Meaning & History
Petersson is a Swedish patronymic surname meaning "son of Peter."
Etymology and History
The surname Petersson belongs to a common class of European patronymic surnames, particularly in Scandinavia, where the suffix "-sson" denotes "son of." The given name Peter itself is derived from the Greek Πέτρος (Petros), meaning "stone." It was used as a translation of the Aramaic name Cephas, given by Jesus to the apostle Simon, as recorded in the New Testament (Matthew 16:18 and John 1:42). The name became widespread across Christian Europe, and in Scandinavia, it was adopted with various suffixes to create patronymic surnames. Petersson is primarily found in Sweden, where it ranks as one of the most common surnames. While the literal English cognate is "Peterson," the Swedish spelling is Petersson, reflecting the added "s" in typical Swedish patronymics.
Distribution and Variants
According to Swedish surname statistics, there are 26,236 individuals with the spelling Petersson, followed by 1,963 with Peterson, and rarer forms such as Peterzon (50) and Petersohn (24). The variant Persson is also common. Similar patronymic forms of Peter exist throughout Europe and its diaspora, including Armenian Bedrosian and Petrosyan, Russian Petrov and Petrova, Macedonian Pandev, and Croatian Petrić.
Notable Bearers
Several notable individuals bear the surname Petersson across various fields. In sports, there are Alexander Petersson (Latvian/Icelandic handball player), André Petersson (Swedish ice hockey player), Bo Petersson (Swedish football manager), and Bobbo Petersson (ice hockey player). In politics and science, notable includes Alfred Petersson (Swedish politician), Hans Joakim Petersson (Swedish rockstar), Gunnar Petersson (Swedish javelin thrower), and Hans Petersson (German mathematician). Additionally, Harald G. Petersson was a German screenwriter, and Axel Petersson Döderhultarn was a noted Swedish woodcarver. These bearers reflect the international reach of the name, transported through Swedish diaspora and cultural exchanges.
Key Facts
- Meaning: "Son of Peter"
- Origin: Swedish
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage: Primarily Sweden
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Petersson