Torkelson
Patronymic surname derived from the Scandinavian personal name Torkel, meaning "Thor's cauldron" or "Thor's helmet."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,639 Americans carry the last name Torkelson. That puts it at #13,376 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.77 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 129,880 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Torkelson 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
2.6K
1 in 129,880
Census rank
#13,376
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,277 bearers of the surname Torkelson in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.77 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13376th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Torkelson, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Torkelson
The surname Torkelson originated in Scandinavia, most likely in Sweden or Norway. It is a patronymic name, meaning it was derived from the given name of an ancestor. The name is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century when surnames began to be used more widely.
The root of the name is the Old Norse personal name Torkel or Torkil, which is a compound name composed of the elements "Thor" (the name of the Norse god of thunder) and "ketill" (meaning cauldron or helmet). The suffix "-son" was added to denote "son of Torkel."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Torkelson name can be found in the Icelandic Landnámabók (Book of Settlements), which dates back to the late 12th century. The book mentions a man named Torkel who settled in Iceland during the 9th century.
In the medieval period, the name Torkelson appeared in various Scandinavian records and manuscripts, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Torkillson or Thorkelsson.
Notable individuals with the Torkelson surname include:
1. Torkel Torkelsson (c. 1290-1350), a Norwegian nobleman and landowner who played a role in the Norwegian struggle for independence from Denmark.
2. Ingrid Torkelsdatter (c. 1450-1510), a Danish noblewoman and landowner known for her involvement in local politics and disputes.
3. Nils Torkelson (1560-1625), a Swedish merchant and ship owner who established trade routes between Sweden and the Netherlands.
4. Knut Torkelsson (1675-1745), a Norwegian farmer and local leader who was involved in disputes over land rights and taxation.
5. Anna Torkelsdotter (1810-1885), a Swedish immigrant to the United States who settled in Minnesota and played a role in the establishment of the Swedish-American community in the region.
While the Torkelson name has its roots in Scandinavia, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Torkelson
Among Census respondents with the surname Torkelson, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Torkelson 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 Torkelson surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.9%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Black or African American0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Torkelson 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,418 | #13,376 | -7.7% |
| Count | 2,292 | 2,277 | -0.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.85 | 0.77 | -9.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Torkelson bearers went from 2,292 to 2,277 (-0.7% change). The surname moved down 958 positions in the national ranking, going from #12,418 to #13,376.
FAQ
Torkelson surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Torkelson?
The surname Torkelson holds position #13,376 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,639 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.77 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Torkelson surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Torkelson, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.5%). 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.