Surname Adolfsson - Meaning and Origin
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Adolfsson: What does the surname Adolfsson mean?
The last name Adolfsson is a patronymic surname originating in Sweden, deriving from the given name Adolf or its variant Adolph. It is derived from the Latin name Adolphus, which is derived from the Germanic elements adal (meaning “noble”) and wolf (meaning “wolf”) Therefore, the name Adolfsson can be interpreted to mean “son of noble wolf” or “son of Adolf”.
Since surnames developed when people began to migrate and get established in new territories, the original spelling of a surname can vary according to the language or culture of a region. As a result, Adolfsson is also seen various spellings, including Adolfsen, Adolfson, and Adolvsson.
The surname Adolfsson is quite common in Sweden and Finland. A notable bearer of the name was Nils Adolfsson (1807–1867), a Swedish painter from Uppsala. He is well known for his large ceiling and wall paintings found in churches, which depicted mythical scenes.
The name Adolfsson is not limited to Sweden. For example, there are Adolfssons currently living in the United States, where the surname is most concentrated in the states of Texas, California, Minnesota, and Massachusetts.
Overall, Adolfsson is a patronymic surname stemming from the the given name Adolf or its variant Adolph, with its original meaning being “son of noble wolf” or “son of Adolf”. It is quite common in Sweden and Finland, and can also be found throughout other parts of the world, including the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisAdolfsson: Where does the name Adolfsson come from?
The last name Adolfsson is most commonly found in Scandinavia. It is the 31st most common surname in Sweden and the 34th most common surname in Norway, according to statistical data from 2020. Adolfsson is also found elsewhere in Europe, but to a much lesser degree.
Adolfsson originated in Sweden, with the oldest recorded reference from the 1500s. The first person documented with the surname was born in Jämtland in the year 1540. Adolfsson is believed to have been derived from the Old German word "adawald," which means "noble ruler."
The highest population of Adolfsson is located in the Scandinavian countries, with the largest concentration in Sweden. The small municipalities of Stöde and Ragunda, both in Jämtland in the north of Sweden, have a high number of Adolfsson households.
Adolfsson is also found in the United States. According to the United States Census for 2020, there are over 1,000 people with this surname currently living in the United States. The states with the highest concentrations are California, Washington, and Minnesota.
Variations of the surname Adolfsson
Adolfsson is a surname of Scandinavian origin that is predominantly found in Sweden and Norway. Commonly, Adolfsson is spelled Adolphson, however the variants for this surname include Adelfson, Adelsdotter, Adelsson, Adolphsen, Aether, Álfheim, Álfarsdóttir, Ålfsen, Aalefson, Aalfsen, Ålfsdotter, Aalefsøn, Aalfsdotter, Alfseth, Álfr and Álfsdóttir.
Although the original form of Adolfsson was found in Old Norse as Álfhildr, it was changed into the Scandinavian form of Álfr (or Adolf) by the early Middle Ages. It is commonly believed to be derived from the Old Norse words álfr ("elf") and hildr ("battle," "fight"), and can be interpreted to mean "elf warrior" or "supernatural warrior.”
Surnames in the Adolfsson family tree, including variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, can show a wide variety of additional names, including Adeler, Adeler, Alexandersson, Alfsson, Andersson, Augustinsson, Axelson, Carlsson, Dahlqvist, Edin, Edstrom, Ekbom, Gustafsson, Johnsson, Lindberg, Lundin, Olsson, Olofsson, Persson, Ryd, Salomonsson, Sjöberg, Svensson,Thorlakson, Wendel, and much more.
As it is a very common surname, many variations of Adolfsson have emerged throughout the Nordic countries. While some are more widely used than others, all variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are believed to be descended in some way from the original, Old Norse form of Álfhildr.
Famous people with the name Adolfsson
- James Adolfsson: Swedish professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
- Lina Adolfsson: Swedish Handball player, best known for playing for the Swedish National Team between 1988-1995.
- Andreas Adolfsson: Swedish Politician and Member of Parliament.
- Henrik Adolfsson: Swedish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour.
- Eva Adolfsson: Swedish professional track and field athlete, specializing in the sprinting events.
- Kalle Adolfsson: Swedish professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Västerås IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
- Axel Adolfsson: Swedish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
- Carolina Adolfsson: Swedish professional kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter.
- Magnus Adolfsson: Swedish voice actor best known for his work dubbing multiple Disney films in his native language.
- Fredrik Adolfsson: Swedish professional footballer who currently plays for Mjällby AIF.