Vestre Toten

Vestre Toten is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Toten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Raufoss.

General information

Name

The name comes from the Old Norse word Þótn. The meaning of Toten is unknown (maybe "the pleasant district"). The meaning of the name Vestre Toten is "(the) western (part of) Toten". (The parish of Toten was divided in 1825.)

Coat-of-arms

The coat of arms were granted on 3 May 1991. The arms show two silver knives on a green background. They are a typical type of knife from the area (the special "Toten-knives"). It symbolizes the long tradition of wood carving. The arms were designed by Inge Rotevatn.

History

According to the sagas, Halfdan Hvitbeinn (Whiteleg) was the first Yngling in Norway. He conquered Romerike, part of Hedmark, part of Vestfold, and Toten. He was killed in Toten around the year 740.

In 1021, according to saga, King Olaf (reigned 1015-1028) converted Toten to Christianity. Also, King Håkon IV (reigned 1217–1263) came to Toten around the year 1226 to settle local unrest.