31 Norwegian Last Names & Meanings That Reveal Viking Roots
Norwegian last names are echoes of fjords, forests, and Viking blood. Until the early 1900s, Norwegians didn’t really have fixed surnames. You were “Hans Olsen” if your father was Ole, and your daughter might be “Anna Hansdatter.” Then in 1923, the country passed a law: everyone had to pick a permanent last name. Some kept the old patronymics. Others chose names tied to land that shaped their family’s life.
Today, these names still hum with history. They’re carried proudly in Oslo and Bergen, but also in Minnesota, Manitoba, and Melbourne.
This guide by Bestlastnames Team will walk you through 101 bold and beautiful Norwegian last names. Additionally, it will provide meanings, origins, and insider knowledge.
23 Most Common Norwegian Last Names and What They Mean
Norwegian surnames are a time capsule. Many of the most common Norwegian last names trace back to fathers, farms, or the land. They may sound similar, but each one carries a personal story, etched into tradition.
The “-sen” Power Line: Top Patronymic Surnames
These common Norwegian last names all follow one simple rule: take the father’s name and add “-sen”, meaning “son of.” After the 1923 Naming Law, these became hereditary surnames.
- Hansen – Son of Hans
- Johansen – Son of Johan
- Olsen – Son of Ole
- Larsen – Son of Lars
- Andersen – Son of Anders
- Pedersen – Son of Peder
- Nilsen – Son of Nils
- Kristiansen – Son of Kristian
- Jensen – Son of Jens
- Karlsen – Son of Karl
Together, these names are worn by over 1 in 4 Norwegians today (Statistics Norway).
As one Redditor put it:
“If you meet a Hansen, there’s a good chance their grandfather was, too. It just stuck.”
Related Article: 101 Most Common Last Names Around the Globe
The Nature of Farm-Based Surnames
Not every surname came from a father’s name. Many are place-based or drawn from the land where families lived. These names ground your identity in dirt, snow, and sky.
- Berg – “Mountain” or “hill”
- Dahl – “Valley”
- Lund – “Grove” or “small forest”
- Haugen – “The hill” or “mound”
- Hagen – “The pasture” or “enclosure”
- Ness – “Headland” or “promontory”
- Aas – “Ridge”
- Vik – “Bay” or “inlet”
- Moen – “Field” or “clearing”
- Holm – “Islet” or “small island”
- Bakke – “Slope”
- Strand – “Beach” or “shore”
- Skogen – “The forest”
21 Unique Norwegian Last Names You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Most people know a Hansen or Olsen. But Norway hides hundreds of unique Norwegian last names. These names are quietly carried by only a few hundred people. These names are rare because they were never loud to begin with.
Rare Surnames from Census and Registry Data
These names show up in official records, but just barely. Most have fewer than 300 bearers, making them quietly treasured.
- Lysne – From a Western Norwegian farm; possibly linked to “clearing” or “light patch in forest”
- Lykke – Means “happiness” or “fortune”
- Lerdahl – Tied to a narrow valley or ravine (dal = valley)
- Aurdal – “Gravel valley”
- Egeland – “Oak land”
- Fett – From a farm in Askøy; not what it sounds like in English
- Skår – “Notch” or “pass in mountains”
- Kvisvik – “Twig bay”
- Førde – “Ford” or crossing point on a river
- Ofstad – Likely linked to “upper place” (of = upper, stad = place)
Related Article: Unique Last Names: 101 Remarkable Surnames With Stories
Regional Treasures with a Backstory
These uncommon Norwegian last names often reflect geography specific to a valley or village. These names are sometimes only used by one or two families in history.
- Myklebust – “Large farmstead”
- Rogstad – “Rye place”
- Vassenden – “Water’s end” or lake edge
- Dyrstad – “Animal place”
- Grindheim – “Gate home” or entry farm
- Tjelta – Tied to a small coastal village in Rogaland
- Øvrebø – “Upper homestead”
Names with Myth and Mood
These rare Norwegian last names carry echoes of the old Norse world. Or the names that hum like a saga.
- Ravn – Means “raven,” a sacred animal to Odin
- Ulberg – “Wolf mountain”
- Skjold – “Shield”
- Rike – “Realm” or “kingdom”
17 Cool Norwegian Viking Last Names and Their Bold Meanings
When you think of Norwegian Viking last names, you think of steel, storms, and longships slicing through the fjords. These names were legends. Many passed down or revived in literature, games, and even baby name forums.
Names That Echo the Warrior Line
Traditional Norse naming followed a patronymic system, often ending in -son or -sen. These names were like battle banners.
- Ragnarsson – Son of Ragnar (“warrior judgment”)
- Eriksson – Son of Erik (“eternal ruler”)
- Sigurdsson – Son of Sigurd (“victory guard”)
- Haraldsson – Son of Harald (“army ruler”)
- Bjornsson – Son of Bjørn (“bear”)
- Thorvaldsen – Son of Thorvald (“Thor’s rule”)
- Eiriksson – Son of Eirik (“ever powerful”)
Names with Animal and Elemental Power
Many cool Norwegian last names draw power from nature like animals, weather, terrain.
- Ravn – “Raven”; Odin’s all-seeing birds
- Ulberg – “Wolf hill”
- Haukland – “Hawk land”
- Fjell – “Mountain”
- Solberg – “Sun hill”
- Stormo – “Storm island”
- Skogstad – “Forest place”
- Vargstad – “Wolf homestead”
- Drage – “Dragon”
From Norway to America: 19 Norwegian-American Last Names You’ll Recognize
When Norwegians crossed the Atlantic in the 1800s, they carried more than wool and woodcarving. They brought names. But once those names hit Ellis Island, many didn’t stay the same. That’s how Norwegian American last names were born.
🇺🇸 From “-sen” to “-son”: A Shift in Sound and Style
Many Norwegian last names in America dropped the “-sen” and adopted “-son.” to blend into a new country. It was subtle, but it changed the name’s DNA.
- Hansen → Hanson
- Johansen → Johnson
- Olsen → Olson
- Andersen → Anderson
- Pedersen → Peterson
- Jensen → Jenson
- Nilsen → Nelson
Names Changed by Distance and Identity
Many immigrants shortened or altered their names to get jobs, fit in, or avoid discrimination.
- Kristiansen → Christianson
- Karlsen → Carlson
- Halvorsen → Halverson
- Bjørnsen → Bjornson
- Torgersen → Torgerson
These weren’t just spelling updates, they were survival strategies.
Related Article: American Last Names: Origins, Trends & 137 Examples
Farm Names That Stayed Behind
Farm-based surnames didn’t make the journey as easily. American officials often didn’t understand them, and settlers were less tied to land.
- Haugen
- Lund
- Berg
- Dahl
- Vik
- Moen
- Bakke
13 Norwegian Last Names for Girls (and How They’re Used Today)
In old Norway, your last name told the world whose daughter you were. If your father was Ole, you were Olsdatter, literally “daughter of Ole.” That’s how Norwegian last names for girls worked for centuries. But like morning frost, that tradition melted with time.
The Disappearing “-datter”
The “-datter” suffix began fading out in the late 1800s. By 1923, the Naming Law required everyone to adopt fixed surnames regardless of gender. Girls took the family surname, just like boys. Most “-datter” names vanished from public records within a generation.
Most Common Female Surnames Today
Today, Norwegian female last names are simply shared family names. They have no gender variation and no suffixes. Here are some widely used across both women and men:
- Hansen – “Son (or daughter) of Hans”
- Johansen – “Son of Johan”
- Larsen – “Son of Lars”
- Olsen – “Son of Ole”
- Andersen – “Son of Anders”
- Berg – “Mountain”
- Dahl – “Valley”
- Lund – “Grove”
- Haugen – “The hill”
- Hagen – “The pasture”
- Nilsen – “Son of Nils”
- Karlsen – “Son of Karl”
- Moen – “Field” or “clearing”
They may say “son of,” but they’re worn equally by daughters today.
Equality in Naming
Norway now allows equal rights in surname choice. Couples can choose which name to pass down. Hyphenation, maternal surnames, or even merged names are increasingly common. It reflects a cultural shift: names are no longer just lineage—they’re identity choices.
15 Norwegian Last Names for Boys (and Their Epic Roots)
If you’re hunting for Norwegian last names for boys, start with strength. Most are patronymics, but many echo Norse legends, warrior clans, and mountain-born pride.
The Classic “-sen” Line
For boys, the “–sen” suffix has always meant one thing: sonship. A nod to heritage. A link in a long chain.
- Hansen – Son of Hans (short for Johannes)
- Olsen – Son of Ole
- Larsen – Son of Lars
- Andersen – Son of Anders
- Johansen – Son of Johan
- Nilsen – Son of Nils
- Jensen – Son of Jens
- Kristiansen – Son of Kristian
Warrior Surnames with Norse Fire
Beyond the patronymics, some Norwegian male last names pull from legend. These are the names that carry the weight of gods and ghosts.
- Ragnarsson – Son of Ragnar (“warrior judgment”)
- Sigurdsson – Son of Sigurd (“victory guard”)
- Haraldsson – Son of Harald (“army ruler”)
- Thorvaldsen – Son of Thorvald (“Thor’s power”)
- Eiriksson – Son of Eirik (“ever-ruler”)
- Ulberg – “Wolf mountain”
- Ravn – “Raven,” sacred to Odin
25 Norwegian Last Names That Start With S (and What They Mean)
Many Norwegian last names starting with S are tied to nature, place, or deep family lines. Some are soft like Solberg. Others are sharp, like Sørensen or Skår.
25 “S” Surnames and What They Mean
- Sørensen – “Son of Søren”
- Strand – “Beach” or “shoreline”
- Skogen – “The forest”
- Solberg – “Sun hill”
- Skar – “Notch” or “gap in mountains”
- Skjold – “Shield”
- Skarstad – “Place by the notch”
- Sandvik – “Sandy bay”
- Skaanes – “Sloping meadow”
- Stensrud – “Stone clearing”
- Skår – “Crack” or “cleft”
- Selvik – “Seal bay”
- Sæther – “Mountain pasture”
- Sund – “Strait” or “narrow sound”
- Slåttum – “Cleared field”
- Skarpnes – “Sharp headland”
- Sverdrup – “Sword village”
- Sogge – Possibly from a river in Møre og Romsdal
- Sandal – From farm name; not footwear
- Sørum – “Southern homestead”
- Stavik – “Staff bay”
- Sørby – “Southern settlement”
- Skjelvik – “Sloped bay”
- Salvesen – “Son of Salve”
- Skancke – Noble surname from Røros region
Pronunciation Tips
Norwegian pronunciation can be tricky for outsiders:
- Sørensen = “Suh-ren-sen” (ø = “uh” sound)
- Skjold = “Shyold” (kj/skj = soft “sh” blend)
- Skar = “Skar” with a rolled R
- Solberg = “Soohl-berg”, not “Soul-berg”
Royal Bloodlines: 7 Facts About the Norwegian Royal Family’s Last Name
Most people have a last name. The Norwegian royal family? They have a legacy. If you’re searching for the Norwegian royal family’s last name, you’ll come up empty—because officially, they don’t use one.
Here are 7 facts that explain why:
- No Surname by Design
Royalty doesn’t need a last name. King Harald V is simply known as Harald V, King of Norway. That’s it. No Hansen. No Olsen. - Their House Has a Name
The royal family belongs to the House of Glücksburg—a noble line rooted in German and Danish royalty. It’s the same house as monarchies in Denmark and formerly Greece. - A Foreign Name in a Norwegian Throne
The Glücksburg name arrived with King Haakon VII (born Prince Carl of Denmark) in 1905, when Norway gained independence and chose its own king for the first time in centuries. - Titles Replace Surnames
Royals go by their title and first name: Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra. There’s no “family name” listed on passports or public documents. - Different Rules for Nobility
Noble families in Norway historically used either patronymics or estate names—like Skancke or Gyldenløve. These names often came with coats of arms, but rarely worked like common surnames. - Marriage Introduces New Traditions
Queen Sonja was born Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner name ending in “-sen.” Her marriage to King Harald V in 1968 marked the first time a Norwegian monarch married outside royalty. - Modern Royals, Timeless Style
Today’s royals still skip surnames—but they carry family identity in full. Their coat of arms, title, and house affiliation say it all.
Build-A-Name: How to Sound Authentic
To make a believable Norwegian surname, mix one part root, one part suffix, and a dash of geography or tradition.
Common Prefixes/Roots:
- Berg – mountain
- Sol – sun
- Ul – wolf
- Skog – forest
- Fjell – mountain
- Ravn – raven
Common Suffixes:
- –sen – son of
- –vik – bay
- –dal – valley
- –stad – place or town
- –lund – grove
- –heim – home
Example:
Sol + berg = Solberg (“sun hill”)
Ravn + sen = Ravnsen (“son of the raven”)
Skog + stad = Skogstad (“forest town”)
These names are not just pretty, they’re also plausible. They mimic real Norwegian surname patterns still used today.
Tips for Researching or Choosing a Norwegian Surname:
- Start with your family tree – Look at old church records, gravestones, or immigration docs.
- Understand suffixes and geography – “-sen” means lineage; “-vik,” “-berg,” “-dal” often point to place.
- Use high-quality sources – Sites like SSB, Forebears.io, and Digitalarkivet offer real historical data.
- If you’re writing fiction – Combine authentic roots and suffixes to keep it grounded. Use names like Ulstad (“wolf place”) or Torsvik (“Thor’s bay”) to feel legit.
- Want to adopt a name? – Learn Norway’s naming laws. They protect cultural heritage—and your right to be part of it.
Wrap Up:
Norwegian last names carry deep roots. They echo through patronymic lines, whisper from forest farms, and sometimes roar with Viking thunder.
From Hansen to Ravn, these names tell stories of fathers, places, and identities. They’ve evolved from fluid patronymics to fixed surnames.
