Perekonnaajaloo foorum

My father has said that somewhere on his mothers side there is supposed to be a danish branch of the family tree.
(All of my dad´s ancestors are born in Estonia otherwise.)

I just found out that my fathers mothers mother was of a greek-orthodox family (surname Kärk),
so I don´t think it can be on her side.

But my dad´s mothers fathers surname is Dorbek (earlier spelled Torbek). My dad thinks it sounds danish, but I think it sounds estonian.
Does it have an estonian ring to it or does it sound foreign to you?

Dorbek sounds estonian http://www.ra.ee/dgs/addon/nimreg/resul ... _fr=&e_to=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and Torbek too http://www.ra.ee/dgs/addon/nimreg/resul ... r=0&e_to=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Estonian surnames are not supposed to hear estonian - they were sometimes given by germans, sometimes given by farm name, but by non-estonian people and so on (we have alot of -bergs and -manns and -baums here, some names survived even into 21st century). Many names were later made look a bit more estonian.
Neither 'Kärk' or 'Torbek' sound too estonian anyway

Orthodox families can have any roots either, especially in selected parts of Estonia (South-West and Saaremaa), where orthodox religion had more impact.
Well, I'd look along Torbek branch too, but it would be preferred only by little margin.

And sometimes these legends are just legends. I was told to have one of my grand-grandfather moved here from some southern part Russland - actually all his branch was originated from central Estonia, at least so far their roots could be traced.

Do you have any idea, about when supposed danish ancestry was moved into Estonia?

No unfortunately I have no idea when they were supposed to be danish. It´s just something my grandfather told my father about my grandmother. After she had died and before I was born... So not that many clues to go by!

From other side, Kärk (Kerk, Kaerk) may even sound more scandinavian. Nothing to do, you have to just dive into history and find older and older generations to find danish connection.