soknamaþer (OSw) sokneman (ODan) soknamenn (pl.) (OGu) sóknarmaðr (ON) soknamæn (pl.) (OSw) noun

Ultimately derived from the verb ODan søkje, ON sǿkja, OSw sökia ‘to seek’ in its various legal senses. In ODan, ONorw and OSw referring to parishioners (cf. sokn). In OIce referring to an official in the service of a local authority (valdsmaðr, see valdsmaþer, or sýslumaðr, see sysluman) prosecuting those who failed to meet their commune obligations (tithes, food gifts) and overseeing oaths. The sóknarmenn need not be landowners (Grg Hrs) and their numbers in each hreppr (‘commune’) or fjórðungr (‘quarter’, see fiarþunger) were specified.

commission from the parish OSw DL Bb
man of the parish ODan SkL 70
OSw ÄVgL Kkb
OSw KrL Kgb Bb Kmb Tb
OSw MEL Kgb Bb Kmb Tb
OSw SdmL Kkb, Bb
OSw YVgL Kkb, Add
parish man OSw KrL DbII
OSw MEL DbII
OSw MESt DbII
OSw ÖgL Kkb
parish men ODan VSjL 73
OSw DL Kkb, Mb, Bb
parishioner ONorw FrL KrbA 14
parishioners OGu GL A 3, 8, 16, 24d, 26, 28, 30, 39, 41, 44, 45a, Add. 2 (B 17)
OSw HL Kkb, Mb, Rb
OSw SmL
OSw UL Kkb, Mb, Jb, Blb
OSw VmL Kkb, Mb, Kmb, Bb
prosecutor OIce Grg Hrs 234
OIce Jó Þfb 2 Sg 2
OIce Js Mah 13, 31 Lbb 15 Kab 1, 4 Þjb 2, 6 Refs:

Cleasby and Vigfusson s.v.v. sókn, sóknar-maðr; Fritzner s.v. sóknarmaðr; Hertzberg s.v. sóknarmaðr; Schlyter s.v. soknamæn