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

Magnuson, 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 Magnuson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Magnuson in America

Magnuson is the 4445th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Magnuson surname appeared 7,980 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Magnuson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Magnuson 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 Magnuson

The surname Magnuson has its origins in Sweden, tracing back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old Norse personal name Magnus, which comes from the Latin word "magnus" meaning "great" or "mighty." This name was popular among the Scandinavian nobility during the Viking era.

The earliest known record of the Magnuson surname appears in the Swedish Parish Records from the late 1500s, where it was often spelled as Magnusson or Månssonr, reflecting the Swedish patronymic naming tradition. Some of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname include Nils Magnusson (born circa 1570) from Dalarna, and Olof Magnusson (born circa 1585) from Västergötland.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Magnuson surname became more widespread throughout Sweden, particularly in the regions of Småland, Östergötland, and Värmland. Prominent individuals from this period include Johan Magnuson (1637-1697), a Swedish theologian and professor at Uppsala University, and Carl Magnuson (1706-1786), a Swedish merchant and shipowner who made significant contributions to the development of the Swedish East India Company.

In the 19th century, many Swedes bearing the Magnuson surname emigrated to the United States, particularly to the Midwestern states of Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. One notable figure from this era was Carl Magnusson (1819-1899), a Swedish immigrant who settled in Illinois and became a successful businessman and philanthropist.

Other notable individuals with the Magnuson surname throughout history include:

1. Theodor Magnusson (1840-1911), a Swedish-American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

2. Warren G. Magnuson (1905-1989), an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Washington for over three decades, and played a key role in the development of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

3. Lars Magnusson (1923-2014), a Swedish historian and author, known for his extensive research on the history of Sweden during the Middle Ages.

4. Ingrid Magnusson (born 1937), a Swedish actress and author, best known for her roles in several Swedish television series and films.

5. Erik Magnusson (born 1968), a Swedish professional golfer who has won several tournaments on the European Tour.

While the Magnuson surname has evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to the Old Norse personal name Magnus, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and history of the Scandinavian region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Magnuson

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

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

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

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