Scandinavia is a region of Northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Scandinavian surnames, like the strong historical, linguistic, and cultural ties that these regions have, have a lot in common. You’ve come to the right site if you’re seeking Scandinavian last names or surnames for your kid.
Scandinavians historically employed a patronymic naming system. Nobles were the first to adopt last names, followed by artisans, merchants, and clergy. With major patronyms and a suffix, last names were used. “-datter,” “-dorrit,” “-dotter,” “-sen,” “-sson,” “-son,” “-zon,” “-fen,” “-ler,” and “-zen” are some patronymic suffixes. For instance, Abrahamsen means “son of Abraham,” while Eva Niklasdatter means “Eva, Niklas’s daughter.”
In this post, we’ve compiled a list of common Scandinavian surnames and last names, along with their meanings and origins. So read on and make your decision!
- Roger(s)
- Rogerson
- Love
- Tall
- Rendall
- Short
- Long
- Wise
- Good
- MacAuliffe
- McLeod
- McAvoy
- McIvor
- McDowell
- Doyle
- Flett
- Halcro
- Linklater
- Scarth
- Heddle
Read More: Best Beautiful Names For Girls With Meaning
Norse Last Names Inspired By Nature
Surnames originating from the name of a location or topographical aspects of the land are known as toponymic surnames. If you’re seeking nature-inspired names, your quest is over. The following is a list of popular and unusual Norse surnames that are influenced by nature and the outdoors.
- Aaby ( Old Norse), is a name that contains the meanings “river”, and “farm”.
- Aakre (Old Norse), is a name that contains the element Akr which means “plowed field”.
- Aamodt (Old Norwegian), is a name that refers to a place where two rivers meet.
- Arud (Old Norwegian), is a name that contains the word “river”, and “clearing”.
- Aune (Old Norse), is a farm name that is found in many places in Norway. It originated from the word Aud which means “wasteland”.
- Bang (Old Norwegian), is a name that refers to people who lived on a farm found on a flat hill-top.
- Becken (Old English and Old Norse), it is a name that refers to the word “stream”.
- Calland (Old Norse), is a name that originates from the old Norse words that mean “calf”, and “land”. It is a name that usually belongs to one of the farmsteads in Norway.
- Dahl (Old Norse), is a name that contains the root word Dahl which means “valley”.
- Dale (Old Norse), is a name that has its origins in the word Dali which means “valley”. It refers to people who live in the valley, or on a farm.
- Dammen (Norwegian), is a name that comes from a place called Drammen, and the word Dam which means “pond”.
- Dybdahl (Norwegian), is a name that means “deep valley”.
- Ege (Old Norse), is a variant of Eike, and contains the word Eiki, which means “oak grove”.
- Elden (Old Norse), is a name that contains the word Eldr which means “flame”.
- Elstad (Old Norse), is a name that combines the female name Eldfridr, or the male name Eilifr with the word Stadr, which means “farmstead”.
- Enberg (Old Norse), is a name that has the element Einir meaning “juniper”, and Berg meaning “mountain”.
- Fadness (Norwegian), is a name that comes from the Hordaland county in Norway. The name contains the elements Ferga which means “to ferry”, and Nes which means “headland”.
- Falla (Norwegian), is a name that contains the word Fall which means “to fall”. It refers to a place that sees a lot of landslides.
- Fehn (Old Norse), is a name that is derived from the place called Fen in Norway, which means “meadow”.
- Fiske (Old Norse), is a name that contains the elements Fiskr meaning “fish” and Vin meaning “meadow”. It is likely an occupational name for fishermen.
- Flaa (Old Norse), is a name that means “plain” or “terrace”.
- Fure (Norwegian), is a name that means “pine” or “fir”.
- Gaarder (Old Norse), is a name that originated from the word Garder which means “farm”.
- Gill (Old Norse), is a name that means “ravine”.
- Granberg (Old Norse), is a name derived from the words Gran which means “spruce”, and Berg which means “hill”.
- Greseth (Old Norse), is a name derived from the words Grjot which means “stone”, and Setr which means “farmstead”.
- Hagen (Old Norse and Old Dutch), is a name derived from the word Hagi or Hugo which means “pasture”.
- Hoye (Old Norse), is a name that contains the element Hof which means “place of worship”.
- Ihle (Old Norse), is Norse surname that means “spring” or “well”. This would also make a lovely first name.
- Jahr (Old Norse), is a name for people who live in a place called Jar in Norway. It is derived from the word Jadarr which means “rim”, or “edge”.
- Kahlberg (Norwegian), is a name that comes from the words Kald meaning “cold”, and Berg meaning “mountain”.
- Kolden (Old Norse), is a name that comes from the word Kollr which means “rounded mountain top”.
- Kvam (Old Norse), is a name that means “small valley”.
- Lund (Old Norse), is a name that refers to a person living among a grove of trees, derived from the word Lundr which means “grove”.
- Manger (Old Norse), is Norse surname that come from the word Mar meaning “seagull” and Angr which means “ford”.
- Morken (Old Norse) is a name that comes from the word Mork which means “wood”.
- Narum (Old Norse), is a name derived from the elements Nr which means “narrow landscape” and Heir which means “home”.
- Nes (Norwegian origin), is Norse surname that has its origin in the word Nes which means “headland”.
- Odden (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the word Oddi which means “headland”.
- Omdahl (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the word Almdalr which means “elm valley”.
- Pollen (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the word Pollr which means “small bay”.
- Ranum (Ol Norse), is a variant of the Norse surnames Ranheimr and Randheimr, where Rani means “nose” and Heir means “home”.
- Rinde (Norwegian Origin), is a name that comes from Ring which means “ridge” or “bank”.
- Selland (Old Norse), is a name derived from Selja which means “willow”, and Land which means “farm”.
- Skagen (Old Norse), is a name that comes from the word Saki which means “headland”, or “promontory”.
- Solberg (Old Norse), is a name that has the elements Sol which means “sun”, and Berg meaning “mountain’.
- Tanberg (Old Norse), is a name that is derived from the words Thorn meaning “thorn” and Berg meaning “mountain”.
- Ulven (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the words Ulfr meaning “wolf” and Vin meaning “meadow”.
- Valen (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the word Vadill which means “ford”.
- Wahl (Old Norse), are Norse surnames that come from the word Vadill means “ford”, or “shallows”.
- Wang (Old High German Origin), is a name that comes from the word Wang which means “meadow”.
Read More: Famous Anime Names For Boys
Norse Last Names Of Nobility
This is a list of Norse names used by ancient and old aristocratic families; if you’re looking for a name for a noble character, this is the list for you.
- Anker (Swedish origin), the name of a Danish and Norwegian noble family, a part of the Patrwas iciate of Norway from the 18th century. One of the often used Swedish surnames.
- Aubert (French origin), the surname of a family of French nobility and a branch that belongs to the Nobility of Denmark and Norway.
- Benkestok (Norwegian origin), the name of a noble family in Norway that survived the Middle Ages.
- Bjelke (Danish and Scandinavian origin), the name of a Norwegian and Danish noble family, which got extinct in 1868.
- Estridsen (Danish origin), the name of a House that provided the kings of Denmark from 1047 to 1412.
- Falkenskiold (Danish and Norwegian origin), is the name of a Danish and Norwegian noble family.
- Galtung (Norwegian origin), is the name of a Norwegian noble family from 1648.
- Guldencrone (Danish origin), is the name of a Dano-Norwegian noble family.
- Gyledenkrantz (Scandinavian origin), is the name of a noble family of Denmark and Norway, which became extinct after a few generations.
- Gyldenlove (Norwegian origin), the name of a medieval Norwegian noble family that is now extinct.
- Gyldenpalm (Danish origin), is the name of a Danish and Norwegian noble family.
- Gyldenstjerne (Danish origin), is the surname of a noble family with various branches and ranks, meaning “golden star”. It is among the oldest families in Scandinavia.
- Hielmstierne (Danish origin), is the name of a Dano-Norwegian family of nobility.
- Huitfeldt (Norwegian origin), is the name of a noble family of Norway.
- Kaas (Danish origins), is the name of two related noble families from Jutland.
- Kane (Norwegian origins), the name of a medieval family from Norway, one of the few original noble families from the country.
- Knagenhjelm (Norwegian origins), is the name of a noble family of Denmark and Norway.
- Lovenskiold (German origin), is the name of a Dano-Norwegian noble family, who now lives in Norway. The name means “Lion’s Shield”.
- Lovenorn (Danish and Norwegian Origin), is the name of a noble family from Denmark and Norway.
- Munthe af Morgenstierne (Danish and Norwegian Origins), is the name of a noble family now living in Norway.
- Roos af Hjelmaster (Norwegian origin), Is the name of the Swedish noble family, among the few noble families of medieval Norway still living.
- Rosenvinge (Danish origin), is the name of a Norwegian and Danish noble family. The name means “Rose Wing”.
- Skanke (Norwegian origin), is a Norwegian surname, and a noble family which traces its roots to Jemtland from the 14th century.
- Smor (Norwegian origins), is the name of an original noble family of Norway, from the medieval ages. The name means “Leopard’s head”.
- Stockfleth (Danish origin), is the name of a Dano-Norwegian nobles since the time of King Velmar the Third.
- Svanenhielm (Norwegian Origin), is the name of a Danish and Norwegian noble family, created in 1719.
- Treschow (Danish origin), is the name of a noble family with branches in Sweden and Norway, meaning “wooden shoe-maker”.
- Werenskiold (Danish Origin), is the last name of a nobles of Denmark and Norway.
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