Only a few people easily recognize Norwegian last names, whether popular or not. These Nordic names are often shrouded in mystery and never truly examined for their meanings and origin.
We’ll lead you down the road to understanding different types of Norwegian surnames. You’ll discover everything from their original history to the most famous of namesakes, plus multiple variations and proper pronunciations. You may even discover a few Viking names along the way!
100 Popular Norwegian Surnames
These Norwegian last names are packed with all the mythology, history, and culture Norway has to offer.
Aarhus
Århus is one of many Norwegian last names based on farming. It’s made up of the Old Norse “á,” meaning “river,” and “hús,” meaning “house” or “farmstead.” The Aarhus River likely inspired Aarhus and is the name of a city in Denmark.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: River house
- Pronunciation: AOR-hoos
- Popularity: Aarhus is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, where it ranked 1,288th in 2014.
Alfson
Alfson represents the Swedish spelling of the Norwegian Alfsen, based on the first name Alf. Some consider Alfson a more Americanized version of the Swedish Alfsson, but it still represents patronymic surnames very well.
- Origin: Nordic, Swedish
- Meaning: Son of Alf
- Pronunciation: AULF-suhn
- Variations: Alfsen
- Namesakes: Warren Alfson, an American football player for the Nebraska Cornhuskers NFL team.
- Popularity: Alfson is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Andersen
Andersen comes from the Greek Andreas, a version of Andrew, leading to this popular surname meaning “son of Anders.” Andersen ranked 963rd in the U.S. in 2010 and is the fifth most common surname in Denmark.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Son of Anders
- Pronunciation: AAN-der-Sehn
- Variations: Anderson, Andresson, Andresen
- Namesakes: Roy Andersen, a Norwegian long-distance runner who competed at the 1983 World Championships. Uell Stanley Andersen, an American writer known for Three Magic Words.
- Popularity: Andersen is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in Denmark, and ranked 5th in Norway in 2014.
Asker
Asker is the name of a farm once named Askerbygda, located near Oslo. It possibly relates to the Old Norse “ask,” meaning “ash tree,” and is also a Turkish name meaning “soldier.”
- Origin: Nordic, Arabic
- Meaning: Ash tree
- Pronunciation: ASK-ur
- Variations: Askey, Aske, Askew
- Popularity: Asker is rare worldwide, mostly used in Egypt, and ranked 372nd in Libya in 2014.
Aspen
Aspen is one of multiple Norwegian surnames based on a place, notably Aspen. It may relate to the “aspen tree” when going on the English meaning: “dweller at the aspen tree.” Aspen has also become an English female name meaning “poplar tree.”
- Origin: Nordic, English
- Meaning: Poplar tree
- Pronunciation: AHS-pehn
- Variations: Aspinal
- Namesakes: Brian Aspen, an English wrestler and gold medalist at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Jennifer Aspen, an American actress appearing in the series Party of Five (1998 to 2000).
- Popularity: Aspen is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Norway, ranking 1,212th in 2014.
Asulf
Asulf is based on the Old Norse first name Ásulfr. It’s made up of “áss,” meaning “God,” and “ulfr,” meaning “wolf.” Asulf also means “warrior” and is one of only a few Norwegian family names not based on farms.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Divine wolf
- Pronunciation: Ah-SHULF
- Popularity: Asulf is extremely rare worldwide, with just three occurrences in 2014 in Brazil and Norway.
Austad
Austad is the name of a few locations in Norway, and it uses the root “stad,” from “stathr,” meaning “dwelling.” Austad is also linked to the Nordic first names Authi or Alvir.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Alvir’s farmstead
- Pronunciation: AOW-stad
- Popularity: Austad is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, where it ranked 365th in 2014.
Bakken
Bakken is an offshoot of Bakke, associated with the German Becker, meaning “baker.” In addition to an occupational name, it was given to someone who lived “near a hill.”
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Dweller at or near a hill
- Pronunciation: BAEK-en
- Variations: Bakker, Backen
- Namesakes: Atle Bakken, a Norwegian composer who scored the series, Martin. Per Bakken, a Norwegian Nordic skier awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 1907.
- Popularity: Bakken is rare worldwide and mostly used in Norway, ranking 37th in 2014.
Bang
Bang was a Norwegian farm based on the Norse “bank,” meaning “flat terrace.” It’s also a Danish nickname deriving from “bang,” meaning “noise” – typically given to a loud person. Bang also means “dweller near a mound or embankment” and is a Korean surname like Fāng.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Flat hilltop
- Namesakes: Thomas Bang, a Danish sculptor and part of the 1970s Conceptual Pop art movement. Anton Christian Bang, a Norwegian theologian and the Bishop of Oslo from 1896 to 1912.
- Popularity: Bang is rare worldwide, mainly used in Vietnam, and ranked 149th in South Korea in 2014.
Barsness
Barsness was first Barsnes, a farm near Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It’s also composed of the Norse given name Baldrekr, plus “nes,” meaning “headland.” A headland is a narrow piece of land that juts out into the sea.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: From Barsness
- Pronunciation: BAARS-ness
- Variations: Barsnes
- Namesakes: Edward E. Barsness, the mayor of Glenwood, Minnesota, from 1924 to 1928. Nellie Barsness, an American temperance worker known for working with gas-injured soldiers during World War I.
- Popularity: Barsness is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Beito
Beito is the name of a Norwegian farm in Valdres inspired by the nearby river. It can also mean “freezing cold” and may have influenced a village in Norway today called Beitostølen.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Pasture
- Pronunciation: BAEY-tow
- Namesakes: Linda Royster Beito, an American criminal justice author of R. M. Howard: Doctor, Entrepreneur, Civil Rights Pioneer (2018). Olav Beito, a Norwegian professor and a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in 1951.
- Popularity: Beito is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Belgum
Most Nordic last names involve farms, which makes Belgum no different. It comes from the Old Norse “belgr,” meaning “animal skin,” which is much more primal than the Belgum farm it’s based upon.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Animal skin
- Pronunciation: BEHL-gum
- Popularity: Belgum is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Berg
Berg is a specific example of a Scandinavian last name based on a location. It uses the Old Norse “bjarg,” meaning “mountain,” associated with the German word for “hill.” Berg also relates to the German “burc,” meaning “fortified town.”
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Mountain
- Pronunciation: BEHRG
- Variations: Bergh, Bergg, Berge, Bergge, Burg
- Namesakes: Alec Berg, an American writer for Seinfeld. Odd Berg, a Norwegian footballer for Molde FK.
- Popularity: Berg is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Afghanistan, where it ranked 1,401st in 2014.
Borger
Borger uses the root “borg,” which was once used for someone living “near a hill” or “fortification.” It also relates to the Yiddish “borger,” meaning “borrower” or “lender.”
- Origin: Nordic, Swedish
- Meaning: From Borg
- Pronunciation: BOAHR-ger
- Variations: Berger
- Namesakes: Jamie Borger, a Swedish drummer with the band Talisman. Julian Borger, the British world affairs editor at The Guardian.
- Popularity: Borger is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 1,691st in the Netherlands in 2014.
Calland
Calland is an Anglo-spelled version of the Norse Kalland, a particular farm. It’s associated with Kalfaland, meaning “farmland which is home to cows.” Calland may relate to Callan, a Gaelic variation of Gallant.
- Origin: Nordic, Celtic
- Meaning: Calf land
- Pronunciation: CAA-land
- Variations: Callan, Calan
- Namesakes: Albert Calland, an English footballer for Torquay United. Albert M. Calland III, a U.S. Navy Vice Admiral and commander of Naval Special Warfare Command from 2002 to 2004.
- Popularity: Calland is very rare worldwide and mainly used in England.
Dahl
Dahl derives from the Old Norse “dalr,” meaning “valley.” It relates to the German “tal” and Old English “dale.” Dahl is one of many Scandinavian surnames given to someone living in a particular place like one with valleys.
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Valley
- Pronunciation: DAALE
- Variations: Dahle
- Namesakes: Roald Dahl, an English children’s book writer best known for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Donald L. Dahl, an American member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1997 to 2008.
- Popularity: Dahl is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 20th in Norway in 2014.
Dammen
Dammen was the name of a farm located in southeast Norway. The Norse “dam” means “pond,” which indicates a place with one or more ponds. In Dutch, Damman is an alternative version of the boy’s name Adam.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: The pond
- Pronunciation: DAAH-mahn
- Variations: Damman
- Namesakes: Carlo Damman, a Belgian footballer for Knokke. Jean Damman, a Belgian equestrian who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Dammen is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Norway, ranking 821st in 2014.
Dokken
Dokken has two meanings, from “dock,” the Old Norse “dǫkk,” meaning “hollow.” “Dokk” also means “depression,” which may not have affected the name of the numerous Norwegian farms.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Dock
- Pronunciation: DAA-ken
- Namesakes: Don Dokken, an American musician and member of the band Dokken. Siri Dokken, a Norwegian illustrator awarded the Editorial Cartoon of the Year award in 2011.
- Popularity: Dokken is very rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 721st in Norway in 2014.
Dybdahl
Dybdahl is made up of the Norse “dyb,” meaning “deep,” and “dal,” meaning “’valley.” It’s also the place name of several towns in both Denmark and Norway.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Deep valley
- Pronunciation: DIHB-dal
- Namesakes: Thomas Dybdahl, a Norwegian singer-songwriter in the band Quadraphonics. Jon L. Dybdahl, an American professor of theology who wrote Missions: A Two-Way Street (1986).
- Popularity: Dybdahl is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Denmark, where it ranked 913th in 2014.
Egel
Egel shares its Norse origins with the German “agaz,” meaning “awe” and “dread.” It may also mean “sharpness of a weapon or sword.” In Norse mythology, Egil is a heroic character in the Thidreks saga and is as magical as it gets.
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Terror
- Pronunciation: EHG-ehl
- Variations: Eagel
- Popularity: Egel is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Russia.
Eggum
Eggum is the name of a Norwegian farm based on the Old Norse “egg,” meaning “ridge.” Outside Norway, it’s sometimes used in America, especially Minnesota, where 16.5% of the population was Norwegian in 2009.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Ridge
- Pronunciation: EHG-um
- Namesakes: Arne Eggum, a Norwegian art historian and reviewer for the national newspaper Dagbladet from 1969 to 1970. Jan Eggum, a Norwegian singer-songwriter whose album Heksedans won the 1977 Spellemannsprisen award.
- Popularity: Eggum is very rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 1,580th in Norway in 2014.
Eiken
Eiken was a unique Norwegian farm name from the Old Norse “eik,” meaning “oak.” It’s a former location in Vest-Agder County, Norway, and likely refers to farmland with many oak trees.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Oaktree
- Pronunciation: AEY-ken
- Variations: Eikin
- Popularity: Eilen is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, ranking 1,119th in 2014.
Elden
Elden was a Norwegian farm inspired by a river. It comes from the Old Norse “eldr,” meaning “flame fire.” This refers to the icy cold water of the particular river. Elden is also an English boy’s name meaning “of the elves’ valley.”
- Origin: Nordic, English
- Meaning: Flame fire
- Pronunciation: EHL-den
- Variations: Eldin
- Namesakes: Bård Jørgen Elden, a Norwegian skier and gold medalist at the 1989 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. John Christian Elden, a Norwegian member of the Oslo City Council from 1988 to 1991.
- Popularity: Elden is rare worldwide, mostly used in Egypt, and ranked 528th in the Bahamas in 2014.
Ellingboe
Ellingbow first appeared in Norway as Ellingbø, a farm in the eastern part of the country. It consists of the Old Norse male name Erling plus “bǿr,” meaning “farm.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Son of the Earl
- Pronunciation: EH-ling-Bow
- Namesakes: Bradley Ellingboe, an American composer awarded the Medal of St. Olav in 1994. Jules Ellingboe, an American race car driver who competed in six Indianapolis 500 races.
- Popularity: Ellingboe is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Elstad
Elstad was a popular name for Norwegian farms using the Old Norse male name Eilífr. It’s combined with “stad,” from the Old Norse “stathr,” meaning “farm dwelling.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Eilífr’s farm
- Pronunciation: EHL-stad
- Namesakes: Leonard M. Elstad, the third President of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., from 1945 to 1969.
- Popularity: Elstad is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, where it ranked 773rd in 2014.
Eriksen
Eriksen represents the Norwegian spelling of the Swedish Eriksson. Erik is one of the top badass names meaning “king.” In this case, “the son of Erik” is also the “son of the king.” Eriksen is one of the strongest Scandinavian last names, ranked 32nd in Denmark in 2014.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Son of the king
- Pronunciation: EH-rik-Sohn
- Variations: Erikson, Ericsson, Erickson
- Namesakes: Erik Eriksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark from 1950 to 1953. Kaj-Erik Eriksen, a Canadian actor appearing in the series Boston Public.
- Popularity: Eriksen is rare worldwide and mostly used in Norway, ranking 13th in 2014.
Fadness
Fadness uses the root “ferja,” meaning “to ferry” and “nes,” meaning “promontory.” It may relate to other farms in western Norway called Fadnes and Fattnes.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Headland ferry
- Pronunciation: FAAND-nuhs
- Variations: Fadnes
- Namesakes: Scott Fadness, the first mayor of Fishers, Indiana, since 2015.
- Popularity: Fadness is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Falla
Falla is a place name in southeast Norway based on the Norse “fall.” It may refer to where landslides occur or trees are known for falling. Falla is also a Spanish name meaning “bonfire.”
- Origin: Nordic, Spanish
- Meaning: Farm where trees fall
- Pronunciation: FAH-lah
- Variations: Fella
- Namesakes: Maiken Caspersen Falla, a Norwegian cross-country skier and the 2014 Olympic champion. Luis Falla, a Peruvian congressman between 2006 and 2011.
- Popularity: Falla is rare worldwide, primarily used in Colombia, and ranked 4th in Guernsey in 2014.
Falstad
Falstad was a Norwegian farm located in Trøndelag. Like many other Norwegian last names, it uses the root “stathr,” meaning “farmstead.” The meaning of “fal” is unknown but may refer to a tool or weapon.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: (Unknown) farm
- Pronunciation: FAAL-stahd
- Popularity: Falstad is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Fehn
Fehn is a popular name for Norwegian farms since it’s based on the Old Norse Fávin, meaning “meadow’.” “Fehn” is also a German word for a “bog,” which is the last place you want to end up on a farm.
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Bog
- Pronunciation: FEN
- Namesakes: Hans-Georg Fehn, a German water polo player who competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Christopher Fehn, an American musician and drummer for the band Slipknot from 1998 to 2019.
- Popularity: Fehn is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Germany.
Fiske
Fiske derives from the Old Norse “fiskr,” meaning “fish” and “-e,” from “vin,” meaning “meadow.” The surname even reached Norfolk and Suffolk in England and was used by some Jewish-Norwegian people throughout history.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Fish meadow
- Pronunciation: FIHSK
- Variations: Fisk
- Namesakes: Reine Fiske, a Swedish guitarist in the band Dungen. Irving L. Fiske, an American playwright who translated Shakespeare’s Hamlet into Modern English.
- Popularity: Fiske is extremely rare worldwide, with 84 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in the U.S.
Gill
Gill originated with the Old Norse “gil,” meaning “ravine.” It also appears in Scotland and England for someone who resided near a ravine. Gill ranked 435th for U.S. surnames in 2010 and is also the Dutch equivalent of the male Giles.
- Origin: Nordic, English
- Meaning: Ravine
- Pronunciation: GIHL
- Variations: Gills, Gille, Gyll, Gilles
- Namesakes: Eddie Gill, an American basketball player with the New Jersey Nets. Thea Gill, a Canadian actress appearing in the series Queer as Folk.
- Popularity: Gill ranked 1,944th worldwide, is primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 91st in Canada in 2014.
Granberg
Granberg is composed of the Old Norse “gran,” meaning “spruce,” and “berg,” meaning “mountain.” It’s also a common name in Sweden, using the “berg” root.
- Origin: Nordic, Swedish
- Meaning: Spruce hill
- Pronunciation: GRAAN-berg
- Variations: Grunberg
- Namesakes: Carolina Granberg, a Swedish dancer, and member of the Royal Swedish Ballet. Lars U. Granberg, a Swedish member of the Riksdag since 1994.
- Popularity: Granberg is rare worldwide and mainly used in Sweden, where it ranked 250th in 2014.
Greseth
There are farms called Grønseth in Møre and Trøndelag, Norway. It’s made up of the Old Norse “grjót,” meaning “stone,” and “setr,” meaning “dwelling.“ Greseth may use “grøn,” meaning “green,” for a “green” instead of a “stony” farm.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Green farm
- Pronunciation: GREH-seth
- Popularity: Greseth is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Gronlund
Gronlund is composed of the Old Norse “grön,” meaning “green,” and “lund,” meaning “grove.” It makes you wonder about the origins of Greenland’s name, which is essentially the same thing.
- Origin: Nordic, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Green grove
- Pronunciation: GRAUN-lund
- Namesakes: Frank Grønlund, a Norwegian footballer for the Norwegian national team. Lisbeth Gronlund, an American physicist, and co-director of the Global Security Program for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
- Popularity: Gronlund is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Hagen
Hagen uses the Scandinavian root “hage,” meaning “enclosed pasture,” plus the suffix “-en,” meaning “relating to.” Hagen is also a boy’s name meaning “youthful” and “exalted son.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Son of Hagan
- Pronunciation: HAAH-gen
- Variations: Hagan, Hagens
- Namesakes: Anita Hagen, a Canadian member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1986 to 1996. Uta Hagen, a German-American actress, who entered into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1981.
- Popularity: Hagen is rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 16th in Norway in 2014.
Hamar
Farms named Hamar derive from the Old Norse “hamarr,” meaning “hammer.” It usually indicated a hammer-shaped piece of land. In Yiddish, Hamar is an occupational name for someone who makes hammers for a living or a “forceful person.” It’s also the name of a modern-day town in Norway.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Hammer
- Pronunciation: HAH-maar
- Variations: Hemar
- Popularity: Hamar is rare worldwide and primarily used in Hungary, ranking 637th in 2014.
Hansen
Hansen falls under a less common example of Norwegian surnames, which call upon the father’s name. In this case, it means “son of Hans,” as the Scandinavian form of Hanson. Hansen is the top surname in Norway and is ranked 3rd in Denmark.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Son of Hans
- Pronunciation: HAAN-sehn
- Variations: Hanssen, Hannessen, Hensen, Henssen
- Namesakes: Gunnar Hansen, an Icelandic-American actor known for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). Beck Hansen, an American musician best known for the album Mellow Gold.
- Popularity: Hansen ranked 893rd worldwide, is mostly used in Denmark, and ranked 1st in Norway in 2014.
Haugen
Haugen comes from the Old Norse “haug,” meaning “tiny hill.” It also refers to a farm with a “grassy knoll,” where nature’s most beautiful elements can be admired.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Dweller on or near a pasture
- Pronunciation: HAOW-gen
- Variations: Haugan, Hauge
- Namesakes: Sandra-Lyng Haugen, a Norwegian singer who competed in the program Idol: Jakten på en superstjerne. Ragnar “Sambo” Haugen, a Norwegian boxer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Haugen is rare worldwide and mainly used in Norway, ranking 15th in 2014.
Helvig
Helvig is a Scandinavian variation of the German Helwig, made up of “hel,” meaning “luck,” and “wīg,” meaning “war.” It began in Prussia as a surname for medieval nobles and has been used since the 13th-century.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Luck in war
- Pronunciation: HEHL-vig
- Variations: Hellvig, Helwig
- Namesakes: Anna von Helvig, a German artist and member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts.
- Popularity: Helvig is rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Horn
Horn means “son of Horn,” yet more directly refers to the Old Norse “horn,” meaning a “spur of land.” It’s also common in Sweden, where the noble Horn family was of Finnish origin and arrived in the 14th-century.
- Origin: Nordic, Swedish
- Meaning: Spur of land
- Variations: Hjorn, Horne
- Namesakes: Gyula Horn, Hungary’s Prime Minister from 1994 to 1998. Sam Horn, an American baseball player and anchor for New England Sports Network.
- Popularity: Horn is uncommon worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 89th in Germany in 2014.
Hove
Hove is dissimilar to other Norwegian family names in meaning and appearance. It’s based on the Old Norse “hof,” meaning “pagan temple.” Hove also appears as a Welsh surname taken from Hoel, originally Houel.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Place of worship
- Pronunciation: HOHV
- Variations: Hovell
- Popularity: Hove is rare worldwide and mainly used in Zimbabwe, where it ranked 23rd in 2014.
Hvalman
Hvalman is one of the most mysterious Scandinavian last names and has no pronunciation or popularity statistics. It’s considered a Viking occupational name for a “whaler,” a popular job in the ancient Norse world.
- Origin: Nordic, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Whaler
- Pronunciation: Unknown
Ingebrestend
Ingebrestend may be a mouthful, but it’s the rarest of Scandinavian surnames. It has no available popularity statistics and is related to the German name Engelbrecht, from Engelbert, meaning “angel-bright.”
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Son of Ingebret
- Pronunciation: IHNG-eh-BREST-ehnd
Jacobsen
Jacobsen means “the son of Jacob” and is used in Scandinavia like Jacobson is used in England. It originated with Jacob, deriving from the Hebrew name Yaakov, meaning “supplanter.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Son of Jacob
- Pronunciation: YAH-kob-Sehn
- Variations: Jakobsen
- Namesakes: Carl Jacobsen, a Danish brewer, and CEO of the Carlsberg beer company. Roy Jacobsen, a Norwegian novelist, and winner of The Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature.
- Popularity: Jacobsen is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 18th in Norway in 2014.
Jensen
Jenson works as Johnson does, only it means “son of Jens.” Both lead back to the male-given name John, meaning “God is gracious.” It ranked 8th in Norway in 2014 and is a unique version of Johnsen.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Son of Jens
- Pronunciation: YEHN-sen
- Variations: Jenssen
- Namesakes: Al Jensen, a Canadian ice hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings. Tomas Villum Jensen, a Danish actor appearing in The Boys from St. Petri.
- Popularity: Jensen ranked 1,095th worldwide and is mostly used in Denmark, ranking 1st in 2014.
Johannessen
Many versions of Nordic last names are centered around John, which are all patronymic. Johannessen means “son of Johan” and appears as Johansson in Sweden and Johanson in the U.S.
- Origin: Nordic, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Son of Johan
- Pronunciation: Yow-HAH-nes-Ehn
- Variations: Johansen, Johnsen
- Namesakes: Leif Erlend Johannessen, a Norwegian chess player, made a fifth grandmaster in 2002. Ørjan Johannessen, a Norwegian chef and winner of the 2015 Bocuse d’Or Europe in 2012.
- Popularity: Johannessen is rare worldwide and mainly used in Norway, where it ranked 17th in 2014.
Johansen
Johansen uses the root name Johan, the Norse and German form of John. It’s used more in Norway and Denmark than in other Scandinavian countries but is the most popular of the John names.
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Son of Johan
- Pronunciation: Yow-HAAN-sen
- Variations: Johansson, Johanson
- Namesakes: Iris Johansen, an American crime author known for Ugly Duckling (1996). Bjørn Johansen, a Norwegian footballer for Tromsø IL.
- Popularity: Johansen is uncommon worldwide and primarily used in Norway, ranking 2nd in 2014.
Johnsen
Johnsen is the Scandinavian spelling of Johnson, which also appears in Scotland. It uses the Germanic Johannes, meaning John, and even relates to the similar Johnston. While not as popular as Johansen, it’s still quite common in Norway.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Son of John
- Pronunciation: YOHN-sun
- Variations: Jonsen, Jonsson, Johnsson
- Namesakes: Grethe Gynnild Johnsen, a Norwegian journalist for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation from 2004 to 2008. Vibeke Johnsen, a Norwegian handball player, and silver medalist at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Johnsen is rare worldwide and mostly used in Norway, where it ranked 11th in 2014.
Johnsrud
Johnsrud was the name for farms located in southeast Norway made up of “Jon,” meaning “John,” and “ruth,” meaning “clearing.” It’s the most unusual of Norwegian last names with a rich history centered around John.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: John’s clearing
- Pronunciation: YOHNS-rruwd
- Namesakes: Martin Johnsrud Sundby, a Norwegian cross-country skier and a two time Olympic champion. Nina Johnsrud, a Norwegian journalist awarded the Fritt Ord Honorary Award in 2012.
- Popularity: Johnsrud is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Norway, ranking 142nd in 2014.
Jordahl
There’s some mystery behind the surname Jordahl, other than using “dalr,” meaning “valley.” It may refer to “the shining river,” so pretty they forgot to name it.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Shining river
- Pronunciation: JOR-daal
- Namesakes: Asbjørn Jordahl, a Norwegian member of the Norwegian Parliament from 1977 to 1981.
- Popularity: Jordahl is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Juve
Juve uses the Norse root “juv,” meaning “gorge” or “ravine.” It’s also a Catalan occupational name for someone who made yokes for a horse.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Gorge
- Pronunciation: JOOVE
- Popularity: Juve is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Kalberg
Kalberg comes from the Old Norse “kalla,” meaning “call/transport,” and “berg,” meaning “mountain.” Others believe Kalberg uses the root “kald,” meaning “cold,” and “berg,” meaning “mountain.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Cold mountain
- Pronunciation: KAAL-berg
- Variations: Kalkberg
- Popularity: Kalberg is very rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 856th in Estonia in 2014.
Karlsen
Karlsen is related to the Norwegian and Swedish Kolberg, made up of “kol,” meaning “coal,” and “berg,” meaning “mountain.” It’s also associated with a German location called Kołobrzeg.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Son of Karl
- Pronunciation: KAHRL-sen
- Variations: Karlson, Karlsson, Karlssen
- Namesakes: Geir Karlsen, a Norwegian CEO of Norwegian Air Shuttle. Kari Karlsen, a Norwegian high jumper and the Norwegian champion from 1970 to 1973.
- Popularity: Karlsen is rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, where it ranked 10th in 2014.
Kise
Kise is the name of several Norwegian locations based on the Old Norse Kísi, meaning “gravel.” It dates back to the 13th century with the Lords of Amstel in Amsterdam.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Gravel
- Pronunciation: KISY-eh
- Variations: Kies, Kyse, Kize
- Popularity: Kise is rare worldwide and mostly used in Japan.
Klepp
Farms in Norway named Klepp existed in Agder and Vestlandet. It comes from the Old Norse “kleppr,” meaning “bluff,” “stone,” or “hill.” Today, Klepp is a region in Rogaland County, Norway.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Cliff
- Variations: Kleppe, Klepper
- Popularity: Klepp is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Norway, ranking 1,337th in 2014.
Kleve
Kleve was taken from Kleven, a location in Norway and Germany. It derives from the Old Norse “kleif,” meaning “cliff,” and exists in Dutch as van Cleve.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Cliff
- Pronunciation: KLEAH-veh
- Popularity: Kleve is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Kolden
Kolden comes from the Old Norse “kollr,” meaning “rounded mountain top.” It’s also related to the German “kolde,” meaning “cold.” While a German nickname for an unfriendly person, it represents one of the many geographical Norwegian surnames.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Round mountain top
- Pronunciation: KOHL-den
- Popularity: Kolden is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Korsmo
Korsmo is the name of a farm in southeast Norway. It’s composed of the Norse “kross,” meaning “cross(roads),” and “mo,” meaning “plain sandy meadow.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Pastoral, Common
- Pronunciation: KORS-mow
- Namesakes: Lisbeth Korsmo, a Norwegian speed skater and bronze medalist at the 1976 Winter Olympics. John T. Korsmo, an American Federal Housing Finance Board chairman from 2002 to 2004.
- Popularity: Korsmo is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Norway, where it ranked 904th in 2014.
Kristiansen
Kristiansen is a Norwegian-spelled surname meaning “son of Christian.” It remains super popular in Norway and ranked 16th in Denmark as Christiansen.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Son of Christian
- Pronunciation: KRIS-jaan-Sehn
- Variations: Christiansen
- Namesakes: Erling Kristiansen, a Norwegian chess player and the Norwegian Chess Championship winner (1972). Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, the President and CEO of The Lego Group (1979 to 2004).
- Popularity: Kristiansen is rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, ranking 9th in 2014.
Krog
Krog may sound like a traditional Norwegian moonshine, but it describes many farms with a “corner bend” on their land. Krog is based on the Danish “krok” but is still ranked higher in Denmark as Krog.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Corner, rock
- Pronunciation: KROOG
- Variations: Krug
- Namesakes: Jason Krog, a Canadian ice hockey player for Lørenskog IK. Antjie Krog, a South African writer of Country of My Skull (1998).
- Popularity: Krog is rare worldwide and primarily used in Denmark, where it ranked 164th in 2014.
Kusken
Kusken is related to the German “Kus” and appears in Germany as Kuschke. Its meaning is unknown, and, with three occurrences globally in 2014, Kusken is hanging on by a thread.
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: KOOW-sken
- Popularity: Kusken is extremely rare worldwide, with just three known occurrences in 2014 in Brazil, India, and South Sudan.
Landvik
Landvik is a literal Norwegian word for a “land inlet,” a narrow body of water that extends into a piece of land. It’s inspired by Landvikvannet Lake in Aust-Agder county in Norway.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Land inlet
- Pronunciation: LAAND-vik
- Variations: Lanik
- Popularity: Landvik is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Larsen
Larsen means “son of Lars” and originated with the Latin Laurentius. It’s symbolic of laurel trees, which are used to represent victory.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Son of Lars
- Pronunciation: LAAR-sen
- Variations: Larsenn, Larson
- Namesakes: Petter Larsen, a Norwegian sailor and gold medalist in the 1912 Summer Olympics. Jonathan Larsen, an American journalist, and editor-in-chief of The Village Voice from 1989 to 1994.
- Popularity: Larsen is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in Denmark, and ranked 4th in Norway in 2014.
Lien
The Norwegian “li” means “woods” or “forested area” and relates to the Dutch first name Liedin. Rather than refer to a specific piece of land in Norway, it simply celebrates the beauty of the northern forests.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Forest
- Pronunciation: LIY-an
- Namesakes: Jennifer Lien, an American actress known for the Star Trek: Voyager series. Magnhild Lien, a Norwegian mathematician and executive director of the Association for Women in Mathematics.
- Popularity: Lien is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 55th in Norway in 2014.
Losnedahl
Losnedalh is made up of “Losna,” the name of a few Norwegian locales, along with “dahl,” meaning “valley.” Its true meaning is unclear, which may be why it’s so rare today.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Losen Valley
- Pronunciation: LOHS-neh-Dahl
- Popularity: Losnedahl is extremely rare worldwide, with 77 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in Norway.
Lund
Lund means “at the laund,” or any open area in the woods or forest. It was given to someone who lived near a grove. Lund derives from the Old Norse “lundr,” which becomes “lawndeof” in Middle English.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: At the grove
- Pronunciation: LUWND
- Variations: Lunde, Lunn
- Namesakes: Zoë Lund, an American actress known for Ms .45 (1981). Steve Lund, a Canadian actor known for Schitt’s Creek.
- Popularity: Lund is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 22nd in Norway in 2014.
Manger
Manger refers to a farm in southwest Norway called Mángr in Old Norse. It also means “the son of Mangar” and is composed of “már,” meaning “seagull,” and “angr,” meaning “fiord” or “inlet.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Seagull inlet
- Pronunciation: MAHN-ger
- Variations: Maynger, Mainger
- Popularity: Manger is rare worldwide and mostly used in India.
Moller
Moller is the Scandinavian form of Miller and often appears in German as Möller. It began as an occupational name for a miller and originated in Bavaria.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Miller (occupational)
- Pronunciation: MOUW-ler
- Variations: Mueller, Muller, Moeller, Molner
- Namesakes: Lis Møller, a Danish journalist, appointed Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1976. Peter Møller, a Danish former footballer for the Denmark national football team.
- Popularity: Moller is rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 847th in Namibia in 2014.
Morken
Morken comes from the Old Norse “mǫrk,” meaning “outlying pasture wood.” It’s also Celtic, based on the Welsh Morcant and Gaelic Ó Murcháin, meaning “descendant of Murchán.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Outlying pasture wood
- Pronunciation: MOHR-ken
- Popularity: Morken is very rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 551st in Norway in 2014.
Naas
Naas is associated with Norwegian farms in Møre og Romsdal and Telemark. It centers around the Old Norse “nǫs,” meaning “nose,” and indicates a nose-shaped landscape. In Germany, Naas is based on the personal name Ignaz, for Ignatius, and is an Arabic word meaning “written law.”
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Nose-shaped farm
- Pronunciation: NAHS
- Popularity: Naas is rare worldwide and mostly used in Libya, ranking 17th in 2014.
Ness
Like many other Norwegian family names, Ness is about a particular place, like “at the ness.” A ness is a headland, where the land juts out into a body of water. It relates to the Middle English “nes(se)” and is used for many locations in the U.S.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: At the promontory
- Variations: Nass
- Namesakes: Eliot Ness, an American Prohibition agent known for capturing Al Capone in Chicago. Patrick Ness, an American-British author and winner of the 2011 Carnegie Medal.
- Popularity: Ness is rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 23rd in Norway in 2014.
Nilsen
Nilsen means “the son of Nils,” which translates to Nial and Neil, meaning “champion.” It uses Niels in Danish, the most common name in Denmark.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Son of Nils
- Pronunciation: NEEL-son
- Variations: Nilsson, Nielsen, Nelson
- Namesakes: Erik Nielsen, the third Canadian deputy prime minister between 1984 and 1986. Leslie Nielsen, a Canadian actor best known for Airplane!
- Popularity: Nielsen is rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, where it ranked 6th in 2014.
Odden
Odden is still a common Norwegian name with farm origins taken from the Old Norse “oddi,” meaning “headland.” The English Oldham is also associated with these Norse roots, which means “the old farm” in English.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Headland
- Pronunciation: OW-dehn
- Namesakes: Anders Odden, a Norwegian musician with the rock band Magenta. Olav Odden, a Norwegian skier who competed at the 1948 Winter Olympics.
- Popularity: Odden is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Norway, ranking 408th in 2014.
Olsen
Olsen may be one of the most recognizable Scandinavian last names, which means “Ole’s or Olaf’s son.” It appears in Swedish as Olsson and originated from the given name Oleifr. Olsen is composed of “ans,” meaning “god,” and “leifr,” meaning “relic.” It ranked 566th for U.S. surnames in 2010.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Son of Olaf
- Pronunciation: UWL-suhn
- Variations: Olson, Ollsen, Ollson
- Namesakes: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, American actresses known for the series Full House (1987 to 1995). John Olsen, the Premier of South Australia from 1996 to 2001.
- Popularity: Olsen is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 3rd in Norway in 2014.
Ottem
Ottem existed as a farm name in Sogn, Norway. Its meaning is unclear, but it is thought to be named after a river there. It uses the Old Norse “ótta,” meaning “to frighten,” which lends to a raging river.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Name of a river
- Pronunciation: OW-tehm
- Popularity: Ottem is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Pedersen
Pederson is a unique version of Pettersen (or Peterson), meaning “son of Peder.” This Scandinavian form of Peter dates back to the Greek “petros,” meaning “rock.” Pedersen ranked 7th in Norway in 2014 and appears in Swedish as Pedersson.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Son of Peter
- Pronunciation: PEH-der-Suhn
- Variations: Petersen, Pettersen, Peterssen, Pederssen
- Namesakes: Ole Peter Petersen, a Norwegian-American clergyman who founded Methodism in Norway. William Petersen, an American actor known for the series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000 to 2015).
- Popularity: Pedersen is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in Denmark, where it ranked 4th in 2014.
Pettersen
Pettersen represents the traditional spelling of Peterson, meaning “the son of Peter,” meaning “rock.” It appeared as Petter in the Middle Ages and is still somewhat common in northern Germany.
- Origin: Nordic, Swedish
- Meaning: Son of Peter
- Pronunciation: PEHT-ehr-Suhn
- Variations: Pederson, Petersen, Peterson
- Namesakes: Gunnar Pettersen, the head coach of the Norwegian national team. Bjarne Pettersen, a Norwegian gymnast and gold medalist at the 1912 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Pettersen is rare worldwide and mainly used in Norway, ranking 12th in 2014.
Pollen
Pollen is made up of the Old Norse “pollr,” meaning “small bay” or “pond.” It’s an ancient name found in England meaning “of Bolland,” a village in Lancashire, England.
- Origin: Nordic, English
- Meaning: Pond
- Pronunciation: POHL-uhn
- Variations: Pollin, Pollyn
- Popularity: Pollen is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Bangladesh.
Rinde
Many Norwegian farms lived on land using the Norse “rind” since it indicates a “ridge” or “bank.” It also means “bark of a tree,” which is perfect in Norway, the land of tall trees.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Ridge
- Pronunciation: RIHN-deh
- Variations: Rind, Rinds, Rynd, Rinder
- Popularity: Rinde is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Norway, where it ranked 1,469th in 2014.
Salvesen
Salvesen is based on the given name Salve, taken from the Old Norse Salvi. The root “salr” also means “house hall,” while “ve(r)” means “giant hero,” making Salve a very special man.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Son of Salve
- Pronunciation: SAAL-veh-Sehn
- Namesakes: Jens Salvesen, a Norwegian sailor and silver medalist at the 1920 Summer Olympics. Kjartan Salvesen, a Norwegian singer, and winner of the second season of Norwegian Idol.
- Popularity: Salveson is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Norway, ranking 277th in 2014.
Selland
There are not one, but four Selland farms located in places like Rogaland and Hordaland in Norway. It originally appeared as the Old Norse Seljuland, composed of “selja,” meaning “willow,” and “land,” to represent the “farm.” Selland can also refer to a “land where willows grow.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Willow farm
- Pronunciation: Seh-LAAND
- Popularity: Selland is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Skjeggestad
Skjeggestad gets the award for Scandinavian surnames with the most words on our rich list. It’s made up of “skjegg,” meaning “beard,” and “stad,” meaning “place” or “town.” Assuming whomever Skjegg is, he’s got a beard with the meaning “the bearded one’s place.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Skjegge’s place
- Pronunciation: SHJEH-ges-Stahd
- Popularity: Skjeggestad is extremely rare worldwide, with 219 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in Norway.
Smed
Smed is extremely straightforward and an occupational name for a “blacksmith.” It comes from the Old Norse “smiðr,” meaning “smith,” so it is the Scandinavian version of the surname Smith.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Blacksmith
- Pronunciation: SMEHD
- Namesakes: Esben Smed, a Danish actor appearing in Sommeren ’92 (2015). Peer Smed, a Danish-American silversmith with work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Popularity: Smed is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Denmark, where it ranked 349th in 2014.
Snekkeren
Snekkeren uses the Norse root “snekker,” meaning “carpenter.” This occupational surname has no available popularity stats and may be very rare. It also means “craftsmen” for the most creative of carpenters.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Carpenter
- Pronunciation: SNEH-ker-Ehn
- Variations: Snekker
Solberg
Solberg has the most majestic meaning among Nordic last names. It’s also used in Sweden, yet it is the name of many sun-drenched farms in southeastern Norway.
- Origin: Nordic, Swedish
- Meaning: Sun mountain
- Pronunciation: SOWL-burg
- Namesakes: Erna Solberg, the 35th prime minister of Norway from 2013 to 2021. Magnar Solberg, a Norwegian biathlete and gold medalist at the 1972 Winter Olympics.
- Popularity: Solberg is rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, ranking 32nd in 2014.
Sund
Sund means “strait” and “sound” in Norse, first given to someone living near a body of water. Most Sund farms were located in Nordland, and today is the name of plenty of locales in Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: Strait sound
- Pronunciation: SUWND
- Namesakes: Al Sund, an American boxer inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1994. Steven A. Sund, the tenth chief of the U.S. Capitol Police from 2019 to 2021.
- Popularity: Sund is rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 240th in Norway in 2014.
Tanberg
Farms named Tanberg were mostly located in eastern Norway. It’s said to derive from the Old Norse “thorn,” meaning “thorn bush,” and “berg,” meaning “mountain hill.” As a family name, it was first spotted in Germany.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Thorn hill
- Pronunciation: TAAN-berg
- Variations: Tandberg, Tannberg
- Popularity: Tanberg is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Tenold
Tenold was the name of a farm in Sogn, Norway, and derives from the Old Norse Túnhváll. It’s composed of “tún,” meaning “enclosure,” and “hváll,” meaning “small hill rise.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Enclosed hill
- Pronunciation: TEH-nohld
- Namesakes: Vegas Tenold, a Norwegian-American journalist and producer for VICE News.
- Popularity: Tenold is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Thorp
Thorp is a Norse term meaning “at the village called Thorpe.” It made its way to England with many place names ending in “-thorp,” especially found in Northumberland and Cambridgeshire.
- Origin: Nordic, English
- Meaning: At the village
- Variations: Thorpe, Thropp
- Namesakes: Marius Thorp, a Norwegian golfer who won the European Amateur in 2005. Roderick Thorp, an American novelist known for Nothing Lasts Forever.
- Popularity: Thorp is rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Trygg
Trygg means “safe” and “secure” and derives from the Old Norse Tryggui, meaning “true.” Tryggui was a Viking chieftain and sailor who founded Norse settlements in England and Ireland.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Son of Trig
- Pronunciation: TRIHG
- Variations: Trigg
- Namesakes: Marius Trygg, a Norwegian ice hockey player for Manglerud Star. Lars Trygg, a Swedish wood carver known for working in a Scandinavian flat-plane style.
- Popularity: Trygg is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Sweden, where it ranked 744th in 2014.
Ulberg
Ulberg is closely connected to Germany and is a variation of Ulbrich. It’s also the name of farms in southeast Norway using “berg,” for mountain.” The first part of the name either comes from “ulfr,” meaning “wolf,” or “urth,” meaning “rock-strewn slope.”
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Wolf hill
- Pronunciation: OOWL-berg
- Popularity: Ulberg is very rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 179th in Samoa in 2014.
Unfrid
Very little is known about the Norwegian use of Unfrid since it’s more common in German as Unfried. The German form is a nickname for a “quarrelsome person,” so we’re unsure whether it’s meant for a “quarrelsome farm.”
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: UWN-friys
- Variations: Unfried
- Popularity: Unfrid is extremely rare worldwide, with only seven known occurrences in 2014, mostly in Argentina.
Urness
Urness originated as Urnes and derived from the Old Norse “urth,” meaning “rock-strewn slope.” “Nes” means “promontory headland,” so this piece of land has a lot of obstacles to it.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Rocky headland
- Pronunciation: EHR-ness
- Variations: Urnes
- Namesakes: Ted Urness, a Canadian football player for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Zoë Marieh Urness, a Native American photographer nominated for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography Cover of World Literature.
- Popularity: Urness is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Valen
Some Norwegian farms near the coast were called Valen. It comes from the Old Norse “vathill,” meaning “ford.” These lands include bodies of shallow water that made them stand out from the rest.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Shallow ford
- Pronunciation: VAA-lehn
- Variations: Velen
- Namesakes: Inge Valen, a Norwegian footballer for the Norway national football team. Nancy Valen, an American actress appearing on the series Baywatch.
- Popularity: Valen is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, ranking 607th in 2014.
Velde
Velde stems from a Norwegian farm named Velle, from “velli.” It’s rooted in the Old Norse “vǫllr,” meaning “field meadow,” and is a pretty way to describe a homestead.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Field meadow
- Pronunciation: VEHL-deh
- Variations: Veld
- Popularity: Velde is very rare worldwide, mostly used in the Netherlands, and ranked 1,524th in Norway in 2014.
Vilulf
There are no popularity statistics on Vilulf as a surname, just a forename. Its meaning may also expand to “wolf warrior’s will,” which ensures a powerful identity for this Norwegian family name.
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: Warrior’s will
- Pronunciation: Vih-LUWLF
Waag
Waag was originally given to someone who lived near a “lake” or “marsh.” It relates to the German “wāc,” meaning “standing water pool,” and appeared in Norwegian as Våg. In the Netherlands, a Waag is a public building where goods are weighed.
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: Bay harbor inlet
- Pronunciation: WAHG
- Popularity: Waag is very rare and mainly used in the U.S.
Westergaard
Westergaard is a predominantly Danish name that sometimes appears in Norwegian as Vestergaard. It’s made up of “wester,” meaning “western,” and “gård,” meaning “farm.”
- Origin: Nordic, Danish
- Meaning: West farm
- Pronunciation: WEST-ehr-Gaard
- Variations: Westergard
- Namesakes: Harold M. Westergaard, a Danish technical expert on the design of Hoover Dam. Bjørn Westergaard, a Danish sailor who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Westergaard is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Denmark, where it ranked 175th in 2014.
Westrum
Though Westrum means “west homestead,” it was typically found in farms located in eastern Norway. It also appears as Vestrum or Vestrom when taken from the Old Norse “vestr,” meaning “west,” and “heimr,” meaning “homestead.”
- Origin: Nordic
- Meaning: West homestead
- Pronunciation: WES-truhm
- Namesakes: Erik Westrum, an American ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Wes Westrum, an American baseball player for the New York Giants from 1947 to 1957.
- Popularity: Westrum is very rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 1,656th in Norway in 2014.
Norwegian Family Names FAQs
How Do Norwegians Get Their Last Names?
The most common kind of Norwegian last name uses the father’s given name. With Norwegian names, there’s also a history of birth order and gender being a factor in naming. The first son may be named after the paternal grandfather, while the second son could use the maternal grandfather’s name.
Why Do Norwegians Have Two Last Names?
Norwegian surnames follow a patronymic tradition of using the father’s name and a suffix denoting gender. For instance, the surname Andersdatter means “the daughter of Anders.” In many cases, children are given surnames from both parents. For example, the child of Lars Andersen and Freya Ulberg might have the combined last name Andersen Ulberg or Ulberg Andersen.
What Is a Common Norwegian Last Name?
Hansen is the most popular among Norwegian family names. It’s the Scandinavian variation of Hanson and ranked 893rd worldwide in 2014. Hansen ranked 3rd in Denmark the same year and means “son of Hans” in the traditional Norwegian naming tradition. It’s associated with the Germanic first name Johannes and is still number one in Norway today.
