Surname Knutson - Meaning and Origin

Transformative Journey of Discovery With iGENEA: An Emotional Encounter with the Knutson Lineage

The journey with iGENEA's DNA test unearthed surprising revelations about the Knutson lineage, evoking a variety of intense emotions, altering perceptions of familial identity, and instilling a newfound respect for ancestral heritage.

S. Knutson

Knutson: What does the surname Knutson mean?

The surname Knutson is of Scandinavian origin, particularly from Norway and Sweden. It is a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the father's given name. In this case, Knutson literally translates to "son of Knut". The name Knut itself has Old Norse roots, where "Knutr" means "knot". It was a popular name among Scandinavian royalty, most notably King Canute (or Knut) of Denmark, Norway, and England in the 11th century. This name was also often given to boys born with a birthmark in the shape of a knot or loop. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, it became a common practice in Scandinavia to form surnames by adding the suffix "-son" to the father's name, hence "Knutson". These names reflected the immediate father-son relationship and would change with each generation. It is important to note that different spellings of the surname may include Knutsson, Knudson, Knutsen, and others, due to regional variations and phonetic spellings.

Knutson: Where does the name Knutson come from?

The last name Knutson is of Scandinavian origin, specifically deriving from the Old Norse personal name Knútr, meaning 'knot' or 'knot-like'. The suffix ‘son’ indicates 'son of', so Knutson essentially translates to 'son of Knut.'

Knut was a popular name in Scandinavia due largely to King Canute (also known as Knut) the Great, ruler of Denmark, England, and Norway in the 11th century. So, Knutson essentially means "son of Knut."

In the past, as an aspect of communal living, Scandinavian people would use the patronymic naming system, wherein children’s last names were derived from their father’s first name.

In the present day, the name Knutson is common in several countries with Scandinavian ancestry, especially in Norway, Sweden, and in the United States. Due to large scale emigration from Scandinavia around the 19th and 20th centuries, the name is particularly prevalent in regions of the U.S with a high concentration of Scandinavian descendants, such as the Midwest.

Variations of the surname Knutson

Knutson is a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Knut.' It is of Scandinavian origin, mainly popular among Norwegian and Swedish families. Its variations mostly lie in different spellings, including Knudson, Knutsen, Knudsen, Knutsson, and Cnutson.

In Denmark, the most common variant is 'Knudsen' while 'Knutsson' is more popular in Sweden. Icelanders tend to use 'Knutsson' without the traditional patronymic ‘son’ since Icelandic naming tradition favors direct patronymics or matronymics.

In other regions where English is widely spoken, the spelling might have been changed to 'Canutson' or 'Knutzon' for easier pronunciation or assimilation purposes. Some other possible English variants could include 'Nootson' and 'Nutson'.

It's also worth noting that 'Knut' is a translation of the name 'Canute', a Danish king known as 'Canute the Great'. Therefore, it is plausible to find similar surnames with 'Canute' as a root, like 'Canuteson'.

Despite the different spellings, all these surnames share the same roots in the name Knut, making them essentially variants of the same surname.

Famous people with the name Knutson

• Swedish singer-songwriter Amanda Knutson
• American professor and biochemist Kenneth A. Knutson
• Influencer and fitness model Brittne Babe Knutson
• Professional baseball player Herschel Knutson
• Norwegian professional cross-country skier Tarjei Bø Knutson
• American football player and coach Don Knutson
• Physicist Eric Knutson
• Photographer, environmental activist, and filmmaker Louella Knutson
• Jazz musician John Knutson
• American actor and film producer Michael Knutson

Other surnames

Knutsen