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

Hedahl, 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 Hedahl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hedahl in America

Hedahl is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hedahl surname appeared 105 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Hedahl.

The history of the last name Hedahl

The surname Hedahl is of Norwegian origin, with its roots tracing back to the 8th or 9th century. Originally, it was derived from the Old Norse word "hei?r," meaning "honor" or "respect," and "dalr," meaning "valley." The name suggests that it may have initially referred to a person residing in an honorable or respected valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Gulating Law, a medieval Norwegian law code from the 12th century. Here, the name appeared as "Heidardal," which is believed to be an earlier spelling variation.

During the Viking Age, from the late 8th to the 11th century, the name Hedahl may have been associated with prominent Norse figures who settled in various parts of Scandinavia and beyond. However, specific historical references are scarce due to the limited documentation from that era.

In the 13th century, a Norwegian farmer named Olav Hedahl was mentioned in the Icelandic sagas, which were written accounts of the lives and deeds of notable individuals. Unfortunately, little is known about Olav Hedahl beyond his name and occupation.

As the name spread through Norway and other Scandinavian countries, it underwent several spelling variations, such as Heidahl, Heidall, and Heidahl, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes over time.

In the 17th century, a Swedish nobleman named Gustaf Hedahl (1638-1712) gained prominence as a military commander during the Great Northern War. He served under King Charles XII and played a significant role in several battles against the Danish and Russian forces.

Another notable bearer of the name was the Norwegian painter Lars Hedahl (1859-1945), known for his landscape paintings depicting the rugged beauty of Norway's fjords and mountains.

Ingrid Hedahl (1901-1988), a Swedish botanist and researcher, made significant contributions to the study of plant systematics and evolution. She spent much of her career at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm.

In the 20th century, the Norwegian sculptor Arnold Hedahl (1919-2009) gained international recognition for his abstract and modernist works, which can be found in various public spaces and galleries across Norway and beyond.

Overall, the surname Hedahl has a rich history deeply rooted in Scandinavian culture and traditions, with its earliest origins dating back to the Viking Age and evolving over centuries as it spread throughout the region and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hedahl

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

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 Hedahl 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.

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 Hedahl was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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