10 Swedish Last Names You Must Know

Sweden has a rich history when it comes to last names. From the age of Vikings, Sweden has some of the most exciting names on the planet. Mostly, Swedish names are based on the father’s first name.

The majority of the Swedish last names end with -son. This is a common name which you can find at least one of them on every other door. Whether you look at apartment doors or mailboxes, you are certain to find -son on them. Another common Swedish name that does not end with -son is Lindberg and Lindgren.

If you want to know what these names mean, read further below to find out. We will also teach you how to pronounce these names to make them convenient for you. Here is a list of 10 Swedish last names you must know. This list is sure to help you find a fascinating Swedish last name if you are looking for one.

10. Gustafsson

Alexander Gustafsson

Meaning

The meaning of Gustafsson is quite interesting if you think about it. The tribal chiefs thought that the name is akin to “Goths” and “Geat” – the tribe where the great Beowulf belonged. If translated literally, the name means ‘staff of Goths or staff of Geats.

Origin

Gustafsson is derived from the Old Norse name “Gustav”. It is composed of the tribal name Gaut and the word staf – meaning a staff. The suffix -son can be translated as “son of”.

Pronunciation

The pronunciation can be quite difficult for some people. To properly pronounce this name, you must say ‘guh-stuhf-son’.

9. Svensson

Swedish Footballer Anders Svensson

Meaning

There is an interesting history behind this name. Since most of Svensson’s were in the laborer class or cooks, this name means ‘servant’ or ‘boy’. The majority of males named Svensson were either Draftsman or Laborers. While females were Cooks or Houseworkers.

Origin

Svensson is originated from the Old Norse name ‘Sveinn’ – meaning boy.

Pronunciation

To pronounce this name easily, you must break it into three sections ‘Sa-ven-son’

8. Persson

Famous Game Programmer: Markus Persson

Meaning

Persson is the eighth most common last name in Sweden. It is considered as a patronymic surname which – when translated – means “Son of Per”. There have been many historical figures with this name, but the most famous nowadays is Markus Persson – creator of Minecraft.

Origin

Persson is a Scandinavian name mostly originating from Sweden. It is a common surname in Sweden.

Pronunciation

This name can be a bit difficult to pronounce since it is spelled like ‘person’ but sounds like ‘Pash-on’.

7. Olsson

Jon Olsson

Meaning

Olsson is another common surname in Sweden. When translated literally, it means ‘son of Olof’ Most of the Olsson’s were either farmers or Carpenters.

Origin

This name is a patronymic from the short form of Ulrich. Olsson can be considered as a contraction of the surname ‘Olofsson’. Many Vikings had the name of Olsson.

Pronunciation

To pronounce this name, you must say ‘Ol-son’.

6. Bjork

Icelandic Singer: Bjork

Meaning

Bjork is a Swedish surname that, when translated means ‘birch’. It is commonly a name that is given to Icelandic girls since birch is a common tree there.

Origin

It is a name that is most commonly used in Iceland and Sweden. Bjork is originated from the Old Norse word ‘birch’. The earliest documented usage of this name dates back to 1921-1930 Iceland.

Pronunciation

Since this is not a common name, many people can have problems pronouncing it. To properly say Bjork, you must say ‘Bee-yerk’.

5. Nordin

Jesper Nordin, the Swedish Composer

 Meaning

The meaning of Nordin is simple. It is the word for North in Old Norse. Sometimes it can come with suffixes that link it to geographical locations. An example of this would be Nordindahl – meaning Northern Valley.

Origin

The origin of this name is an interesting one. It not only is a popular Swedish name; it also is the most “Nordic” name. Nordin originally came from the Old Norse word for North. You can find this surname all over Sweden.

Pronunciation

This name can be a little tricky for some people. However, we are here to tell you how to pronounce it so do not worry. It is pronounced as “Nor-Dean”.

4. Lundgren

Hollywood Megastar: Dolph Lundgren

Meaning

This is an ornamental surname composed of Lund ‘grove’ + gren ‘branch’. The people named Lundgren were mostly farmers, salesmen, and laborers. It is similar to the common Swedish name “Lindgren” and “Landgren”.

Origin

Lundgren has Scandinavian roots. This name is connected to the Dithmarsch region where there is a town named Lunden.

Pronunciation

Despite seeming straightforward to pronounce, this name isn’t that simple. To say it properly, you must say ‘Lyund-Gre-En’. This can be difficult to pronounce but with enough practice, you’ll get the hang of it.

3. Johansson

Swedish politician: Ylva Johansson

Meaning

This is the most common Swedish family name – only behind Andersson. When translated, this name means ‘Son of John’. Before the 1900s, surnames were not common in Sweden. Eventually, when surnames gained popularity, people started using “son of”. This is why you find -son to be the most common name in Sweden.

Origin

Johansson is derived from the name Johan, the Scandinavian form of the English name John.

Pronunciation

Many people pronounce this wrong as they say ‘Jo-han-son’ whereas, in reality, you have to pronounce it as ‘yo-HAN-sen’

2. Kjellberg

Famous Swedish Youtuber:  Felix Kjellberg (Pewdiepie)

Meaning

Kjellberg has a beautiful meaning when translated because it is an ornamental name that means Kjel ‘Spring’ + berg ‘mountain or hill’. So, when you combine the name, it means mountains in spring. PewDiePie is like one of those things you must do in Sweden at some point.

Origin

Kjellberg is a name that is derived from the name ‘Kall’. It is not a common name and is only found in Sweden. Kjellberg was originated from the Old Norse ‘Spring + Hill’.

Pronunciation

Felix Kjellberg has a massive following on Youtube so people are curious how to pronounce his name. We included this name in our list to make it easier for you to do so. It is pronounced as ‘Shell-berg’ or ‘cheyll-berg’.

1. Andersson

Famous Swedish Footballer: Sebastian Andersson

Meaning

By far the most common name in all of Sweden, we just had to include this in our list. Andersson means “Son of Andrew” – which is itself derived from the Greek name Andreas meaning “man”. In English-speaking counties, this name is rendered as Anderson – which has the same meaning.

Origin

This surname originated in the British Isles and the Nordic countries. It first started appearing in Scotland in the 14th century.

Pronunciation

To avoid embarrassing situations you must learn to pronounce this name because it is the most common surname in Sweden. The name is fairly easy to pronounce. The correct pronunciation is “An-Der-Son”.

Swedish names have a fascinating blend of history, occupations, and personal characteristics. Whether you are looking for a unique surname for your newborn or just interested in Swedish last names, this list will help you choose the perfect one.

If you are looking to travel to Sweden, here is a list of 10 things you must do over there. Please let us know which name you found most interesting in the comments below.

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Jordan Frode

I’m Jordan Frode from Stockholm, an avid columnist, who has been in the business for 5 years. My expertise are straightforwardly identified with reporting various topics across Sweden and Europe.