NameCensus.

UK surname

Karlsson

A Swedish surname meaning "son of Karl".

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Karlsson surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 274, ranked #15,759, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Southwark and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Karlsson is 275 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13600.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

274

2016, ranked #15,759

Peak year

2013

275 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Karlsson had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016, ranked #15,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 31 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Karlsson surname distribution map

The map shows where the Karlsson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Karlsson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Karlsson over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 31 #30,616
1911 historical 17 #31,675
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 194 #18,579
2000 modern 204 #17,987
2001 modern 192 #18,388
2002 modern 198 #18,410
2003 modern 196 #18,358
2004 modern 202 #18,110
2005 modern 218 #17,170
2006 modern 226 #16,891
2007 modern 249 #15,943
2008 modern 256 #15,817
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 265 #16,115
2011 modern 260 #16,188
2012 modern 261 #16,041
2013 modern 275 #15,719
2014 modern 274 #15,877
2015 modern 272 #15,851
2016 modern 274 #15,759

Geography

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Where Karlssons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Southwark and Westminster. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Kensington and Chelsea 006 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Southwark 007 Southwark
4 Westminster 014 Westminster
5 Westminster 015 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Karlsson

These lists show first names that appear often with the Karlsson surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Karlsson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Karlsson, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Karlsson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Karlsson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Karlsson is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Karlsson is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Karlsson falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Karlsson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Karlsson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Karlsson

The surname Karlsson is of Swedish origin, deriving from the Old Norse personal name Karli or Karl, meaning "free man" or "peasant farmer." It gained prominence in the 10th century, with the widespread adoption of hereditary surnames in Scandinavia.

The name is rooted in the Old Norse word "karl," which initially referred to a commoner or a freeman, as opposed to a nobleman or a slave. Over time, it evolved into a common personal name, and eventually, a patronymic surname was formed by adding the Swedish suffix "-son," meaning "son of."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Karlsson dates back to the 13th century, when a man named Erengisle Karlsson was mentioned in the Swedish provincial laws of Östergötland. This legal document, known as the Östgötalagen, provides valuable insights into the social and legal structures of medieval Sweden.

During the Middle Ages, the name Karlsson appeared in various Swedish historical records and documents, such as the Diplomatarium Suecanum, a collection of medieval Swedish charters and letters. Notable individuals bearing the name include Erik Karlsson, a 14th-century Swedish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Åbo (modern-day Turku, Finland) from 1346 to 1359.

In the 16th century, Gustav Karlsson Vasa (1496-1560) became one of the most famous Swedes with the surname Karlsson. He was a nobleman who led the rebellion against Danish rule, eventually becoming the King of Sweden and establishing the Vasa dynasty that ruled the country until 1654.

Another notable figure was Lars Karlsson Gyllenhielm (1617-1675), a Swedish military officer and statesman who served as the Lord High Constable of Sweden and played a significant role in the Scanian War against Denmark.

In the 19th century, Erik Karlsson (1836-1917) was a Swedish botanist and plant collector who made significant contributions to the study of the flora of South America, particularly in Bolivia and Argentina.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Gustaf Karlsson (1876-1933) was a Swedish inventor and engineer who developed the world's first surface-to-surface guided missile, known as the Karlsson Flyer, which was successfully tested in 1932.

It is important to note that the surname Karlsson has also been widely adopted in other Scandinavian countries, such as Norway and Denmark, where it is spelled as Carlson or Karlsen, respectively.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Karlsson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Karlsson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 1 Karlssons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.42x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 17.42x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Shields in Durham leads with 1 Karlssons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2000.00x.

Place Total Index
South Shields 1 2000.00x
Westminster St James 1 500.00x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Karlsson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Frans 1
Gustaf 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Karlsson households.

Occupation Count
Journeyman Tailor 1
Mate 1

FAQ

Karlsson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Karlsson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Karlsson surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Karlsson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016. That gives Karlsson a modern rank of #15,759.

What does the Karlsson surname mean?

A Swedish surname meaning "son of Karl".

What does the Karlsson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Karlsson bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.