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

Swenson, 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 Swenson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swenson in America

Swenson is the 1563rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swenson surname appeared 23,009 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Swenson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swenson 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 Swenson

The surname Swenson originated in Sweden during the medieval period. It is a patronymic name, derived from the combination of the Swedish personal name Sven and the suffix "-son" meaning "son of." Sven is an ancient Scandinavian name, believed to have origins in the Old Norse word "sveinr," meaning "young man" or "servant."

In Sweden, patronymic surnames were commonly used, with the son taking the father's given name and adding the suffix "-son." This tradition was widespread in Scandinavia and helped distinguish individuals within communities. The earliest recorded instances of the name Swenson can be found in Swedish church records from the 16th and 17th centuries.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Swenson was Anders Swenson, a Swedish farmer born in the late 16th century in the province of Småland. Historical records indicate that he owned land in the village of Järeda, which was part of the larger parish of Västra Torsås.

In the 19th century, the name Swenson gained prominence with several notable individuals. Carl Swenson, born in 1857 in Västra Götaland, was a renowned Swedish painter known for his landscapes and portraits. His works can be found in various museums and galleries throughout Sweden.

Another noteworthy figure was Olof Swenson, born in 1847 in Östergötland. He was a successful entrepreneur and industrialist who established several businesses in the timber and mining industries. Swenson's enterprises played a significant role in the economic development of Sweden during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The name Swenson also gained recognition outside of Sweden through migration. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Swedish immigrants bearing the surname Swenson settled in the United States, particularly in the Midwestern states. One such individual was August Swenson, born in 1868 in Västergötland, who became a prominent figure in the Swedish-American community in Minnesota.

Another notable Swenson was Anna Swenson, born in 1859 in Jämtland, Sweden. She immigrated to the United States in the late 19th century and became an influential advocate for women's rights and social reforms in the state of Wisconsin.

Throughout its history, the surname Swenson has been associated with various occupations, from farmers and artisans to entrepreneurs and professionals. Its Swedish roots and the tradition of patronymic naming have contributed to its enduring presence in both Sweden and communities with Swedish heritage around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swenson

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

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

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

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