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

Thorstenson, 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 Thorstenson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thorstenson in America

Thorstenson is the 33990th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thorstenson surname appeared 669 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 Thorstenson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thorstenson 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 Thorstenson

The surname Thorstenson originates from Sweden, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic name, meaning it was derived from the given name of the father or an ancestor. In this case, Thorstenson is a combination of the Old Norse name Thorsten, which itself is a compound of the words "Thor" (the Norse god of thunder) and "sten" (stone), and the Swedish patronymic suffix "-son" (son of).

The earliest recorded instances of the name Thorstenson can be traced back to the 13th century in various Swedish parish records and census documents. These early records often featured variations in spelling, such as Thorstænson, Thorstænssøn, or Thorsteinsson, reflecting the fluidity of naming conventions at the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Thorstenson was Erik Thorstenson, a Swedish military leader who fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). Born in 1592 in Västergötland, Sweden, Erik Thorstenson rose through the ranks of the Swedish army and became a respected commander known for his strategic prowess.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Anders Thorstenson, a Swedish merchant and shipowner who lived in the late 17th century. He was a successful businessman in Gothenburg and played a significant role in the city's maritime trade during that era.

In the 18th century, Nils Thorstenson (1698-1772) was a Swedish clergyman and author. He served as a vicar in several parishes and published several works on theology and sermons, making him a notable figure in the religious circles of his time.

The 19th century saw the rise of Carl Gustav Thorstenson (1819-1888), a Swedish artist and painter known for his landscape and genre paintings. He studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts and his works were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Another noteworthy figure was Ingrid Thorstenson (1874-1942), a Swedish women's rights activist and suffragette. She was a prominent voice in the fight for women's voting rights in Sweden and played a crucial role in the movement that eventually led to the enfranchisement of Swedish women in 1921.

While the surname Thorstenson has its origins in Sweden, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its strong connection to its Swedish heritage remains evident in its linguistic roots and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thorstenson

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

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

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

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