The book I put together, "FROM KARLSSON TO DELANDER, The Delander Family History" was printed in  May 2007. It is still available for purchase -- 50 copies left (my ordering was off as I thought more people would be interested in your heritage -- oops!).  Book size is 8x11 and is perma-bound. It holds 253 pages of family history, stories and photos, some of which are NOT on this site. 

Purchase price is $38.00 which includes HANDLING & MAILING FEES for USA only. Please contact me for shipping fees for outside USA.  This book is a great gift of family heritage for Birthday, Christmas or any occasion.

NOTE: These books will be destroyed SOON as I need the space for storage. To purchase, please contact me (Barb Jensen Delander) through the above "comments or feedback" link.

                         PURCHASE YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK NOW!!
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Photos, obits, additions, corrections, are welcomed.  Please contact me through the contact link above for instructions for getting those to me.  The continuation of this website could not be possible without the help of all of you!!

******THE HISTORY OF THE DELANDER SURNAME******

The Delander name is not the original family name. It actually was Karlsson. The spelling listed here is actual recorded spelling according to Swedish records. The modern (American) spelling would be Carlson.

Born in Sweden, four children of the Karlsson family: Sven Johan, Magnus, Gustav Vilhelm and  Johanna Kristina, came to America (one at a time)in the late 1800's with their destination of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first to arrive was Magnus, followed by Sven Johan, then Gustav and finally Johanna. The journey to America was split into two segments - the first being the trip across the North Sea from Göteborg, Sweden directly to Hull on the east coast of England. From Hull they traveled via the railway to Liverpool, where British vessels were waiting to take them to America. Our family members arrived in America at the Port of New York. From there they traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The average cost of a ticket from Sweden to America was about $26.

A new surname was given at some point while living in Minneapolis because there were too many  people with the Carlson surname. At least that was the reason given to descendants of Gust.  A different reason for the name change was offered up by some descendants of Johan (John)and many say that it is most likely the real reason for the surname change. That explanation was that Johan  & Magnus were involved in some horse & cattle thieving and to keep the law away from them the name  was changed to Delander.

Magnus Karlsson then became known as Mike Delander, Sven Johan Karlsson was now John Swan Delander, Gustav Vilhelm Karlsson was now Gustav Vilhelm Delander,and Johanna Kristina Karlsdotter was now Hannah Christine Delander.

Everyone spelled the surname as "Delander", however, research shows that Vernon & Arthur (sons of  Gust & Olga) changed their surname spelling to "DeLander". I could not find any legal documentation  of the spelling change; it just started showing up on birth certificates of Vernon & Arthur's  children. The descendants of Gust Delander have all continued to use this spelling. An unconfirmed  explanation for this spelling change is that there had been a falling out between Gust and his  brothers. Making the spelling change would distance Gust & Olga from the majority of the family.

John, Mike, Gust & Hannah's father, mother, sister Ingrid, and half-sister Ida remained and died in Sweden. Half-sister Hilda, immigrated to America in 1905 -- I have not researched her. There are relatives still living in Sweden which I will gather data on at some point in the future.

***FAMILY MEDICAL NOTES: Descendants should be aware of 3 particular INHERITED family medical  issues: 
  
                   1) Heart Disease 
                   2) Hereditary Ataxia (a genetic neuro-muscular disease)                  
                   3) Retinitis Pigmentosa (a genetic degenerative eye disease leading to blindness)