Surname Westerlund - Meaning and Origin
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Westerlund: What does the surname Westerlund mean?
The last name Westerlund is of Scandinavian origin and indicates a person from a place called Westerlund, which means ‘western grove’. It’s likely that the surname originated from a town of the same name located in Sweden, or a topographical descriptor given to the first bearer of the surname who lived near a western grove.
Today, the last name is common in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. People with the name Westerlund may have a strong connection to their Scandinavian heritage, as many people who bear this name are extremely proud of the Nordic culture and celebrate its traditions.
The origins of the Westerlund surname also relate to the vivid history of the Scandinavian region. In the past, it has been a battleground filled with wars over disputed territories that have shaped the people and culture of this region.
After World War II, a large number of Scandinavian people migrated to other countries, including the United States, which led to the wider spread of the Westerlund name. This made it easier for members of the family to stay in touch with one another.
People with the name Westerlund are often described as strong-willed individuals with big dreams. They can be very independent, yet will still lend a helping hand whenever needed. They are passionate about achieving their goals and will go to great lengths to accomplish what they set out to do.
Order DNA origin analysisWesterlund: Where does the name Westerlund come from?
The last name Westerlund is most commonly found in Scandinavian countries such as Finland, Sweden, and Norway. According to the US Census, there were a total of 2,086 individuals with the last name Westerlund living in the US in 2020. The majority of these people live in California (377), Michigan (305), Minnesota (212), and New York (108).
In Sweden, there are approximately 37,186 people with the last name Westerlund. It is the 63rd most common surname in the country, with the most Westerlunds found in the region of Västra Götaland. The city of Göteborg has the highest number of people with the name, with 2,316 individuals.
In Finland, the last name of Westerlund is considered quite rare. According to the Population Register Centre, there are only 828 individuals in the country with the last name. The majority of these people live in the region of Uusimaa (513 individuals).
Though rare, there is a noteworthy presence of people with the last name Westerlund in Norway as well. The population in Norway bearing this name stands at 772. The majority of these people are found in the regions of Vestfold, Oslo, and Akershus.
Overall, the last name of Westerlund is quite rare in comparison to other surnames. Nevertheless, it can be found in notable populations throughout Scandinavia, with most people holding the name living within the US, Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
Variations of the surname Westerlund
The Westerlund surname is a Swedish surname that originated in the area of Westerlind in central Sweden. It is believed that the surname has been in use since the Middle Ages, possibly even earlier. There are several variants and spellings of the name but all of them are derived from the same root. Some of the simple variations of this surname include Westerlund, Westlund, Viisterlund, Vestlend and Westerelrand.
Surnames that derive from the same root as Westerlund are likely to be found in other parts of the Scandinavian countries such as Denmark, Norway and Finland. In Sweden, the variants Westlind and Festerlind are commonly used. In Norway, the variants Vestlind and Vesterlien are sometimes used. In Denmark, the variants Westerlind and Vestlindal can be seen.
Other spellings of the surname include Wästerlind, Vesterlainen, Westerland, Vesterlöf, Vestland, Vestli, Vestlin, Vesterleene, Vesterlind, Västlund and Westerley.
Surnames that are variants of Westerlund can also be seen in other European countries. For example in Germany the name Westerlinck and Westerling can be seen, while in the Netherlands the surname Westerlinck.
Today, Westerlund is a popular surname in Sweden, and can be found among other Scandinavian countries. The meaning of the name has stayed the same over time and is believed to have originally meant “western field”.
Famous people with the name Westerlund
- Tuomas Holopainen: Finnish musician, multi-instrumentalist, composer and songwriter, best known as the founder, leader, key songwriter and keyboardist of symphonic metal band Nightwish
- Johanna Westerlund: Finnish singer-songwriter and former lead vocalist of Finnish metal band Sinergy
- Tanja Westerlund: Finnish computer scientist and professor at the University of Helsinki
- Wille Westerlund: Norwegian political adviser and former Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice and Public Security
- Rober Westerlund: Swedish photographer and visual artist
- Malin Westerlund: Finnish classical pianist
- Julius Westerlund: Finnish cross-country skier y
- Jari Westerlund: Finnish strength and conditioning coach
- Raija Westerlund: Finnish actress
- Lasse Westerlund: Swedish actor, director and writer