This was reported to Carl Axel Gottlund in 1821 by Pål Räisäinen and Mattis Karvainen and they told Gottlund that the farms were settled by 2 brothers, who were thought to have the Porkka family name. This is how the story developed or possibly more accurately, the confusion with the FFN of Porkka and/or Soikkainen in this area.
2). BUT, further research notes that Øyern was settled by Erik Klemetsson Porkka who came to the area around 1666, and that Erik Klemetsson Porkka moved into the cottage/farm that was built by a person named Per Pelle and he came from the island of "Per Pelle", Finland. A son of Per Pelle was Jacob Persen Soiken. Soik is a distortion of the Finnish family name Soikkainen.
3). Varaldskogen was settled by Johan Persen (Soikkainen) and he was likely another son Per Pelle. Other sons of Per Pelle were likely, Per, Tomas and Henrik; Henrik was at Varalskogen around 1680. Johan Persen Soikkainen was likely born at Arvika parish in Värmland (south of Thorsby).
4). My document (named above), makes note of an article by Jan Myhrvold, "...shows that Johan Persen's family name was Soikkainen and not Porkka". Jan Myhrvold is a well known researcher of Finnish families in Norway and Sweden.


Thus, the most likely conclusion is that the information from the geni.com FT regarding a son of Peder Pedersson Porkka (b about 1535 in Finland) and known as Peder Pedersson Porkka (b abt 1575 in Finland), with the Finnish Family Name of Soikkainen is NOT supported. It is most likely that the father of the person recorded as Peder Pedersson Soikkainen (b abt 1575) was Per Pelle Soikkainen. The person known as Peder Pedersson Soikkainen (b abt 1575) and the information on his descendants as noted by the above geni.com FT may be correct, but there is no clear evidence of this.

It seems that it is only a theory that Johan Persen who is said to be born abt 1666 at Arvika parish in Värmland, was a descendant of the "Porkka" family. He later moved to Valadskogen and then to Fagernes. This theory seems to have started with Rudolf Bråten's book about Varaldskogen [" Varaldskogen: owners and residents", published 1970] and Vinger Bygdebok (Volume 3) by Eyvind Lillevold, 1972-1977. At the time that these books were written, it does not appear that the writers had access to Carl Axel Gottlund's diaries or whether any of the Fryksände parish or court records had been consulted.

Thus: any Family Trees that record the Finnish Family Name of Porkka and coming from or being born in Arvika parish in Värmland, is likely NOT supported.


8. See my document, "Porkka Family Name, from Family Search FT" where I have recorded the family information on Peder Pedersson Soikkainen (so that it is not lost, although some of the information is a bit confusing. BUT it is not clear if there is a family relationship \endash the most likely conclusion is that there is NOT a family relationship based on these FTs. However, it is possible and likely that there was a son named Peder Pedersson Porkka b abt 1575) ⁸⁷⁸⁴

Peder married.