Halvorson
A Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning “son of Halvor.”
The #5,520 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 49,023 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Halvorson is a patronymic surname built from the personal name Halvor plus the meaning “son.” Halvor is the Scandinavian form of the old Norse personal name Hallvarðr, traditionally understood as combining elements meaning “rock, cliff” and “guardian.” So the surname originally meant “son of Halvor,” identifying a man by his father’s given name.
History
The surname is most strongly associated with Norway and Denmark, and later became common in North America through Scandinavian immigration. In the United States it is especially found in communities with Norwegian ancestry. The spelling with -son is the Anglicized form; Scandinavian originals more often appear as Halvorsen.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The related given name Halvor survives in Norway, though the surname form is much more widely seen outside Scandinavia.
From the historical record
“Halter, 306. Halton, 146. Halvorson, 6. Halworthy, 483. Haly, 435. Ham, 8, 31. Haman, 31, 87. Hamblen, 435.”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)