Surname Gustafsen - Meaning and Origin

Gustafsen: What does the surname Gustafsen mean?

The surname Gustafsen is of Swedish origin, translating to "son of Gustaf." Like many Swedish surnames, it is a patronymic name, meaning it is based on the father's first name. The name Gustaf itself is derived from the old Swedish elements "gust" (staff of the gods) and "afr" (elf), thus could interpret as "the staff of the gods' elf." The "-sen" ending is a derivative of "son," which was often added to personal names in Sweden to form patronymic surnames. Variants of this surname include Gustavsen, Gustafsson, and Gustavson. Not all carriers of the surname Gustafsen might be of Swedish descent due to migration and changes in family names over generations, but it primarily is found in Sweden and areas of significant Swedish immigration, like the United States and Canada.

Gustafsen: Where does the name Gustafsen come from?

The surname Gustafsen is of Swedish origin. It is a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from the father’s first name. In this case, Gustafsen literally translates to "son of Gustaf" in English. The name Gustaf, itself, is Swedish and derived from the Old Norse name, Gustav, which means "staff of the Geats". Geats was a North Germanic tribe inhabiting what is now Sweden.

The last name Gustafsen is not exceedingly common today even in Sweden due to changes in naming laws. In 1901, Sweden abolished the patronymic tradition of surnames and required families to adopt fixed hereditary surnames. Nonetheless, there are still individuals around the world, particularly in countries with Swedish descendants like the United States, Canada, and Australia, who bear the surname Gustafsen. In these countries, it is particularly common among families whose ancestors emigrated from Sweden in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Therefore, while it is not amongst the most common surnames, it is a distinctive surname with deep historical and cultural roots in Sweden.

Variations of the surname Gustafsen

The surname Gustafsen appears to have Scandinavian origin, most likely Sweden or Norway. It is a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Gustaf.' Gustaf is a variant of Gustav which has elements 'gaut,' which could mean 'Goth' or 'staff,' possibly meaning 'staff of the Geats' ('Geats' being an old name for Swedes).

Variants of the surname Gustafsen might include Gustavsen, Gustavson, Gustafson, Gustaveson, and Gustavsson. In more anglicized environment, it could also become simply ‘Gus’s son’.

This surname also seems to be popular in Germany, so you may also encounter German variants. However, gathering complete information about surname's spellings from different geographical locations is often a complex task because surnames could change or get misspelled due to various reasons such as migration or simple administrative errors.

While these make up some of the most likely variants, it is best to refer to genealogical or historical records for the most accurate information. If a person is seeking their ancestry, they should take into account all possible variants and misspellings.

Famous people with the name Gustafsen

• Stig Tore Gustafsen: Highly respected Norwegian energy and climate expert, and guest professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
• Dan Gustafson: A former professional American football linebacker who played for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL).
• Renee Gustafson: An American contemporary country music artist, signed to Curb Records.
• Robert Gustafson: American Olympic track and field athlete who won gold at the 1972 Summer Olympics in the men's 4 x 400 metre relay.
• Will Gustafson: A former minor league baseball pitcher who played in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
• George Gustavsen: An American jazz musician, composer and arranger with twelve albums to his credit.
• Dan Gustafson Jr.: An American actor best known for his roles in the television series ER and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
• Galt MacDermot: A Canadian-American composer best known as the composer of the musical Hair.
• Joe Gustafson: An American actor who appeared in over twenty films and television episodes.
• Lisa Gustafson: A former figure skater from the United States who competed in singles and pairs at the International level.

Other surnames

Gustafson