D’Arcy Hande has spent more than four decades tracing the Hande family roots from Canada back to the United States, and then even farther back to Norway. The Hande surname originates with a cluster of farms in Vestre Slidre parish in the Valdres region of Oppland County, Norway. D’Arcy has traced this lineage back to three distinct Hande ancestors living in the 17th Century, who may or may not have been related to each other. He has also added to his records anyone by the name of Hande who originated in Valdres, in hopes that someday he will be able to tie them in with the wider Handeslekt (Hande clan) which he has been researching.
A special note from D’Arcy Hande:
“It is my sincere hope that all family and friends will enjoy browsing through the information at this web site. Please contact me if you have any updates, additions, corrections, or general enquiries."
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Detail from the interior of Høre stave church, Vang in Valdres, Norway. Photo by RW Lindahl 2007.
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How about a Family Reunion in Norway, 2010 or 2011?!
D’Arcy Hande is exploring the feasibility of the Hande clan travelling to Norway in 2010 or 2011 for a grand family reunion in the home land.
Travel arrangements would be self-directed, but there is the possibility that group rates could be obtained for flights from Minneapolis to Oslo.
A few suggestions for activities in the Valdres valley are listed below:
- Bus tour of historic sites, traditional eateries, and family farms.
- Visit to the Valdres Folk Museum, one of the best in Norway.
- For the younger set - hiking, horseback riding and white-water rafting in beautiful mountain scenery.
- Bilingual church service in Slidredomen where our ancestors worshiped.
- Evening banquet, small group visits and other gatherings.
A preliminary estimate of costs in 2008 dollars for one week in Valdres would be about $3,000 per person, depending on your choice for double or quadruple occupancy. This includes the return flight, car rental, accommodation, self-catered food, and reunion-related activities. Shopping for gifts and souvenirs is extra!
Further information and a questionnaire is available from D’Arcy Hande. If you are are even remotely interested in pursuing the idea, please e-mail D’Arcy immediately, clicking the link on the sidebar on the left-hand side of this page. The questionnaire must be returned to him no later than FEBRUARY 28, 2009.
Feel free to explore your relationship to the families in one of the
following web pages:
Vital information has not been included for anyone still living.
Please contact me if you have any updates, additions, corrections, or general enquiries.
While you are at it, why not consider subscribing to The Hande Newsletter?