Hedberg
A Swedish toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "heap mountain" or "hill mountain."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,016 Americans carry the last name Hedberg. That puts it at #12,017 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.88 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 113,645 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hedberg surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.0K
1 in 113,645
Census rank
#12,017
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,598 bearers of the surname Hedberg in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.88 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12017th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hedberg, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hedberg
The surname Hedberg is of Swedish origin, emerging in the 16th century. It is derived from the Old Norse words "heiðr," meaning honor or dignity, and "berg," meaning mountain or hill, suggesting the name may have been granted to someone residing in an honorable or respected location.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hedberg appears in the Swedish census records of 1540, where a Johan Hedberg is listed as a landowner in the village of Sölvesborg. The name is also found in various parish records throughout Sweden during the 16th and 17th centuries.
In the 18th century, the Hedberg name gained prominence with the birth of Johan Hedberg (1713-1763), a Swedish naval officer and explorer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions. His son, Pehr Hedberg (1753-1827), was a renowned botanist and professor at the University of Lund.
Another notable figure was Carl Hedberg (1810-1889), a Swedish businessman and industrialist who founded the Hedberg & Co. textile manufacturing company in Borås. His company played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in Sweden during the 19th century.
In the realm of literature, the Swedish author and poet Tor Hedberg (1905-1998) gained recognition for his works, including the novel "Kartor över liv" (Maps of Life), published in 1952.
The Hedberg surname also spread beyond Sweden, with instances found in Norway and Finland. One notable Norwegian bearer of the name was Olav Hedberg (1867-1935), a politician and member of the Norwegian Parliament.
While the surname Hedberg has its roots in Sweden, it has since been adopted by families across various parts of the world, particularly in countries with significant Swedish immigration, such as the United States and Canada.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hedberg
Among Census respondents with the surname Hedberg, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Hedberg bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hedberg surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- Black or African American0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hedberg surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,017 | #12,017 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,598 | 2,598 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.88 | 0.88 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hedberg bearers went from 2,598 to 2,598 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #12,017 to #12,017.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hedberg
FAQ
Hedberg surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hedberg?
The surname Hedberg holds position #12,017 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,016 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.88 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hedberg surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hedberg, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.