Petersen Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Petersen last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Petersen last name
Meaning of the Petersen last name: son of Peter. Petersen is a North German and Danish patronymic surname meaning "son of Peter", using the -sen ending of the Baltic and North Sea coasts. Schleswig-Holstein sits at the heart of its range. In America the last name often stands beside Swedish and Norwegian Peterson lines.
Arms associated with the Petersen name
German heraldry favours bold colours and clear figures, and coats of arms associated with the Petersen surname, each with its blazon, follow that style.
Get your full Petersen family history
This is only a glimpse of the Petersen story. The full Petersen 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 Petersen coat of arms. Get the full Petersen report.
Petersen name FAQ
What does the Petersen name mean?
Son of Peter. Common variants include Peterson, Pedersen.
Where does the Petersen surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Switzerland.
Is there a Petersen coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Petersen coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).