The name is derived from an ancient story. As told by Jens Ness b. 1872:
“A bear came across Ulvingrenda hamlet, crossed Leirdalen valley and came past Ness-sand, where a boy herded the cattle at Ness. The bear killed a heifer which he started eating. Eventually, a lot of people gathered there and the bear was chased over the “hallaren”, across the Bjønndalen valley and on top of this plateau.”
It is not known whether they killed it there, shot him or scared him over the cliff.
This is supposedly the last bear seen in the village.