Carlson Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Carlson last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Carlson last name
Meaning of the Carlson last name: son of Carl. Carlson is a surname of Scandinavian origin, meaning "son of Carl", that settled firmly in English-speaking countries. Swedish and Norwegian immigrants carried this last name into the American Midwest in the nineteenth century. It remains common in Minnesota, Illinois and among Swedish-American communities. Parish registers and census rolls still list the name in good numbers.
Arms associated with the Carlson name
Coats of arms associated with the Carlson surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Carlson family history
This is only a glimpse of the Carlson story. The full Carlson history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Carlson coat of arms. Get the full Carlson report.
Carlson name FAQ
What does the Carlson name mean?
Son of Carl. Common variants include Carlsen, Karlson.
Where does the Carlson surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Carlson coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Carlson coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).