What is "gjesling"

Gjesling (or Gjæsling) was an old family at Vågå in Oppland, Norway.

In 1130 Ivar Gjesling was the earliest-known owner of the farm Sandbu (just south of Vågåmo) in Vågå. He served as King Magnus IV's lendmann (governor) for the Opplands. Ivar Gjesling, allied himself with the Birchlegs ( Birkebeinerne) — who chose Sverre as their king at Øreting in 1177. Sverre granted him the valley of Heidal as a reward.

Sigrid Undset's fictional Lady Ragnfrid, wife of Lavrans, was create a Gjesling from Sandbu.

Gjesling descendants still own land in the Vågå region, Riddersandbu, which includes buildings built before 1600.