Niels' father is Amund Nielsen who lived near Ganderud, just south of Flå which is on the south shore of the river flowing into Lake Krøderen (which itself drains into Oslofjorden). Thus Niels' name is often written as Niels Amundsen Ganderud-plass (Niels, son of Amund from place Ganderud).

Similarly, Niels' sons Amund and Knud are named Nielsen Ganderud-plass. However, at some point--perhaps around 1872 when they declared their intentions to become U.S. citizens--they took the name Livdal (or Livdalen, or Livdahl).