NameCensus.

UK surname

Svensson

A Swedish patronymic surname meaning "son of Sven".

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Svensson surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 255, ranked #16,576, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Torridge and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Svensson is 258 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2450.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

255

2016, ranked #16,576

Peak year

2010

258 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Svensson had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016, ranked #16,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 57 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Svensson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Svensson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Svensson 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
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 36 #31,465
1901 historical 47 #28,929
1911 historical 57 #27,099
1997 modern 154 #20,780
1998 modern 186 #18,918
1999 modern 213 #17,550
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 217 #17,059
2002 modern 236 #16,455
2003 modern 220 #17,033
2004 modern 216 #17,331
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 220 #17,204
2007 modern 228 #16,984
2008 modern 220 #17,544
2009 modern 233 #17,241
2010 modern 258 #16,432
2011 modern 258 #16,284
2012 modern 248 #16,618
2013 modern 253 #16,642
2014 modern 254 #16,726
2015 modern 251 #16,756
2016 modern 255 #16,576

Geography

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Where Svenssons 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 Hounslow, Torridge, Brent, Blane Valley and Richmond upon Thames. 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 Hounslow 001 Hounslow
2 Torridge 006 Torridge
3 Brent 005 Brent
4 Blane Valley Stirling
5 Richmond upon Thames 004 Richmond upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Svensson

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

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

Svensson 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

Svensson 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 Svensson 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 Svensson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Svensson

The surname Svensson originated in Sweden and is a patronymic name derived from the masculine given name Sven. Sven itself is a Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse word sveinn, meaning "boy" or "servant." The name Svensson would have been used to identify someone as the son of a man named Sven.

In medieval Sweden, patronymic surnames were commonly formed by adding the suffix "-son" (meaning "son of") to the father's given name. This naming convention was widely used among the general population and helped distinguish individuals with the same given name.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Svensson can be found in Swedish parish records dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable example is Sven Svensson, a Swedish military officer who served during the Kalmar War in the late 16th century.

As Swedish settlers migrated to other parts of the world, the surname Svensson spread beyond Scandinavia. In North America, some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in colonial records from the late 17th and early 18th centuries, particularly in areas with significant Swedish immigration, such as the Delaware Valley region.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Svensson throughout history. One example is Sven Svensson (1916-1988), a Swedish footballer who represented Sweden in the 1938 FIFA World Cup. Another is Sven Svensson (1934-1998), a Swedish author and journalist known for his works on cultural and literary topics.

In the field of science, Sven Svensson (1918-2004) was a Swedish physicist who made significant contributions to the study of nuclear physics and particle accelerators. Additionally, Sven Svensson (1923-2008) was a Swedish botanist and professor who specialized in the study of bryophytes, or mosses and liverworts.

While not as widely known, Sven Svensson (1867-1949) was a Swedish-American artist and painter who emigrated to the United States in the late 19th century and became known for his landscape and portrait works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Svensson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Svensson 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 3 Svenssons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Durham 3 10.37x
Yorkshire 3 3.11x
Middlesex 2 2.06x
Glamorgan 1 5.90x
Gloucestershire 1 5.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norton In Malton in Yorkshire leads with 2 Svenssons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1666.67x.

Place Total Index
Norton In Malton 2 1666.67x
St Marylebone London 2 38.54x
Stranton 2 206.19x
Bristol 1 5000.00x
Cardiff St Mary 1 107.53x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 1250.00x
Sunderland 1 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alma 1
Blenda 1
Emma 1
Sara 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Anton 1
Anunds 1
Fredrik 1
Gustaf 1
Oscar 1
Oskar 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 Svensson households.

FAQ

Svensson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Svensson surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Svensson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016. That gives Svensson a modern rank of #16,576.

What does the Svensson surname mean?

A Swedish patronymic surname meaning "son of Sven".

What does the Svensson map show?

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