Surname Svendsen - Meaning and Origin

Svendsen: What does the surname Svendsen mean?

The last name Svendsen is of Scandinavian origin, specifically from Denmark and Norway. The name is a patronymic, meaning it is derived from the name of a father or ancestor. In this case, Svendsen means "son of Svend." Svend is a Danish and Norwegian variant of the name Sven, which is derived from the Old Norse name Sveinn. The Old Norse name Sveinn itself is believed to be derived from the term "sveinn", which refers to a young man or a boy. Therefore, someone named Svendsen would be recognized as the son or descendant of Svend. This naming tradition was common in Scandinavia, with the suffix "-sen" or "-son" added to a first name to indicate heritage. However, it started declining with the introduction of hereditary surnames. Today, Svendsen is a common surname in both Norway and Denmark.

Svendsen: Where does the name Svendsen come from?

The last name Svendsen is primarily found in the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. It is the 17th most common surname in Denmark and the 39th most common surname in Norway. It is also fairly common throughout the rest of the world, especially in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, and Australia.

In Norway, the last name Svendsen has a long history, stretching back to the Viking Age. Even today, many Norwegians with this last name are descended from the original Viking families. Svendsen is also a patronymic name, meaning that it is derived from the father's given name. This is typical of many Norwegian last names.

In Denmark, Svendsen is particularly common in central and northern parts of the country, including around the cities of Aarhus, Copenhagen, Holstebro, and Odense. It is also fairly common in other parts of Denmark. Additionally, the last name is found in many parts of Sweden, including Stockholm, Malmö, Göteborg, and Uppsala.

The last name Svendsen is also commonly found in the U.S., where it is the 962nd most popular surname. It is particularly prevalent in Utah, particularly in the cities of Salt Lake City and Provo. Additionally, the last name Svendsen is very common in the UK, especially in cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester. It is also common in Australia, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney. It is also common in France, particularly in Paris, Bordeaux, and Marseille.

Variations of the surname Svendsen

Sveindsson, Sveindersen, Svendsdottir, Svendsen, Svendsdotter, Svendsdatter, Svendsdotir, Svendsdottir, Sverendsdottir, Sveindorson, Sveindorsson, Svenner, Svensdatter, Svensdatir, Svensen, Svensondatter, Svensondottir, Svenson, Svensson, Svinsen, Vendsen, and Vendtsen.

Svendsen is a patronymic Scandinavian version of 'son of Sven'. It is a particularly common surname in Norway, although it is also used in Denmark and Sweden. Variants and other forms of the name are often seen in different countries and regions.

The variant Sveindsson is derived from the Old Norse personal name Sveinn. It originates in Sweden, although the exact origin of the name is unknown. In Iceland, Svenners and Sveindorssons were also used.

The Danish Svenddottir and Svendsdotter are patronymic or matronymic daughters of 'Svend'. Similarly, Svendsdatter and Svendsdotir, seen in Denmark and Sweden are patronymic and matronymic versions of the same name.

In Norway, variant forms Svendsen and Vendsen are the most popular. The prefix 'ven' is derived from the Old Norse 'vendi' meaning 'a turn' and the suffix 'sen' means 'son' or 'descendant'. Variants denoted with 'ven' may have originated in the southwestern region of Norway.

The suffix 'sdottir' is used to denote the matronymic daughters of a man called 'Sven', 'Svein' or 'Vin'. Examples are Svendsdottir, Sveindersen, Svinsen, Sverendsdottir and Sveindorson, seen in across Scandinavia.

The suffix 'son' is also common with variants such as Svenson and Svensson in Sweden and Norway and Svensondatter and Svensondottir in Scandinavia.

In general, Svendsen is a very common Scandinavian surname with a multitude of variants and other spellings used in different countries. However the basic root of the surname stays the same – SVEND meaning 'son of Sven' in Old Norse.

Famous people with the name Svendsen

• Charlotte Svendsen: Danish violinist, concertmaster, and chamber musician.
• Kåre Svendsen: Norwegian jazz musician, composer, arranger, and bandleader.
• Vibeke Svendsen: Danish long-distance runner who competes in marathons and cross country races.
• Kristine Svendsen: Norwegian author and former politician.
• Tore Svendsen: Norwegian swimmer and competitor in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
• Henrik Svendsen: Danish alpine-ski racer who participated in the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France.
• Liv Svendsen: Norwegian writer and children’s author.
• Line Svendsen: Norwegian footballer.
• Jone Svendsen: Norwegian sailor who competed for his country in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• Patrik Svendsen: Swedish bassist and multi-instrumentalist.

Other surnames

Svendson