Surname Arntsen - Meaning and Origin

Arntsen: What does the surname Arntsen mean?

The last name Arntsen is a patronymic Norwegian surname that has its origins in Old Norse. The name Arntsen is derived from the first name of Arn (meaning eagle) combined with the suffix -sen, which denotes "son of". Originally, the name was used to distinguish between sons of the same name, with the suffix changing depending on the region of origin.

The use of the last name Arntsen was quite common during the 18th and 19th centuries when formal surnames began to be adopted in Norway. It is still one of the most popular surnames in Norway today.

Those with the surname Arntsen can trace their family heritage back to medieval Scandinavia, where ancestors with the name first spread across Norway. They were farmers and traders who traveled within and outside of Norway. Arntsens were also warriors and participated in the Viking raids of the 9th and 10th centuries.

The Arntsen name symbolizes strength, courage, and leadership. It reflects the bold spirit of Viking warriors and fearless explorers -- qualities which are still upheld by many with the last name Arntsen today.

No matter where they are located, all members of this family share strong ties to their Norwegian heritage. Even though modern day members are geographically removed from their medieval ancestors, their pride for their origins remains.

Arntsen: Where does the name Arntsen come from?

The surname Arntsen is most commonly found in Norway. It is a patronymic surname, with its origin stemming from the combination of two old Norwegian words, "Arn" and "son" (meaning son of Arn). According to a comprehensive surnames study conducted by the University of Oslo, the surname Arntsen is among the 10 most frequent surnames in Norway, along with Hansen, Johansen, Olsen, Larsen, and Andersen.

Arntsen is a highly localized surname, restricted to the small geographical area of Trøndelag county in Norway. The surname can be found throughout the region, where it originated centuries ago and is still highly prevalent today.

In addition to Norway, Arntsens have settled in parts of the United States including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and North Dakota. It is not as common in North America as it is in Norway, but there is still a population of Arntsens in the United States.

In summary, the surname Arntsen is most common in Norway, especially in the Trøndelag county. It can also be found in parts of the United States, but in much smaller numbers.

Variations of the surname Arntsen

The surname Arntsen is thought to have originated from the Old Norse personal name Arngeirr, which can be translated to mean "eagle power". Over time, it has been anglicized in various ways and now has numerous spellings, variants and surnames of a similar origin.

The main variants of this surname are Arnson, Arnason and Arntson, as well as Arnison and Arneson, all of which are derived from the same Old Norse name. These spellings can be common throughout Norway and the Norwegian diaspora across the world, including in Sweden, Denmark and in the US.

Other variants of the surname include Arnesen, Arnet, Arnott, Arnholt, Arngrim, Arnoldson, Arnoldsen, and Arnth. These surnames are seen less frequently and are likely derived from apostrophes of the main variants, such as Arnet being a shortening of Arnoldson, and Arnholt being derived from Arneson.

In addition, there are a few unusual variations of this surname in Norway, like Arnston and Arngost, which have yet to be definitively linked to the Arntsen name.

Famous people with the name Arntsen

• Robert Arntsen: An Australian former rugby league footballer who won the presidenct’s award in 1979.
• Pavel Arntsen: A renowned Russian producer and editor, who has been a sound supervisor on sets such as "The Big Bang Theory" and "Glee".
• Stan Arntsen: A legendary Norwegian footballer who was a part of the national team in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
• Paul Arntsen: An American former music executive who worked with lots of successful record labels and bands, such as The Mamas and the Papas, The Turtles, and The Byrds.
• Krivi Arntsen: A highly acclaimed Norwegian singer-songwriter, who has won five Spellemannprisen awards.
• John Arntsen: A former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1966 to 1967.
• Sverre Arntsen: A Norwegian ski-jumper who competed internationally for Norway in the 1960s and 1970s, including a bronze medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France.
• Birgit Arntsen: A Norwegian illustrator and author, receiving an award from the Norwegian envoy in 1985 for her contributions to the Norwegian children’s book sector.
• Karolina Arntsen: A Swedish TV producer for SVT, working on series’ including Falkenbergsposten and Mot norra armen.
• Carina Arntsen: A Norwegian-American model, who features in magazines such as Vogue and Elle.

Other surnames

Arnts