Surname Pettersson - Meaning and Origin

Pettersson: What does the surname Pettersson mean?

The last name Pettersson is of Swedish origin and it translates to "son of Peter." It is a patronymic surname, a tradition in which part of a person's personal name is used as the familial name by their offspring. In this case, it specifically acknowledges paternity by using the father's given name to form the surname. The suffix "-son" in Swedish means 'son of', so "Pettersson" literally means "Peter's son." This surname speaks to the Scandinavian tradition of patrilineality - tracing kinship and inheritance through the male/father's side. Surnames following this format were common across Scandinavia until hereditary surnames became the norm. Today, Pettersson is still a fairly common surname in Sweden.

Pettersson: Where does the name Pettersson come from?

The last name Pettersson is a common Swedish surname, and can be found throughout Sweden, as well as other countries in Scandinavia and the Nordic region. It is also found in other parts of Europe, including Finland and the United Kingdom.

Pettersson is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name "Pelle." The name itself is of Old Swedish origin, meaning "son of Peter." Therefore, the name Pettersson is a common form of the patronymic, meaning "son of Petter."

Outside of Scandinavian countries, the surname Pettersson can be found in Canada, the United States, and Australia, indicating the presence of Swedish immigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is particularly common in areas with larger Scandinavian-American populations, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin in the United States.

Today, the surname Pettersson is growing in popularity, and has seen a rise in the number of registrations among residents in Sweden over the past two decades. As a result, the surname is becoming more widely used in many other countries, and as more Swedish families move to new locations, the name will gain further global exposure.

Variations of the surname Pettersson

The surname Pettersson is of Scandinavian origin and is commonly found in Sweden and Finland. It is derived from the given name ‘Petter’, which is the Swedish version of the name ‘Peter’. Variants of this surname include Pettersson, Petterson, Pettersen, Pettersdotter, Petterdatter, Petersson, Peterson, and Peterdatter. Alternate spellings of the surname include Pättersson, Pätterson, Pättersen, Pättersdotter, Pätterdatter, Petersson, Pederson, and Pedersdatter. Surnames derived from the same origin may include Severinsson, Severinson, Söderström, Søderstrøm, Jonsson, Jonsen, and Jonsdotter.

Pettersson generally refers to one of two distinct families: one coming from Jämtland province in Sweden and the other from Uppsala province in Sweden. The Uppsala family is the oldest known bearer of the name, and is found in Sweden as early as 1650. Both lines can be found in Finland, with Pettersson being one of the most common surnames there as well.

Pettersson is also a popular cognate surname in Norway, where it has many variants such as Pettersen, Pettersen, Pétursson, Petursson, Pedersen, Pederse, and Petsen, making it one of the most widespread surnames in the region. Curiously, there is some evidence of bearers of these surnames in the United States, though it is unknown how they became associated with the Pettersson family.

Regardless of its form or spelling, the Pettersson surname is ultimately a derivative of the given name Peter, a testament to its Scandinavian origins.

Famous people with the name Pettersson

• Oskar Pettersson: Swedish professional ice hockey player.
• Joakim Pettersson- Swedish sprinter and pentathlete.
• Alexander Pettersson: Swedish author.
• Sara Pettersson: Swedish singer and songwriter.
• Torsten Pettersson: Swedish actor.
• Alfred Pettersson: Swedish professional footballer.
• Ella Pettersson: Swedish actress.
• Simon Pettersson: Swedish actor and film director.
• Peter Pettersson: Swedish musician and songwriter.
• Jan Pettersson: Swedish football manager.
• Erik Pettersson: Swedish business person.
• Hervor Pettersson: Swedish actress and singer.
• Stig Pettersson: Swedish orienteering competitor.
• Gunnar Pettersson: Swedish Olympic equestrian.
• Joar Pettersson: Swedish professional ice hockey player.
• Astrid Pettersson: Swedish model.
• Jacob Pettersson: Swedish track and field athlete.
• Lisa Pettersson: Swedish singer and songwriter.
• Paul Pettersson: Swedish pole vaulter.
• Ann Pettersson: Swedish actress.

Other surnames

PettersPettersenPetterson