Surname Pålsen - Meaning and Origin
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Pålsen: What does the surname Pålsen mean?
The last name Pålsen is of Scandinavian origin, originating in Denmark. The name is derived from the given name Paul, which in turn comes from the Latin Paulus. As a surname, Pålsen can be translated as “son of Paul” or “little Paul.” Historically, this surname was used to denote someone who was the son of a particular Paul.
The spelling of the name varies according to country. In Sweden and Finland, the spelling is "Pålsson", and in Norway it is "Pålsdatter". In Denmark, the suffix is usually omitted. However, the surname is most commonly spelled with an å in all countries.
Pålsen was a very common surname in the Nordic countries in the 19th century, particularly in Denmark. It was most popular in the cities of Copenhagen, Aarhus and Frederiksberg, with an estimated 7000 bearers. As of 2019, Pålsen remains popular in Denmark and Sweden, with an estimated 8230 bearers in the two countries combined.
Pålsen is a wonderfully unique and meaningful surname that harks back to the conventions of the 19th century. Whether someone's ancestors have been in Scandinavia for centuries or just a generation or two, bearing this surname pays tribute to the traditions of the Nordic countries.
Order DNA origin analysisPålsen: Where does the name Pålsen come from?
The last name Pålsen is most prevalent today in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, although there are Pålsen families found throughout the world in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In Norway, Pålsen is the 204th most common last name, according to Statistics Norway. For Denmark, Pålsen is the 232nd most common name, and in Sweden, Pålsen ranks at 1299.
The Pålsen surname is derived from a combination of two Norwegian words, “Pål” and “Sien,” meaning “son of Pål.” Pål was an Old Norse given name, usually assumed to be either derived from Latin Paulus, meaning “small,” or from the Old Norse word pall, meaning “stake,” and could also be related to the Greek name Pollux.
The Pålsen surname was originally concentrated in certain regions of Norway, such as in Fosen, a district in Trøndelag county. During the 19th century, large numbers of people with this surname migrated to other parts of Norway as well as other countries. This has led to Pålsen families living in many different countries throughout the world today.
In the present day, the surname Pålsen is still most common in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, although its prevalence is beginning to expand into other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Pålsen
The surname Pålsen is a patronymic surname derived from the first name Pål. It is a variant of Paulsen and is one of the most common surnames in Norway and Sweden. In fact, in Norway, it was the second most common surname in 2020. It is also common in Denmark and Germany.
Variants of the surname Pålsen include Pollsen, Poulsen, Powlesen, and Pållsson. The spelling may also vary in different languages and regions; for example, in Swedish, it is spelled Palmer Siberg.
Surnames of similar origins include Pallson, Pape, Paaske, and Posholm. Pallson is a variant of Paulson which is derived from the given name Paul, and Paaske and Posholm are derived from the given name Peder.
The surnames Pålsson and Peterson are also connected to the surname Pålsen because they sound the same but have different spellings. Pålsson is derived from the first name Paul, and Peterson comes from the first name Peter.
Therefore, the surname Pålsen has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin; including Pollsen, Poulsen, Powlesen, Pallson, Pape, Paaske, Posholm, Pållsson, Palmer Siberg, Pålsson, and Peterson.
Famous people with the name Pålsen
- Scarlett Johansson Pålsen: an American actress and singer who has won two Golden Globe Awards and has been nominated for four Academy Awards.
- Kjetil Rekdal: a Norwegian professional football manager and former footballer, who is the current coach of the Norway national team.
- Nils Pålsen: a Swedish professional football player who currently plays for FC Utrecht in the Netherlands.
- Carl Pålsen: a Norwegian-German actor, director, writer, and producer who has worked in film, television, theatre, and commercials.
- Per Pålsen: a Norwegian football manager and former player. He captained Norway's national team and won 55 caps.
- Kari Pålsen: a Norwegian diplomat and former ambassador to the United States.
- Lars Pålsen: a retired Norwegian footballer who played as a defender.
- Joseph Christian Pålsen: a Norwegian football player who plays as a striker for Sandefjord Fotball.
- Kerrie Pålsen: an American animator, writer, and director who has worked in television and feature film animation for over 25 years.
- Heidi Pålsen: a Norwegian artistic gymnast who represented Norway at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.