100+ Best Norse Surnames

Norse is a demonym that refers to the people of Nordic countries.

Old Norse is an ancient language that was spoken by the Nordic people, including the Vikings. Old Norse of the Viking Age is the parent language to the modern Icelandic, Faroese, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian languages that are spoken today.

Some Scandinavian last names are derived from the name of an ancestor. The Vikings followed the patronymic naming system and did not have separate surnames, rather followed their fathers given name.

You might also want to look at Norse boy names and Nordic girl names from Kidadl for some inspiration for a Viking given name!

Toponymic surnames are surnames that are derived from the name of a place or topographical features of the land. If you're looking for names inspired by nature, your search ends here. Below is a list of popular and unique Norse surnames inspired by nature and the outdoors.

1. Aaby ( Old Norse), is a name that contains the meanings “river”, and “farm”.

2. Aakre (Old Norse), is a name that contains the element Akr which means “plowed field”.

3. Aamodt (Old Norwegian), is a name that refers to a place where two rivers meet.

4. Arud (Old Norwegian), is a name that contains the word “river”, and “clearing”.

5. Aune (Old Norse), is a farm name that is found in many places in Norway. It originated from the word Aud which means “wasteland”.

6. Bang (Old Norwegian), is a name that refers to people who lived on a farm found on a flat hill-top.

7. Becken (Old English and Old Norse), it is a name that refers to the word “stream”.

8. Calland (Old Norse), is a name that originates from the old Norse words that mean “calf”, and “land”. It is a name that usually belongs to one of the farmsteads in Norway.

9. Dahl (Old Norse), is a name that contains the root word Dahl which means “valley”.

10. Dale (Old Norse), is a name that has its origins in the word Dali which means “valley”. It refers to people who live in the valley, or on a farm.

11. Dammen (Norwegian), is a name that comes from a place called Drammen, and the word Dam which means “pond”.

12. Dybdahl (Norwegian), is a name that means “deep valley”.

13. Ege (Old Norse), is a variant of Eike, and contains the word Eiki, which means “oak grove”.

14. Elden (Old Norse), is a name that contains the word Eldr which means “flame”.

15. Elstad (Old Norse), is a name that combines the female name Eldfridr, or the male name Eilifr with the word Stadr, which means “farmstead”.

16. Enberg (Old Norse), is a name that has the element Einir meaning "juniper”, and Berg meaning “mountain”.

17. Fadness (Norwegian), is a name that comes from the Hordaland county in Norway. The name contains the elements Ferga which means “to ferry”, and Nes which means “headland”.

18. Falla (Norwegian), is a name that contains the word Fall which means “to fall”. It refers to a place that sees a lot of landslides.

19. Fehn (Old Norse), is a name that is derived from the place called Fen in Norway, which means “meadow”.

20. Fiske (Old Norse), is a name that contains the elements Fiskr meaning “fish” and Vin meaning “meadow". It is likely an occupational name for fishermen.

21. Flaa (Old Norse), is a name that means “plain” or “terrace”.

22. Fure (Norwegian), is a name that means “pine” or “fir”.

23. Gaarder (Old Norse), is a name that originated from the word Garder which means “farm”.

24. Gill (Old Norse), is a name that means “ravine”.

25. Granberg (Old Norse), is a name derived from the words Gran which means “spruce”, and Berg which means “hill”.

26. Greseth (Old Norse), is a name derived from the words Grjot which means “stone”, and Setr which means "farmstead".

27. Hagen (Old Norse and Old Dutch), is a name derived from the word Hagi or Hugo which means “pasture”.

28. Hoye (Old Norse), is a name that contains the element Hof which means “place of worship”.

29. Ihle (Old Norse), is Norse surname that means “spring” or “well”. This would also make a lovely first name.

30. Jahr (Old Norse), is a name for people who live in a place called Jar in Norway. It is derived from the word Jadarr which means “rim”, or “edge”.

31. Kahlberg (Norwegian), is a name that comes from the words Kald meaning “cold”, and Berg meaning “mountain”.

32. Kolden (Old Norse), is a name that comes from the word Kollr which means “rounded mountain top”.

33. Kvam (Old Norse), is a name that means “small valley”.

34. Lund (Old Norse), is a name that refers to a person living among a grove of trees, derived from the word Lundr which means “grove”.

35. Manger (Old Norse), is Norse surname that come from the word Mar meaning “seagull” and Angr which means “ford”.

36. Morken (Old Norse) is a name that comes from the word Mork which means “wood”.

37. Narum (Old Norse), is a name derived from the elements Nr which means "narrow landscape" and Heir which means “home”.

38. Nes (Norwegian origin), is Norse surname that has its origin in the word Nes which means “headland”.

39. Odden (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the word Oddi which means "headland”.

40. Omdahl (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the word Almdalr which means “elm valley”.

41. Pollen (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the word Pollr which means “small bay".

42. Ranum (Ol Norse), is a variant of the Norse surnames Ranheimr and Randheimr, where Rani means “nose" and Heir means “home”.

43. Rinde (Norwegian Origin), is a name that comes from Ring which means “ridge” or “bank”.

44. Selland (Old Norse), is a name derived from Selja which means “willow”, and Land which means "farm".

45. Skagen (Old Norse), is a name that comes from the word Saki which means “headland”, or “promontory”.

46. Solberg (Old Norse), is a name that has the elements Sol which means “sun", and Berg meaning “mountain’.

47. Tanberg (Old Norse), is a name that is derived from the words Thorn meaning “thorn” and Berg meaning “mountain”.

48. Ulven (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the words Ulfr meaning “wolf” and Vin meaning “meadow”.

49. Valen (Old Norse), is a name that has its origin in the word Vadill which means "ford".

50. Wahl (Old Norse), are Norse surnames that come from the word Vadill means “ford”, or “shallows”.

51. Wang (Old High German Origin), is a name that comes from the word Wang which means “meadow”.

Here is a list of Norse names that were used by old and ancient noble families, if you're on a search for a name for a noble character, this is the list for you.‍

52. Anker (Swedish origin), the name of a Danish and Norwegian noble family, a part of the Patriciate of Norway from the 18th century. One of the often used Swedish surnames.

53. Aubert (French origin), the surname of a family of French nobility and a branch that belongs to the Nobility of Denmark and Norway.

54. Benkestok (Norwegian origin), the name of a noble family in Norway that survived the Middle Ages.

55. Bjelke (Danish and Scandinavian origin), the name of a Norwegian and Danish noble family, which got extinct in 1868.

56. Estridsen (Danish origin), the name of a House that provided the kings of Denmark from 1047 to 1412.

57. Falkenskiold (Danish and Norwegian origin), is the name of a Danish and Norwegian noble family.

58. Galtung (Norwegian origin), is the name of a Norwegian noble family from 1648.

59. Guldencrone (Danish origin), is the name of a Dano-Norwegian noble family.

60. Gyledenkrantz (Scandinavian origin), is the name of a noble family of Denmark and Norway, which became extinct after a few generations.

61. Gyldenlove (Norwegian origin), the name of a medieval Norwegian noble family that is now extinct.

62. Gyldenpalm (Danish origin), is the name of a Danish and Norwegian noble family.

63. Gyldenstjerne (Danish origin), is the surname of a noble family with various branches and ranks, meaning “golden star”. It is among the oldest families in Scandinavia.

64. Hielmstierne (Danish origin), is the name of a Dano-Norwegian family of nobility.

65. Huitfeldt (Norwegian origin), is the name of a noble family of Norway.

66. Kaas (Danish origins), is the name of two related noble families from Jutland.

67. Kane (Norwegian origins), the name of a medieval family from Norway, one of the few original noble families from the country.

68. Knagenhjelm (Norwegian origins), is the name of a noble family of Denmark and Norway.

69. Lovenskiold (German origin), is the name of a Dano-Norwegian noble family, who now lives in Norway. The name means “Lion's Shield”.

70. Lovenorn (Danish and Norwegian Origin), is the name of a noble family from Denmark and Norway.

71. Munthe af Morgenstierne (Danish and Norwegian Origins), is the name of a noble family now living in Norway.

72. Roos af Hjelmaster (Norwegian origin), Is the name of the Swedish noble family, among the few noble families of medieval Norway still living.

73. Rosenvinge (Danish origin), is the name of a Norwegian and Danish noble family. The name means “Rose Wing”.

74. Skanke (Norwegian origin), is a Norwegian surname, and a noble family which traces its roots to Jemtland from the 14th century.

75. Smor (Norwegian origins), is the name of an original noble family of Norway, from the medieval ages. The name means “Leopard’s head”.

76. Stockfleth (Danish origin), is the name of a Dano-Norwegian nobles since the time of King Velmar the Third.

77. Svanenhielm (Norwegian Origin), is the name of a Danish and Norwegian noble family, created in 1719.

78. Treschow (Danish origin), is the name of a noble family with branches in Sweden and Norway, meaning “wooden shoe-maker”.

79. Werenskiold (Danish Origin), is the last name of a nobles of Denmark and Norway.

Patronymic surnames are names that are derived from the names of fathers, mothers, or ancestors.

80. Alfson (Scandinavian origin), is a patronymic surname that means “son of Alf”, derived from the word Alf which means “elf”.

81. Askelson (Old English origin), is a name that means “son of Askel”, where the word Asked means “cauldron of God”.

82. Bengtsson (Swedish origin), is a patronymic name that means “son of Bengt”, a Swedish form of the word “Benedict”.

83. Borgerson (Old Norse), is a name that means “son of Borger”, derived from the word Borg which means “castle”.

84. Bunderson (Old Norse), meaning “son of Bonde”, derived from the word Bondi which means “farmer”.

85. Carlsen (Scandinavian origin), is a name that means “son of Carl”, derived from the word Karl which means “man”.

86. Christensen (Danish and Norwegian origin), meaning “son of Christen”, derived from the word Christian.

87. Ellingboe (Old Norse), is a name that is derived from Erlingr, which means “son of an Earl”.

88. Emanuelson (Hebrew origin), is a name that means “son of Emanuel”, derived from a Hebrew word that means “God is with us”.

89. Ericson (Old Norse), is a name that means “son of Eric”, derived from the elements Ei meaning “always”, and Rikr meaning “ruler”.

90. Erling (Old Norse), is a Norse surname that means “son of a nobleman”.

91. Estenson (Scandinavian  origin), is a name that means “son of Eysteinn”, combining the elements Ey which means “happiness”, and Steinn meaning “stone”.

92. Fredrickson (Old German origin), is a name that means “son of Fredrick”, which contains the word Fredrick meaning “peaceful ruler”.

93. Gulbrandsen (Old Norse), is a name that means “son of Gulbrandr”, and is derived from the elements Gud meaning “God”, and Brandr meaning "sword”.

94. Gustaffson (Old Norse), is a name that means “son off Gustav”, derived from the word Gustav which means “staff of Geats”, where Geats are an old tribe.

95. Halvorson (Old German origin), is a name that means “son of Halvor”. It comes from the words Hallr which means “rock”, and Vardr which means “defender”.

96. Haralson (Old German origin), is a name that means “son of Harald”, where Harald means “commander”.

97. Hartvigsen (Old German origin), is a name that means “son of Hartvig”, where Hart means “strong”, and Vig means “battle”.

98. Knudtson (Old Norse), is a name that means “son of Knud”, where the element Knutr means “knot”.

99. Lorenzen (Old Roman origin), is a name that means “son of Lorens”, where the word Lorens refers to a city in ancient Italy called Laurentum.

100. Madison (Hebrew origin), is a name that means son of Matthew”, derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu which means “gift from God”.

101. Ohlson (Swedish origin), is a name that means “son of Olaf”, where the name Olaf comes from the Old Norse word Aleifir, which means “ancestors descendant”.

102. Peerson (Old Greek origin), is a name that means “son of Par” where the name Peter comes from the Petros meaning “stone”.

103. Salverson (Old Norse), is a name that means “son of Salv”, derived from the word Salr meaning “hall” and Ve meaning “hero”.

104. Thomason (Aramaic origin), is a name that means “son of Thomas”, where the name Thomas comes from the word Taoma meaning “twin”.

105. Thostenson (Old Norse), is a name that means “son of Thortsrein”. The name is derived from the words Thor and Steinn which means “Thor’s hammer”.

There you have it! Hope you enjoyed going through this list of the best Norse surnames. Kidadl has a lot of great name articles to inspire you. If you liked our suggestions for Norse surnames, look at Norwegian last names, or for something different, look at old German names.