I found a relative in a census with her married name of Olsen. Petra Olsen B. 1852 somewhere in Norway. I have no idea. Census says she emigrated from Norway in 1871. I found a Massachusetts marriage record that lists her surname, however it is difficult to see what it reads. It may be Thylyir, Thyhjer. I just can't tell. The closest Norwegian name I can come up with is Thygesen? I don't know anything about Norwegian surnames. Perhaps someone can solve my mystery. Thank you so much for your attention and time. - Karen

It almost looks like Thykjær, and could also be spelled Tykjær
Could be Danish though.

Is there any other information you know about her? Which censuses have your found her in.

Is this Petra on the 1900 census?
It shows an Aug. 1852 birth.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9R1-JL3

name: Petra Olsen
titles & terms:
event: Census
event date: 1900
event place: ED 716 Cambridge city Ward 4, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
birth date: Aug 1852
birthplace: Norway
relationship to head of household: Head
father's birthplace: Norway
mother's birthplace: Norway
race or color (standardized): White
gender: Female
marital status: Widowed
years married:
estimated marriage year:
mother how many children: 3
number living children: 3
immigration year: 1871
page: 11
sheet letter: B
family number: 240
reference number: 51
film number: 1240657
digital folder number: 004113842
image number: 00609
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Petra Olsen F 48 Norway
son Walter Olsen M 19 New York
son William A Olsen M 17 Massachusetts
son Arthur Olsen M 13 Massachusetts

the 1910 census adds one more item of information. Petra A. Olsen.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M227-H7Q

name: Petra A Olsen
birthplace: Norway
relationship to head of household: Self
residence: Boston Ward 20, Suffolk, Massachusetts
marital status: Widowed
race : White
gender: Female
immigration year: 1871
father's birthplace: Norway
mother's birthplace: Norway
family number: 172
page number: 8
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self Petra A Olsen F 57y Norway
son Walter E Olsen M 29y New York
Alice Olsen F 23y Canada
Elinor Y Olsen F 3y Massachusetts
son Charles E Olsen M 25y Massachusetts
son Arthur Olsen M 22y Massachusetts

1880 census?
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZ6N-LZ1

name : Petra Olsn
event: Census
event date: 1880
event place: New York, New York, New York, United States
gender: Female
age: 28
marital status : Married
occupation : Keeping House
race or color (original) :
ethnicity (standardized) : American
relationship to head : Wife
birthplace : Norway
birthdate : 1852
spouse's name : William Olsn
spouse's birthplace : Norway
father's name :
father's birthplace : Norway
mother's name :
mother's birthplace : Norway
page : 476
page character : D
entry number : 5718
nara film number : T9-0884
gs film number : 1254884
digital folder number: 004242252
image number: 00672
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self William Olsn M 28 Norway
wife Petra Olsn F 28 Norway
daughter Carry Olsn F 4 Massachusetts, United States

All three censuses do clearly indicate Norway.
As do some birth records.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXDV-G7F
and click on View Image.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FX84-PQC
and click on View Image

Hi

I would think this is her born 31. aug 1852 and baptized 16. jan. 1853 in Aker church, Oslo.
Her parents were shipscaptain P. N. Thykier and wife Olava C.
No 14:
Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=7698&i...
Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20061108040106....

Vivi

Hi

When a sister of Petra is born we learn the given name of their father = Peter.

The sister is Hanna Marie born 7. des. 1847 and baptized 30. jan 1848 in Gamlebyen, Oslo.
Parents: Peter Thykjer and Olava Christine Olsen.
No 3:
Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=7704&i...
Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20061109010443....

Vivi

Hi

Peter Nicolay Thykier and Olava Christine Olsen were married 17. dec. 1845 in Aker church, Oslo.
No 138:
Permanent sidelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=570&id...
Permanent bildelenke: http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20060301050467....

He was born around 1811 in Drammen. His father was also Peter Nicolay Thykier.
She was born arund 1823 in Aker. Her father was Ole Olsen.

Vivi

Hi! I don't know anything else about her. This is a tree I researched for a friend. Petra is her great grandmother. I only found her by working backwards with the census' and marriage record for one of her sons, Charles Edward Olsen. I believe I have found her in 1880, 1900, and 1910 census records.

Thank you for the spelling variations. I am trying to find any immigration records there may be for her.

Thank you TarynMN, for taking the time to do this research! Yes, I believe all those records are the Petra I am investigating. I did already find all of them, BUT I am so appreciative of your time! Perhaps her father was Danish, as you mentioned her last name may indicate that. Thank you again.

Vivi,
What can I say? Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your investigating! I did not imagine that I would learn so much about Petra. You are the BEST!
Karen

Hi Vivi - Yes, thank you. I thought the last name may have been Thykier, but in researching the name I found the spelling to be Danish. So I sort of disregarded my initial conclusion. But in doing more research I see that Norway and Denmark have very close ties. I believe Norway was in union with Denmark from 1537 to 1814? That would correspond to Petra's father's birth I think?

Thank you so much. I have learned so much since joining ancestry. I appreciated you helping adding to my knowledge!