The word "rorbu" is derived from the Norwegian words "ror" (rowing a fishing boat) and "bu" (to live or stay); i.e. the accommodations in the fishing village where visiting fishermen lived while they were staying here to fish from their rowing boats. The first permanent accommodations in the fishing villages were probably turf huts. The oldest "rorbu" cabins consisted of a wooden room approx. 4 x 4 metres and a "hallway" or porch of the same width but often smaller. They had a fireplace and an earthen floor.

The squires established themselves and grew more powerful throughout the 1800's. In order to bind the fishermen to their fishing stations and thereby ensure the supply of fish, this "new nobility" built a large amount of rorbu cabins. These cabins served a number of purposes. The fishermen made their food there, they ate and slept there, dried their clothes, baited long-lines and repaired their nets there. As soon as a boat arrived in the fishing village, the skipper had to pay a visit to the squire in order to secure a rorbu cabin.

The strong position of the squire as rorbu owner, fish buyer and merchant was in some cases abused, and the fishermen often felt exploited and unfree. But even though the squires were intent on earning money, they were also socially aware, helping the resident fishermen's families and the visiting fishermen when they could. The fishermen and the squires had common interests: if the fishing went well, the squire also benefited. The squire supplied the fishermen with food and fishing gear, and often owned their boats, too.