Surname Petterson - Meaning and Origin
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Petterson: What does the surname Petterson mean?
The last name Petterson is of Scandinavian origin, primarily used in Sweden, and its meaning is "son of Peter". The name Peter is derived from the Greek word "Petros" meaning "rock" or "stone", being symbolic of solidity or strength. It was popularized through its association with the biblical figure Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, and hence the name represents a familial lineage tracing back to a 'son of Peter'. In Scandinavian cultures, patronymic surnames were formed by using the father's given name and adding 'son' or 'sen' as a suffix implying 'son of'. Therefore, Petterson endorses traditional Scandinavian practices of creating family names and evokes a direct link to the ancestral Peters in the family lineage. It is also spelled as Pettersson or Petersson in different regions or families.
Order DNA origin analysisPetterson: Where does the name Petterson come from?
The last name Petterson is one of the most common surnames in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. In Sweden, it is the third most common surname, with approximately 2.8% of the population (288,231 people) sharing the name. It is also relatively common in the United States, ranking at 8,276 on the U.S. Census Bureau's list of prevalent surnames. Pettersen is an alternate spelling of the name occasionally seen in Scandinavian countries.
In the United States, the Petterson surname is most commonly found in states that were home to large Scandinavian immigration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North and South Dakota. It is also found in substantial numbers in other parts of the country, especially in northern and eastern coastal states. Many of today's Pettersons in the United States can trace their roots to Scandinavia.
Petterson remains an extremely common surname in Scandinavia, particularly in Norway where it is the second most popular surname (310,784 people in 2019). It is particularly prevalent in Norway's western and southern regions, especially in cities such as Bergen, Oslo and Stavanger. Petterson is the sixth common surname in Denmark, with 115,716 people bearing the name as of 2019.
Variations of the surname Petterson
The most common variants and spellings of the surname Petterson are Peterson, Peterson, Petrson, Paterson, Patersen, and Pettersen. This surname originated in Scandinavia and is believed to have originally been a patronymic, meaning it was derived from a father's given name.
The variations in spelling and pronunciation of Petterson likely arose from the various dialects of Scandinavia. For example, the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish variants of the spelling are Peterson, Patersen and Pettersson respectively. This surname saw further diversification as it spread to other countries, such as England and Germany. In England, the spelling most commonly began to take on an anglicized form, Paterson, while in Germany it became either Petersen or Petersson.
Other spelling variations of Petterson including Peterson or Paterson can be found in various countries that the surname spread to. In Scotland, this spelling was anglicized to become Paterson and in Germany, Paterson became Petersson.
The Petterson surname also experienced changes of name similar to other European surnames, such as in Poland and France. In Poland, the name very often changed to Kowalczyk or Kowalski, while in France, the spelling could be adapted to Patris.
The Petterson surname has variations in spelling and name depending on the country and region it is being used in. These various spellings can be used to trace the family tree and to help distinguish the variations of a surname from family to family.
Famous people with the name Petterson
- Chris Petterson: Canadian actor, director, and theatre producer
- John Petterson: Member of the Allman Brothers Band and Grammy nominee
- Henrik Petterson: Swedish professional ice hockey player
- Chuck Petterson: Cellist for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
- Rusty Petterson: Former professional baseball player
- Mathew Petterson: Actor, director and founder of a children education foundation
- Eric Petterson: American former NBA player
- Emma Petterson: British Olympic bobsledder
- Colin Petterson: Golfer, two-time winner of the British Senior Open
- Olivia Petterson: British folk-rock singer songwriter