tjenestefamilie
Tjenestefamilie, literally “servant family,” is a term used in Scandinavian historical and genealogical literature to describe a family that is employed as domestic staff by a larger household, estate, or institution. The concept emphasizes the kin-based unit that forms part of the employer’s household economy, often living on the premises and performing duties such as cooking, cleaning, maintenance, childcare, and sometimes farm or estate work.
A typical tjenestefamilie consisted of a married couple and their children, who grew up within the household
The phenomenon was common on manors, farms, and urban households in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden from the
Social dynamics of a tjenestefamilie were hierarchical and paternalistic, with living arrangements creating a distinct social