Surname Svendson - Meaning and Origin

Svendson: What does the surname Svendson mean?

The last name Svendson is of Scandinavian origin and primarily found in Denmark and Norway. It means "son of Svend", with Svend being a given name. The '-son' postfix is a common feature in Scandinavian countries indicating lineage. Svend, also spelled Sven or Swen, is derived from Old Norse meaning a sprightly, lively young man, or a strong young warrior. The name Svend itself was very popular among Danish and Swedish Kings during the Viking Age and Middle Ages. Therefore, the surname Svendson can be inferred to mean 'the son of a young, lively man' or 'the son of a young warrior.' The spelling can sometimes vary with 'd' being replaced by 't' i.e., Sventson, due to linguistic preferences and pronunciation in different regions.

Svendson: Where does the name Svendson come from?

The last name Svendson is most commonly found in Norway and northern Europe. Today, Svendson is among the top 40 most common last names in Norway, with about 17,000 people in Norway bearing this surname.svendson is also found in other Nordic countries such as Sweden and Denmark. Svendsen is the second most common last name in Denmark and the eleventh most common in Sweden, with more than 23,600 Svendson family members in Sweden alone. Beyond the Nordic countries, Svendson has spread around the world, with people bearing this surname in small pockets throughout North America, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.

In Norwegian, the name comes from the word svefn, which means sleep. The name was used to describe one who was sleepy or sluggish.svendsen is pronounced as "Svend-son", but variations can be seen, such as "swen-son" or "svend-son" in other countries. The Svendson coat of arms consists of a blue shield with a gold cross that was used as a mark of recognition.

Today, Svendson is a common surname that is spread throughout parts of Europe and beyond. Many people of Norwegian descent will likely recognize this surname in their ancestry.

Variations of the surname Svendson

Svendson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of svend" (a form of the name Stephen). It is used primarily in Scandinavian countries, where it has seen various small variations in spelling.

The most common spelling of the surname Svendson is found in Sweden, where the spelling is often Svendsen. This is due to a Swedish linguistic process known as "å-mutation" where the "å" character is pronounced the same as "o".

In Norway the 'N' is often dropped from the surname, making it Svendsøn. This is quite common, especially in rural areas, and is a result of the similarity between the modern Norwegian language and the Old Norse of centuries ago.

In Denmark, Svendson often becomes Svendtsen due to articulation in the Danish language.

The surname Svendson has many variations, including Svenson, Swenson, Swainson, Swannson, Svensson, Swindle, Svenningsen, Svensdotter, Sveinson, and Swanston, among others. Surnames similar to Svendson include Svenson, Swenson, and Svensdotter, which all share the same meaning, “son of Svend.”

Svendson was likely derived from Stephen, the English form of the Greek name Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "garland." It was popularized by various saints and kings throughout history. It is believed that Svendson was likely a corruption of the Greek Stephanos and eventually made its way to Scandinavia and became Svendson.

Famous people with the name Svendson

• Modou Barrow: professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for SD Huesca in the Segunda División.
• Henrik Svendsen: Former Norwegian footballer who played for Lyn Oslo and Stabæk.
• Einar Svendsen: Norwegian ups driver and Arctic Cross-country skiing champion.
• Peder Svendson: Norwegian soccer player who played for FK Heming in the Norwegian Superior League.
• Kenneth Svendson: Norwegian footballer who played for Sandefjord Fotball, Mjøndalen IF and Start IF.
• Ulf Svendson: Danish football coach and former player who last played as defender for Copenhagen in 2009.
• Leif Svendsen: Norwegian alpine skier who competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics.
• Erling Svendson: Norwegian paper manufacturer and civic leader from Tønsberg.
• Svend Svendson: Danish inventor and mechanical engineer who designed and made the first Danish automobile.
• Carl Svendson: American musical composer, songwriter and producer.

Other surnames

Svendsen