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Norway has a unique naming pattern. In ancient times, it consisted of three parts – given name, patronym, and address. But as society evolved, so did the Norwegian naming scheme to feature fixed surnames. Some of the most common surnames ended with ‘-sen,’ or ‘-son,’ ‘-datter’ or ‘-dotter,’ meaning ‘son of’ or ‘daughter of’ that transformed with each generation.
In this post, MomJunction puts together 100 Norwegian surnames or last names along with their interesting and fascinating meanings.
List Of Popular Norwegian Surnames Or Last Names
1. Aaberg
It means ‘on the hill by the river’ and it is a toponymic name denoting someone who lived at the so-called place.
2. Aaby
This is derived from a place called ‘Aaby’ or ‘Aby.’ It consists of the word ‘a’ that represents ‘river,’ and the Old Norse element ‘byr’ meaning ‘farm.’
3. Aakre
This is a toponymic name taken from any of the several places named ‘Akre.’ The word likely comes from the Old Norse element ‘akr’ meaning ‘plowed field.’
4. Aamodt
It refers to someone who lived in a place where two streams gather. This is derived from the Old Norwegian term ‘a’ meaning ‘river’ and the Norwegian word ‘mote’ meaning ‘meeting.’
5. Arud
It is a combination of the Old Norwegian word ‘a’ meaning ‘stream’ or ‘river’ and the Archaic Norwegian word ‘rud’ meaning ‘clearing.’
6. Aune
It reflects a farm name found in several places in Norway. The name originated from the Old Norse word ‘aun’ meaning a ‘wasteland.’
7. Bang
It is likely an Old Norwegian word for ‘terrace’ or ‘flat hill-top.’ It is a toponymic name for those who lived at a farm that lay on a terraced land or a flat hill-top.
8. Becken
This is a cognate of ‘Beck’ that is derived from Middle English word ‘bekke’ or Old Norse ‘bekkr,’ both referring to a ‘stream.’
9. Calland
It is from any of the many farmsteads named ‘Kalland’ or ‘Kaland’ in Norway. The name is derived from the Old Norse word ‘Kalfaland,’ which is a combination of ‘kalfr’ meaning ‘calf’ and ‘land’ for ‘land.’
10. Dahl
It is from Old Norse root word ‘Dalr’ which means ‘valley.’ It is a popular name for the Author Roald Dahl, who is known for popular children’s books, like ‘Henry Sugar’ and ‘Matilda.’
11. Dale
It comes from the Old Norse word ‘dali’ that itself is derived from the Old Norse word ‘dalr’ meaning a valley. The name refers to those who lived on a farm or a place within a valley.
12. Dammen
It likely comes from the name of a place called Drammen located in southeastern Norway. The name comes from the Norwegian word ‘dam’ meaning ‘pond.’
13. Dybdahl
This toponymic surname refers to someone from any of the several places by the name in Norway and Denmark. The name means ‘deep valley’ in Norwegian.
14. Ege
It is a variant of Eike, a village in southwestern Norway. The name of the places from the Old Norse word ‘eiki’ meaning ‘oak grove.’
15. Elden
This is a toponymic name taken from a name of a river or place. The name comes from the Old Norse word ‘eldr’ meaning ‘fire’ or ‘flame.’
16. Elstad
This is a toponymic name that comes from the name of several places by this name. The name is a combination of the male name ‘Eilifr’ or the female name ‘Eldfridr’ with the Old Norse word ‘stadr’ meaning ‘farmstead.’
17. Enberg
It is derived from Old Norse elements ‘einir’ meaning ‘juniper’ and berg meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’ The name is thus a toponymic one.
18. Fadness
This surname comes from the name of place in Hordaland county of Norway. It contains the Norwegian words ‘ferga’ meaning ‘to ferry’ and ‘nes’ meaning ‘headland.’
19. Falla
It refers to a farm that was named so because it was likely a location for landsides. The name is derived from the Norwegian word ‘fall’ meaning ‘fall.’
20. Fehn
It is derived from a place called Fen in Norway. The name likely comes from the Old Norse word ‘Favin,’ where the first element ‘vin’ means ‘meadow.’ The first element is of unknown origin.
21. Fiske
It is derived from Old Norse elements ‘fiskr’ meaning ‘fish’ and ‘vin’ meaning ‘meadow.’ It denotes someone from a farm with the name or could be an occupational name for a fisherman.
22. Flaa
It originated from Old Norse elements ‘fla’ meaning ‘plain’ or ‘terrace.’ It is a toponymic name referring to someone who lived on a farm of that name.
23. Fure
It refers to ‘pine’ or ‘fir’ in Norwegian and denotes someone who lived along a farmstead of that name.
24. Gaarder
It is a toponymic surname for someone from any of the several places of this name in Norway. The name comes from the word ‘Garder’ that comes from the Old Norse word ‘gard’ meaning ‘farm.’
25. Gill
It comes from the names of the several farmsteads in Norway. The name ‘Gill’ comes from the word ‘Gil,’ which is derived from Old Norse and means ‘ravine.’
26. Granberg
This is derived from Old Norse elements gran meaning ‘spruce’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘hill’ or ‘mountain.’ This surname is likely a toponymic one.
27. Greseth
It comes from the names of a few farmsteads located in Norway. The name is from the Old Norse word ‘grjot’ meaning ‘stone’ and ‘setr’ meaning ‘farmstead.’
28. Grimsrud
This surname is derived from the Old Norse personal name ‘Grimr’ meaning ‘man with a helmet or mask’ and ‘rud’ meaning ‘field.’
29. Grinde
It is a toponymic name for someone from a Norwegian village of the same name. The name is taken from the Old Norse element ‘grind’ meaning ‘gate.’
30. Gronlund
It is a combination of the Norwegian words ‘gronn’ meaning ‘green’ and ‘lund’ meaning ‘grove.’
31. Groven
It comes from the Old Norse element ‘grof’ meaning ‘hollow’ or ‘pit.’ It is likely a toponymic name for someone who came from a farmstead of the same name.
32. Gulseth
It is derived from the Old Norse personal name ‘Guli’ meaning a ‘farmstead.’ Gulseth is also the name of a suburd in Skien, a city in Norway.
33. Hagen
This last name is either derived from the Old Norse element ‘Hagi’ or Old Dutch ‘Hago,’ both referring to ‘pasture’ or an ‘enclosure.’
34. Hall
It refers to a hall. The name was adopted by those who lived or worked in a hall or a manor, a house of a medieval noble.
35. Haugen
It is a toponymic name and comes from the Old Norse element ‘haugr’ meaning a ‘hill.’
36. Horn
This is derived from the Germanic word ‘horn’ meaning a ‘horn.’ It refers to a family line whose profession was to carve objects out of a horn, or who those played a horn.
37. Hove
It is from the Old Norse element ‘hof’ meaning a ‘place of worship.’ The name was quite commonly given to farmsteads.
38. Hoye
The name is derived from the Old Norse word ‘haugr’ meaning a ‘mound’ or ‘hill.’ This name was likely of those who lived on farmsteads of the same name.
39. Ihle
This surname is derived from the Old Norse word ‘ila’ meaning ‘spring’ or ‘well.’
40. Island
It is of uncertain origin and is believed to be a combination of the Norwegian words ‘is’ meaning ‘ice’ and ‘land’ meaning ‘land.’
41. Jahr
It is a toponymic name for someone from the place called ‘Jar’ in Norway. The name is derived from the root word ‘jadarr’ of Old Norse origin meaning ‘rim’ or ‘edge.’
42. Jordahl
This surname is derived from the Old Norse elements ‘Hjo’ meaning ‘the shining river’ and ‘dalr’ meaning ‘valley.’
43. Kalberg
It denotes a farm name that is derived from the Norwegian words ‘kald’ meaning ‘cold’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’
44. Kampen
It is a toponymic name referring to someone from the city of Kampen in Norway. The name comes from the Norwegian element ‘kamp’ meaning ‘boulder’ or ‘round.’
45. Kile
This surname is derived from Old Norse word ‘kill’ meaning ‘wedge’ or ‘narrow bay’ or ‘inlet.’
46. Kise
It is a toponymic name derived from Old Norse word ‘Kisi’ meaning ‘gravel.’
47. Kjos
This is a derivative of Old Norse word ‘kjoss’ meaning ‘narrow valley’ or ‘narrow bay.’ The name is a toponymic one since it is also the name of a place in Norway.
48. Klepp
It is a toponymic name derived from ‘kleppr’ of Old Norse origin meaning ‘cliff’ or ‘bluff.’ Klepp is the name of several locations in Norway.
49. Kleve
A toponymic name derived from the Old Norse word ‘kleif’ meaning ‘cliff.’
50. Kolden
It is derived from the Old Norse word ‘kollr’ meaning ‘rounded mountain top.’ It is also the name of a place in Norway.
51. Korsmo
The name is a combination of the Old Norwegian words ‘korz’ meaning ‘crossroads’ and ‘mo’ meaning ‘sandy meadow.’ It is also the name of a place in Norway.
52. Kvam
It is derived from the Old Norse word ‘hvammr’ meaning ‘small valley.’
53. Landvik
It is a toponymic name that comes from the name of a town in Norway. The name is derived from the Norwegian language and means ‘land inlet.’
54. Losnedahl
It is derived from the Norwegian elements ‘Losna,’ which is the name of several places in Norway, and ‘dahl’ meaning ‘valley.’
55. Lund
It refers to a person who lived along a grove of trees. The name is derived from Old Norse word ‘lundr’ meaning ‘grove.’
56. Manger
This surname refers to someone who came from a place called Manger in Norway. The name is derived from the Old Norse elements ‘mar’ meaning ‘seagull’ and ‘angr’ meaning a ‘fiord or an inlet.’
57. Malmin
It is from the Old Norse elements ‘malmr’ meaning ‘sand’ or ‘gravel’ and ‘heimr’ meaning ‘farmstead’ or ‘homestead.’
58. Morken
It is derived from Old Norse word ‘mork’ meaning ‘wood.’ It is a toponymic name and the name of several places.
59. Naas
It is derived from Old Norse word ‘nos’ meaning ‘nose,’ and refers to a nose-like formation of the landscape.
60. Narum
This surname is derived from the Old Norse elements ‘nor’ meaning ‘narrow passage’ and ‘heimr’ meaning ‘home.’
61. Nerby
It is a toponymic name for someone from the several places of the name in Norway. The name is derived from the Old Norse word ‘Nedribyr,’ which means ‘the lowest farm.’
62. Ness
This surname is from the Norwegian word ‘nes’ meaning ‘headland’ and denotes a person who lived at a headland or promontory.
63. Odden
It is the name of several farmsteads in Norway. The name is derived from the Old Norse word ‘oddi’ meaning ‘headland.’
64. Okland
It is a toponymic surname for those who hailed from Okland or Aukland. The name is a combination of the Norwegian words ‘auka’ meaning ‘increased’ and ‘land’ meaning ‘land.’
65. Omdahl
This toponymic name is the name of several farmsteads in Norway. The name is derived from the Old Norse word ‘Almdalr’ meaning ‘elm valley.’
66. Ottum
The name comes from the Otta river. The name ‘Otta’ comes from Old Norse and means ‘to frighten.’ The name is likely a toponymic one.
67. Oyen
It is the name of several farmsteads in Norway. This surname originates from the Norwegian word ‘oy’ meaning an ‘island.’
68. Pollen
It is from the Old Norse root word ‘pollr’ meaning ‘pond’ or ‘small bay.’
69. Ranum
It is a variant of the surnames ‘Ranheimr’ or ‘Randheimr’. These names are a combination of the Norwegian elements ‘rani’ means ‘nose’ and ‘heimr’ means ‘home.’
70. Rike
It is the name of several farmsteads in Norway. The name is derived from the Old Norse word ‘riki’ meaning ‘rule’ or ‘power.’
71. Rinde
This surname denotes to ancestors who hailed from the farms named with the word ‘rind’ meaning ‘ridge’ or ‘bank’ in Norwegian.
72. Rosdahl
This refers to a farm name and is derived from the Old Norse elements ‘rud’ meaning ‘clearing’ and ‘dahl’ meaning ‘valley.’
73. Selland
It is the name of several farms in Norway. The name comes from the Old Norse elements ‘selja’ meaning ‘willow’ and ‘land’ for ‘farm’ or ‘land.’
74. Skagen
The name comes from the Old Norse word ‘skagi’ meaning ‘headland.’ It is a toponymic name referring to someone who lived at a farmstead located at a headland or promontory.
75. Skjeggestad
It is a toponymic name and refers to someone from a place of the same name in Norway. The name is a combination of the Norwegian words ‘skjegg’ meaning ‘beard’ and ‘stad’ meaning ‘place’ or ‘town.’
76. Solberg
This refers to a name of place. The name is taken from the Old Norse elements ‘sol’ meaning ‘sun’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’
77. Stenberg
It has a Scandinavian origin and is composed of the words ‘sten’ meaning ‘stone’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’
78. Stien
It is the name of several farmsteads in Norway. The surname is derived from the Norwegian element ‘stig’ meaning a ‘trail’ or ‘path.’
79. Storstrand
It is a combination of the Norwegian words ‘stor’ meaning ‘big’ and ‘strand’ meaning ‘beach.’ It is a toponymic name and refers to someone from any of the several farmsteads of its name in Norway.
80. Sund
It is the name of several farmsteads in Norway. The name is taken from the Old Norse word ‘sund’ meaning ‘strait.’
81. Tanberg
It is derived from any of the farms in eastern Norway. The name comes from the Old Norse element ‘thorn’ meaning ‘thorn bush’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’
82. Tanck
It is a short form of a personal name ‘Thankmar’ of German origin and likely means ‘famous for his spirit.’
83. Tande
It comes from the name ‘Tandar,’ denoting any of the farms with the same name in Norway. The name comes from the Old Norse word ‘tonn’ meaning ‘tooth.’
84. Teig
It refers to someone who hailed from regions with this name in Norway. The name is derived from the Old Norse word ‘teigr’ meaning ‘strip of land.’
85. Tenold
It is derived from the Old Norse word ‘Tunhvall,’ which is a combination of the Old Norse words ‘tun’ meaning ‘enclosure’ and ‘hvall’ meaning a ‘small hill’ or ‘rise.’ The name is a toponymic one and is the name of a few farmsteads in Norway.
86. Ulberg
It denotes a family line who adopted the name from the Old Norse elements ‘ulfr’ for ‘wolf’ and ‘berg’ for ‘mountain.’
87. Ulven
It refers to any of the several regions named Ulven in Norway. The name is derived from the Old Norse elements ‘ulfr’ meaning ‘wolf’ or ‘alfr’ meaning ‘gravel’ and ‘vin’ for ‘meadow.’
88. Ure
It is derived from a place in the Hordaland county of Norway. The name is taken from the Old Norse word ‘urd’ meaning ‘rock-strewn slope’ and ‘vin’ meaning ‘meadow.’
89. Urness
This surname is a combination of the Old Norse words ‘urd’ meaning ‘scree’ and ‘nes’ meaning ‘headland.’ It is a toponymic name referring to someone from such a region.
90. Valen
It comes from the Old Norse word ‘vadill’ that refers to a ‘ford,’ which are shallow waters. The name denotes those who lived in any of the places with the name in Norway.
91. Valle
It comes from the Old Norse word ‘vollr’ meaning ‘field’ or ‘meadow.’ It refers to someone hailing from any of the places with this name in Norway.
92. Velde
It is a habitational name taken from ‘Velle’ that is derived from Old Norse ‘vollr’ meaning ‘meadow’ or ‘field.’
93. Velten
It refers to any of the several farms in the Hedmark county of Norway. The name comes from the Norwegian word ‘Velte’ meaning ‘log pile.’
94. Vik
It comes from Old Norse and indicates a small bay or water inlet. The name is toponymic one and refers to someone who hailed from any of the several farms with this name in Sweden and Norway.
95. Waag
The name comes from the word ‘Vag’ that comes from the Old Norse word ‘vagr’ meaning a creek or a bay. The name denotes someone who lived in a creek or bay, mainly in the Nordland county of Norway.
96. Wahl
It comes from the name of several farmsteads in Norway. The name comes from the Old Norse word ‘vadill’ meaning ‘shallows’ or ‘ford.’
97. Wang
This is taken from Old High German word ‘wang’ or Old Norse word ‘vangr’ meaning ‘meadow’ or ‘grassy slope.’
98. Watland
This habitational name is derived from Old Norse word ‘Vazland’ meaning water and land. It refers to several farms of this name in Norway.
99. Westby
It refers to several farms of this name in Norway. It is a derivative of the word ‘Vestbyr,’ which is a combination of the Old Norse words ‘vestr’ meaning ‘west’ and ‘byr’ meaning ‘settlement.’
100. Westrum
This is from any of the farms in Norway named ‘Vestrom’ or ‘Vestrum.’ The name is derived from the Old Norse words ‘vestr’ meaning ‘west’ and ‘heimr’ meaning ‘homestead.’
Norwegian surnames provide a fascinating glimpse into the country’s culture and geography. Most last names have persisted for centuries, and it is interesting to learn the origins of these names.
Do you know of any other Norwegian last names? Share them with us in the comment section below.
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Rebecca Malachi
She is a Biotechnologist with a proficiency in areas of genetics, immunology, microbiology, bio-engineering, chemical engineering, medicine, pharmaceuticals to name a few. Her expertise in these fields has greatly assisted her in writing medical and life science articles. With 8+ years of work experience in writing for health and wellness, she is now a full-time contributor for Momjunction.com. She is passionate about giving research-based information to readers in need. Apart from writing, she is a foodie, loves travel, fond of gospel music and enjoys observing nature in silence. Know more about her at: linkedin.com/in/kothapalli-rebecca-35881628
