The Kjesrud family can date ownership of the old Kjesrud gaard (farm) in Østfold, Norway, back to 1635. Several branches of the family moved to North America in the 1800s. This history of the Kjesrud family contains historical and genealogical information, reproductions of photographs, and personal reminiscences.

The author of this work is Joseph O. Rude, and it is based in part on research conducted by Professor Helge Frøyseth of Norway. As of the compilation date of this manuscript (circa 1967), the Kjesrud Gaard remains in the family as it has since 1635 when it was purchased by Halle Guldbrandson from Botner in Høiland. When he bought Kjesrud he took that name as was customary at the time. There are actually three gaards, the main one, the South Kjesrud, and the North Kjesrud.

Joseph Rude's grandfather Arne Nilson took his family and left Norway for America in 1867. Rude's grandfather Glørud left with his family in 1872. When he applied for citizenship, he dropped the "Glø" prefix from his name and became known as Johannes Rud.