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

Westerdahl, 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 Westerdahl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Westerdahl in America

Westerdahl is the 74826th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Westerdahl surname appeared 258 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 Westerdahl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Westerdahl 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 Westerdahl

The surname Westerdahl originates from Sweden, dating back to the 17th century. It is a locational name derived from the Swedish words "väster" meaning "west" and "dahl" meaning "valley." The name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a western valley.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Westerdahl can be found in Swedish church records from the late 1600s. Some variations in spelling include Westerdal, Westerdahlen, and Westerdalen, reflecting the evolution of the name over time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Westerdahl was Johan Westerdahl, born in 1681 in Skåne, Sweden. He was a renowned historian and archaeologist who published several works on Swedish antiquities and ancient monuments.

In the 18th century, Carl Gustaf Westerdahl (1706-1785) was a Swedish naval officer and cartographer who played a significant role in mapping the coastlines of Sweden and Finland. His detailed charts and maps were highly influential in maritime navigation during that era.

Another notable figure was Anna Westerdahl (1753-1824), a Swedish author and playwright. She wrote several successful plays and novels, contributing to the literary culture of her time.

In the 19th century, Erik Westerdahl (1824-1892) was a Swedish politician and journalist. He served as a member of the Swedish parliament and was an advocate for social reforms and workers' rights.

More recently, Ola Westerdahl (1927-2018) was a Swedish artist and sculptor known for his abstract and minimalist works. His sculptures can be found in public spaces throughout Sweden and beyond.

While the surname Westerdahl originated in Sweden, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its roots and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the western valleys of Sweden in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Westerdahl

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

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

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

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