Johansson

/joʊˈhænsən/ proper noun

Definition

A Swedish surname meaning 'son of Johan (John).' One of the most common surnames in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries.

Etymology

From Swedish patronymic naming tradition, combining 'Johan' (Swedish form of John) with 'sson' (son). This reflects the Scandinavian practice of creating surnames from the father's first name plus '-son' or '-sen'.

Kelly Says

Johansson is so common in Sweden that it's like 'Smith' in English-speaking countries, but it carries the fascinating history of Scandinavian patronymic systems where surnames literally told you who your father was. Famous bearers include actress Scarlett Johansson and numerous Swedish athletes.

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