Find out how popular the last name Gundersen is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gundersen.

Gundersen, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gundersen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gundersen in America

Gundersen is the 15883rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gundersen surname appeared 1,831 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gundersen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gundersen to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gundersen

The surname Gundersen has its origins in Scandinavia, particularly in Norway. It is a patronymic name, meaning it was derived from the given name of the father, in this case Gunder or Gunnar. These Old Norse names are thought to have originated from the words "gunnr" meaning war and "arr" meaning warrior, essentially translating to "warrior" or "battle".

The earliest recorded instances of the name Gundersen can be traced back to the 13th century in Norway. It is believed to have originated in the region of Trøndelag, which was a hub for Norse culture and tradition during the Viking Age. The name is closely linked to the ancient Norwegian farm names Gundersrud and Gunnarrud.

In the 16th century, a Norwegian farmer named Jens Gundersen was mentioned in a land registry document, marking one of the earliest written records of the surname. Another notable early bearer of the name was Peder Gundersen, a Norwegian merchant and ship owner who lived in the late 17th century.

As the name spread across Norway and into other Scandinavian countries, variations in spelling emerged, such as Gundersen, Gunnarsen, and Gunnersen. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and regional variations in naming conventions.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Gundersen was the Norwegian explorer and polar researcher Nansen Gunnar Gundersen (1885-1967). He participated in several expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic regions, making significant contributions to the study of glaciology and meteorology.

Another notable figure was the Norwegian-American author and journalist Thomas Gundersen (1909-1993), who wrote extensively about the experiences of Norwegian immigrants in the United States. His works provided valuable insights into the cultural and social challenges faced by immigrant communities.

In the field of music, the Norwegian composer and organist Ludvig Mathias Gundersen (1839-1924) left a lasting impact with his compositions for church music and his work as an organist in several prominent churches in Oslo.

The surname Gundersen has also been associated with prominent figures in business and industry. One example is the Norwegian industrialist and shipping magnate Hilmar Gundersen (1908-2001), who built a successful shipping empire and was instrumental in the development of the Norwegian maritime industry.

Throughout its history, the surname Gundersen has remained closely tied to its Scandinavian roots, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the region. While the name has spread globally due to migration and immigration, it continues to be a distinctive surname with a strong connection to its Norse origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gundersen

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gundersen.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gundersen was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gundersen has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gundersen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gundersen, please contact us.

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