110+ Famous Swedish Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings

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Names that show where someone’s family comes from or the natural features of an area, with a nod to the beauty of the environment.

Prior to the 19th century, Swedish surnames or last names were not common because they were based on the father’s name or paternal ancestor’s surname. This system involved adding a prefix or suffix to create a new surname for the next generation. However, soldiers, clergy members, and nobility started using non-patronymic surnames. Around the late 19th century, surnames started changing to reflect where a person lived or their occupation. In the 17th and 18th centuries, middle-class individuals began adopting ornamental surnames made up of two parts, with the first part usually being a farm name or a geographical feature. Check out our list of Swedish surnames or last names and their meanings in this post.

Famous Swedish Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings

  1. Abramson

This Swedish surname means ‘son of Abram or Abraham from the Bible’ and is a different form of the surname ‘Abram’ passed down from a father to his son.

  1. Ahlberg

This Swedish last name from Sweden is made up of the words ‘al,’ which means ‘alder,’ and ‘berg,’ which means ‘mountain.’

  1. Ahlgren

This Swedish last name is made up of the words ‘al,’ which means ‘alder,’ and ‘gren,’ which means ‘branch.’

  1. Ahlin

The surname is Swedish and is made up of the words ‘al,’ meaning ‘alder,’ and ‘in,’ from the Latin word ‘inus’ or ‘inius’ meaning ‘descendant of.’ It could have originated from a topographic description, inspired by a significant alder tree nearby.

  1. Ahlman

This is a decorative Swedish surname made up of the prefix ‘al,’ which stands for ‘alder,’ and ‘man,’ which means ‘man.’ In several parts of Germany, it is known as a topographic last name that refers to a person who lives in a swamp.

  1. Ahlquist

This decorative Swedish last name is made up of two words, ‘al’ meaning ‘alder,’ and ‘quist,’ an old version of ‘kvist,’ meaning ‘twig.’

  1. Ahlstorm

The surname is decorative, made up of ‘al,’ representing ‘alder,’ and ‘storm,’ referring to ‘river.’

  1. Akerman

This Swedish last name is of Swedish origin and is a variation of Ackermann. It is made up of the word ‘aker,’ which translates to ‘field,’ and ‘man’ which means ‘man.’

  1. Akerson

This Swedish last name is part of a few Swedish names that end with ‘son’ but does not indicate a father’s name. Instead, it is a decorative name made up of ‘aker’ which means ‘field’ and ‘son’ which means ‘son.’

  1. Almstedt

The Swedish surname ‘Almstedt’ comes from the Swedish words for ‘elm’ and’town.’

  1. Andersson

The Swedish last name Andersson comes from the Greek name Andreas, which means ‘man’ or ‘manly.’ It signifies being the son of Anders or Andrew. In Sweden, Andersson is a very popular Swedish surname.

  1. Allinder

This surname is popular in Sweden and is made up of two parts: ‘al,’ for alder, and ‘aner,’ meaning man in Greek.

  1. Alvin

This is a fancy Swedish surname made up of the parts ‘alv,’ which means ‘elf,’ and the ending ‘in.’

  1. Ameen

The surname is of Swedish origin. The first part’ame’ may refer to a place. The second part’en’ comes from the Latin word’enius,’ which means ‘related to.’

  1. Anderberg

The last name is decorative and made of two parts – ‘ander,’ which likely comes from the Greek word ‘andros’ meaning ‘man,’ and ‘berg,’ meaning ‘mountain.’

  1. Anfinson

An often seen last name in Sweden and Norway, this surname comes from the words ‘arn’ (for eagle) and ‘finnr’ (for Finn, the Finnish people).

  1. Angermanland

The Swedish last name is a shorter version of the Latin name ‘angermannius,’ which refers to a man from Angermanland.

  1. Ansell

This Swedish surname is a combination of the names ‘ans’ and ‘ell,’ where ‘ans’ likely refers to a location and ‘ell’ is a suffix originating from the Latin word ‘elius’.

  1. Aslin

This Swedish surname comes from the words ‘as,’ which means ‘ridge,’ and ‘lin,’ a common ending in Swedish surnames.

  1. Asplund

This fancy Swedish last name comes from the words ‘asp,’ which means ‘aspen,’ and ‘lund,’ which means ‘grove.’

  1. Axelson

The Swedish surname ‘Axelson’ comes from the Norse name ‘Axel,’ meaning ‘divine source of life.’

  1. Backlund

The Swedish surname ‘Buckland’ is decorative and is made up of two parts: ‘back,’ which translates to ‘hill,’ and ‘lund,’ which means ‘grove.’

  1. Backman

The Swedish surname ‘Beckman’ is decorative and combines the words ‘back’ (referring to a hill) and ‘man’ (meaning a person).

  1. Beckius

This is a decorative Swedish surname made up of the words ‘back,’ which refers to ‘stream,’ and ‘ius,’ a suffix that is commonly used.

  1. Bergdahl

The Swedish surname ‘bergdal’ combines the words ‘berg’ (meaning mountain) and ‘dal’ (meaning valley).

  1. Berggren’s research focuses on studying the relationship between physical activity and health outcomes. The last name from Sweden is made up of two parts: ‘berg,’ which stands for ‘mountain,’ and ‘gren,’ which represents ‘branch.’ ‘Bergstedt is a place.’ This fancy last name from Sweden is made up of the words ‘berg,’ meaning ‘mountain,’ and ‘stedt,’ which might be a place name.
  2. Bergsten

It is a decorative Swedish last name made up of the words ‘berg,’ which means ‘mountain,’ and ‘sten,’ which means ‘stone.’

  1. Bergstrand

Bergstrand is a Swedish surname that potentially has multiple origins and meanings. The surname ‘Bergstrand’ is a combination of the words ‘berg,’ meaning mountain, and ‘strand,’ meaning shore.

  1. Birger

The Swedish last name from Sweden comes from the first name ‘Birger,’ which means ‘someone who rescues, defends, or assists.’

  1. Bjorklund

This last name comes from a place where ‘bjork’ means ‘birch’ and ‘lund’ means ‘grove.’

  1. Bjornberg

This is a fancy Swedish surname that means ‘bear mountain.’

  1. Bjurstrom

This decorative Swedish surname comes from the words ‘bjur’ meaning ‘beaver’ and ‘strom’ meaning ‘river.’

  1. Blaustein

This Swedish last name comes from German roots and has two parts. The first part, ‘blau,’ means ‘blue,’ while the second part, ‘stein,’ means ‘stone.’

  1. Blixt

It could be used as the surname for a soldier or as a decorative name. This Swedish surname means ‘bolt of lightning.’

  1. Blomberg

It is a decorative last name, with ‘blom’ representing ‘flower or bloom’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’

  1. Blomgren

This Swedish last name is made up of two parts:’blom,’ which means’flower or bloom,’ and ‘gren,’ which means’branch.’

  1. Boberg

The surname ‘Boberg’ comes from the words ‘bo’ meaning ‘dwelling’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’

  1. Bodeen

This surname comes from the word ‘bod,’ meaning a small hut and the suffix’en,’ which represents’genius’ in Latin. It could also indicate a place where someone lives.

  1. Bolling

It is a fancy surname made up of ‘boll,’ which means ‘belonging to,’ and the ending ‘ing.’ It could also be a name based on a place where someone lives.

  1. Boman

It might be a fancy surname because it combines the words ‘bo,’ which means ‘dwelling,’ and ‘man,’ which means ‘man.’ It could also be a last name based on someone’s location, indicating they lived on a remote homestead.

  1. Branting

This Swedish surname may have originated from a place where people lived. The word ‘brant’ refers to a steep hill, and ‘ing’ is a typical ending for Swedish last names.

  1. Bratt

This Swedish last name comes from an ancient Norse name ‘Brattr’ which means ‘majestic’ or ‘proud’.

  1. Broberg

This surname is a combination of two parts, ‘bro’ which means ‘bridge’ and ‘berg’ which means ‘mountain.’

  1. Brunell

It is an decorative surname made up of the word ‘brun’ which means ‘brown,’ and the ending ‘ell’ that comes from the Latin word ‘elius.’

  1. Callander

This might be a version of the name ‘Karl,’ which means ‘man,’ combined with ‘ander,’ a decorative ending stemming from the Greek words ‘aner’ or ‘andros.’

  1. Carby

This might be a name for a place where people live in Sweden. It comes from the words ‘karl,’ which means ‘freeman,’ and ‘byr,’ which means’village.’

  1. Cederholm

The surname ‘Cedarholm’ is decorative and combines the words ‘cedar’ and ‘island.’

  1. Clarin

The surname ‘Clarin’ may have originated from ‘klar,’ which means ‘clear,’ and the suffix ‘inus’ comes from Latin meaning ‘descendant of.’

  1. Cornell

This Swedish surname comes from Latin and means ‘horn.’ It could also be a last name used by soldiers.

  1. Cronquist

The last name is decorative and is made up of ‘kron,’ which stands for ‘crown,’ and ‘quist,’ an old form of ‘kvist,’ which means ‘twig.’

  1. Dahl

The last name is common in Sweden and comes from an ancient Norse word meaning ‘valley.’ One famous person with this last name is Roald Dahl, known for writing books such as Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

  1. Dahmen

The last name is made up of two parts. The first part, ‘Dahm,’ might be a location name, and the ending ‘en’ comes from the Latin word ‘enius,’ which means ‘related to.’

  1. Dahlberg

This Swedish last name is also a decorative name. The first part, ‘dal,’ stands for ‘valley,’ while the second part, ‘berg,’ stands for ‘mountain.’

  1. Degn

This Swedish last name comes from a job name ‘degn,’ meaning ‘deacon,’ which comes from the Latin word ‘diaconus,’ meaning ‘servant.’

  1. Ekholm

This fancy surname is made up of two parts: ‘ek,’ which means ‘oak,’ and ‘holm,’ which means ‘island.’

  1. Ekbald

The name ‘Oakleaf’ is a decorative name made up of the words ‘ek,’ which stands for ‘oak,’ and ‘blad,’ which means ‘leaf.’

  1. Ekstrand

This fancy surname comes from the words ‘ek,’ which stands for ‘oak,’ and ‘strand,’ which means ‘shore.’

  1. Eld

This last name from Sweden comes from the Old Norse name ‘eldr,’ which translates to ‘flame’ or ‘fire.’

  1. Elg

The Swedish last name is decorative and comes from the word ‘alg’, which translates to ‘moose’.

  1. Eliasson

This is a name that comes from ‘Elias,’ a name used by a prophet in the Bible.

  1. Elm

The surname is decorative and comes from the word ‘alm(e),’ which refers to a group of elm trees.

  1. Enberg

This name might be for decoration because it comes from the words ‘en,’ which means ‘juniper,’ and ‘berg,’ which means ‘mountain.’

  1. Eriksson

It is a Swedish last name that comes from the father’s name Erik. The name Eric is made up of ‘ei,’ meaning ‘one, alone, unique,’ and ‘rikr,’ which means ‘king’ or ‘ruler.’

  1. Fager

This is likely a fancy surname or a variation of another name. It translates to ‘attractive’ or ‘pretty.’

  1. Fahlgren

This surname is a combination of the words ‘fal,’ which refers to a plain or open space, and ‘gren,’ which means branch, used for decoration or living purposes.

  1. Ferm

This surname might come from a Swedish word meaning ‘farm,’ which can also mean ‘prompt’ or ‘ready.’

  1. Flink

The Swedish surname ‘flink’ translates to ‘quick,’ ‘agile,’ or ‘nimble.’ It may have been a name used by a group of peasants who served in the army and passed down to their descendants.

  1. Floren

This fancy surname comes from the word ‘flor,’ which means ‘flower’ and the suffix ‘en’ comes from the Latin word ‘enius,’ which means ‘related to.’

  1. Grahn

There are two possible explanations for the surname ‘Grahn.’ One is that it comes from the word ‘gran,’ meaning ‘spruce.’ The other is that it could be named after a specific location called Gran.

  1. Granat

This surname might come from the word ‘granat,’ which means ‘grenade’ or ‘shell,’ and could be used by a soldier.

  1. Grendahl

The Swedish surname Grenadahl is decorative and consists of two parts. The first part, ‘gren,’ translates to ‘branch,’ while the second part, ‘dahl,’ means ‘valley.’

  1. Gullickson

This last name comes from the personal name ‘Gullik’, which originated from the Old Norse name ‘Gudleikr’ made up of ‘gud’ meaning ‘God’ and ‘leikr’ meaning ‘fight’ or ‘struggle’.

  1. Gunnarson

Gunnarson is a last name that comes from the first name ‘Gunnar,’ which originated from an Old Norse name Gunnarr. Gunnarr is made up of the parts ‘gunn,’ meaning ‘battle,’ and ‘arr,’ meaning ‘warrior.’

  1. Hagberg

This might just be a fancy surname made up of the words ‘hage,’ which means ‘enclosure,’ and ‘berg,’ which means ‘hill.’

  1. Hammar

This is a surname that comes from a place called ‘hamarr,’ which is an Old Norse word meaning ‘crag’ or ‘cliff.’

  1. Hassel

This Swedish surname may come from the Swedish word ‘hassel,’ meaning ‘hazel,’ as a decorative choice. It could also be a surname based on a place with the term ‘Hassel.’

  1. Hedberg

This decorative Swedish surname is made up of two parts: ‘hed’ means ‘heath’ or ‘moor,’ and ‘berg’ means ‘hill.’

  1. Helen

This surname is a decorative Swedish name made up of the words ‘hall,’ meaning ‘rock’ or ‘stone,’ and the suffix ‘en,’ which comes from the Latin word ‘enius.’

  1. Hannson

This last name comes from the first name ‘Hans,’ which means ‘the Lord is gracious.’ Hansson means ‘son of Hans.’

  1. Ingerman

This Swedish surname originates from a region called Ingermanland (Ingria), located between Finland and Russia.

  1. Isberg

This fancy surname combines the words ‘ice’ and ‘mountain.’

  1. Jansson

This Swedish surname comes from the first name ‘jan, which is a short form of ‘Johannes.’

  1. Johansson

This is a very common Swedish last name, second only to Anderson. It is a name that means ‘son of Johan’, following the tradition of using the father’s first name as a last name.

  1. Kallgren

This fancy surname is made up of the parts ‘kalla,’ which translates to ‘spring’ or ‘source,’ and ‘gren,’ which means ‘twig.’

  1. Kalmar

The Swedish last name comes from a place called ‘Kalmar,’ a seaport across from Oland island.

  1. Karlsson

This last name is frequently found in Sweden and is a name that indicates someone is the son of Karl. It can also be spelled as Carlsson.

  1. Kindell

The last name comes from the word ‘kind,’ meaning ‘family’ or ‘tribe,’ and the ending ‘ell’ comes from the Latin word ‘elius.’

  1. Kjellberg

The surname ‘Kallaberg’ is made up of the words ‘kalla,’ which translates to ‘spring,’ and ‘berg,’ which means ‘mountain.’

  1. Kronholm

The name is decorative and is made up of the words ‘kron,’ which means ‘Crown,’ and ‘holm,’ which means ‘inlet’ or ‘island.’

  1. Kvistad

This surname may have originated from the place Kvistad or it could be a decorative name made up of the words ‘twig’ and ‘town.’

  1. Lagergren

This decorative surname is made up of the parts ‘lager,’ which stands for ‘laurel,’ and ‘gren,’ which stands for ‘branch.’

  1. Landberg

This fancy Swedish surname is made up of two parts. The first part, ‘land,’ means ‘land,’ and the second part, ‘berg,’ means ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’

  1. Landin

This last name from Sweden has two parts: ‘land’ which means ‘land’ in English, and a suffix commonly used in Swedish last names coming from the Latin word ‘inius,’ which means ‘descendant of.’

  1. Levander

This last name from Sweden has a variety of different origins. One explanation is that a priest from the 19th century chose an ornamental name inspired by his home farm, Hjartungen, where ‘Hjarta’ means ‘heart’ and is translated as ‘lev’ in Hebrew. The suffix ‘ander’ comes from the Greek word ‘andr’ which means ‘man.’ Another explanation is that it comes from Levene, a location in the Vastergotland region.

  1. Liden

It is a fancy surname made up of two parts; the first part ‘lid’ means ‘hill,’ and the ending ‘en’ comes from the Latin word ‘enius.’

  1. Lilijedahl

The Swedish last name is made up of two parts: ‘lilije,’ which means ‘lilly,’ and ‘dahl,’ an earlier version of ‘dal,’ which means ‘valley.’

  1. Lindbeck

The Swedish surname ‘Lindbeck’ comes from the words ‘lind,’ meaning lime tree, and ‘beck,’ meaning stream.

  1. Lindborg

This surname is decorative and is made up of the words ‘lind,’ which refers to a lime tree, and ‘borg,’ which means ‘castle’.

  1. Lindgren

The name ‘Lindgren’ is decorative and comes from the words ‘lind’ meaning ‘lime tree’ and ‘gren’ meaning ‘branch’.

  1. Lundeen

This last name from Sweden is a fancy name made up of the word ‘lund,’ which means ‘grove,’ and the ending ‘een’ comes from the Latin word ‘enius.’

  1. Lundholm

The last name is decorative and comes from the words ‘lund’ which means ‘grove’ and ‘holm’ which means ‘island.’

  1. Mahlberg

The first part of this last name could come from a fancy version of the word ‘mal,’ which means ‘gravel’ in a place name. The second part, ‘berg,’ means ‘mountain.’

  1. Malmberg

The fancy surname ‘Malmburg’ comes from the words ‘malm’ (ore) and ‘berg’ (mountain).

  1. Mathiason

This surname comes from ‘Mathias,’ which is the Swedish version of ‘Matthew.’ It is a surname based on the father’s first name.

  1. Moberg

This is a fancy name or a surname based on the landscape made up of the words ‘mo,’ which refers to ‘sandy heath,’ and ‘berg,’ which means ‘mountain.’

  1. Mogren

The name is decorative and made up of the words ‘mo,’ which refers to ‘sandy heath,’ and ‘gren,’ which means ‘branch.’

  1. Mossberg

This fancy Swedish last name is made up of the words ‘mosse’ that refers to ‘peat bog,’ and ‘berg’ that means ‘mountain.’

  1. Naslund

This name is decorative or related to a specific location, made up of the words ‘nas,’ meaning ‘narrow strip of land,’ and ‘lund,’ meaning ‘grove.’

  1. Nordin

More than 10,000 people in Sweden have this surname, which is a typical Swedish last name. The name was created by combining the words ‘nord,’ meaning ‘north,’ and ‘in,’ which comes from the Latin word ‘inius’ and means ‘descendant of.’

  1. Nordman

The name is Swedish and made up of two parts: ‘nord’ meaning ‘north’ and ‘man’ meaning ‘man.’

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do Swedish last names typically have ‘son’ at the end?
In Swedish names, the suffix -son indicates ‘son’. This suffix is added after the father’s name. For example, Olofsson, Henriksson, Nilsson, Persson, Jonsson, Larsson, and Bengtsson are some examples of names with patronymic roots.
2. Is it common for Swedish men to adopt their wife’s surname after marriage?
Some men in Sweden choose to take their wife’s last name. However, there are no strict rules and couples can decide which last name to use together.
3. What sets Swedish last names apart from those in other European countries?
In Sweden, last names typically consist of two words. Like many other European nations, Swedish surnames were often based on a person’s occupation. But in Sweden, women did not change their last names when they got married. Instead, they kept their father’s name as their surname.
4. How did last names in Sweden develop over time?
Swedish last names typically come from ancestors’ names and often relate to nature or traits. Patronymic names gradually became permanent family names in Sweden in the early 1900s. These surnames were inherited through generations without consideration of the parents’ names or the gender of the children.

We hope you liked reading our list of Swedish surname or last names. Some surnames may have changed spellings over the years because clerks would spell them phonetically or based on their own understanding. This means you might see variations in how a surname is spelled. If you’re Swedish, try looking up your last name to discover its meaning.

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