NameCensus.

UK surname

Pettersson

A patronymic surname indicating the son of a man named Peter.

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Pettersson surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 181, ranked #20,955, up from #32,243 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pettersson is 181 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1710.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

181

2016, ranked #20,955

Peak year

2016

181 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pettersson had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016, ranked #20,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 38 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Pettersson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pettersson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pettersson 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 8 #32,887
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 38 #29,914
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 125 #24,351
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 126 #24,393
2003 modern 133 #23,359
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 130 #23,848
2006 modern 131 #23,942
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 145 #22,929
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 151 #23,377
2011 modern 156 #22,690
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 174 #21,401
2014 modern 174 #21,561
2015 modern 171 #21,729
2016 modern 181 #20,955

Geography

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Where Petterssons 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, Slough, Mid Suffolk 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 004 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Slough 014 Slough
4 Mid Suffolk 005 Mid Suffolk
5 Westminster 012 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pettersson

These lists show first names that appear often with the Pettersson 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 Pettersson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pettersson, 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 Pettersson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Pettersson 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pettersson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pettersson 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

Pettersson falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pettersson 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 Pettersson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pettersson

The surname Pettersson has its origins in Sweden, dating back to the early 16th century. It is a patronymic name, derived from the Swedish masculine name Petter, which is the equivalent of the English name Peter. The suffix "-son" means "son of," indicating that the original bearer of this name was the son of a man named Petter.

Pettersson is one of the most common surnames in Sweden, with records showing its presence in various regions of the country. The earliest known reference to this surname can be found in the Swedish Church records from the 16th century, where individuals with the name Pettersson were mentioned.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was Anders Pettersson, a farmer who lived in the village of Torsåker, Gävleborg County, Sweden, in the late 16th century. Another notable individual was Måns Pettersson, a merchant and ship owner from Gothenburg, who was active in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Pettersson surname gained prominence with the birth of Carl Pettersson (1720-1798), a Swedish botanist and entomologist. He made significant contributions to the study of insects and plants, and his work is still referenced in scientific literature.

The 19th century saw the rise of several notable individuals with the Pettersson surname, including Johan Pettersson (1806-1876), a Swedish politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister of Sweden from 1868 to 1870. Another prominent figure was Gustaf Pettersson (1835-1923), a Swedish meteorologist and oceanographer who pioneered research in ocean currents and atmospheric dynamics.

In the 20th century, the Pettersson surname continued to be prominent, with individuals like Sven Pettersson (1914-1987), a Swedish football player who represented Sweden in the 1938 FIFA World Cup. Maj Greta Pettersson (1914-2006), a Swedish author and illustrator of children's books, was also a notable figure of this era.

While the surname Pettersson is predominantly Swedish, it has also been adopted by individuals in other Nordic countries, such as Norway and Finland, due to cultural and linguistic similarities. However, the name's origins can be traced back to Sweden, where it has been a prevalent surname for several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pettersson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pettersson 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. Warwickshire leads with 4 Petterssons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.31x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 4 16.31x
Durham 2 6.91x
Glamorgan 2 11.81x
Ayrshire 1 13.74x
Yorkshire 1 1.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rugby in Warwickshire leads with 4 Petterssons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1212.12x.

Place Total Index
Rugby 4 1212.12x
Cardiff St Mary 2 215.05x
Kilmarnock 1 114.94x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 1250.00x
South Shields 1 384.62x
Stranton 1 103.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Henrietta 1
Jenny 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Andreas 1
Erik 1
J.A. 1
Johan 1
Johann 1
Otto 1
Per 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 Pettersson households.

FAQ

Pettersson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pettersson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Pettersson surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pettersson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016. That gives Pettersson a modern rank of #20,955.

What does the Pettersson surname mean?

A patronymic surname indicating the son of a man named Peter.

What does the Pettersson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pettersson 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.