JONSSON
Jonsson is a patronymic surname of Scandinavian origin, denoting descent from an ancestor named Jon or Johan.
The name is derived from the given name Jon or Johan, a variant of the Latin Johannes, itself taken from the biblical Hebrew Yochanan which translates as “he who Jehovah has favoured.” The suffix -sson literally means “son of,” so Jonsson means “son of Jon” or “son of John.”
Historical records show the surname appearing in the early thirteenth century. The earliest known spelling, Pertus Johannis, is dated to 1230 in the Close Rolls of Suffolk during the reign of King Henry XI of England (1216‑1272). Further early attestations include a 1279 entry for Thomas John in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire and an 1280 record of Arnold Johan in London’s Letter Book.
In modern times, Jonsson is most frequently encountered in Sweden, where it is the fifth‑most common surname and is concentrated around Stockholm and Gothenburg. The name is also common in Norway and Denmark, where its spelling may vary slightly (e.g. Jonsen, Jönsson). In Finland it ranks as the seventh most frequent surname, especially in the Helsinki region, and it is present in Iceland, though less common in the northern parts of the country.
The surname has acquired numerous variants across Europe, following the same patronymic principle. In the British Isles the form Jonson is used in Scotland and northern England; in Ireland and Wales it can appear as Johnson or Jonasson. In continental Europe the name is rendered as Johansson in Sweden, Jánosz in Hungary, Januszek in Poland, and Johnson or Johnsen in Germany and the Netherlands. In France it is Frenchised as Jean, and in Russia it can become Ivanov or Yandsen. Regardless of spelling, each variant retains the original meaning of “son of John.”
Numerous individuals of note have borne the surname, reflecting its extensive cultural penetration. Among them are the painter Ivan Eric Jonsson and the physicist Carl‑Johan Jonsson, both of whom have contributed to the arts and sciences in modern Scandinavia.
Thus, the surname Jonsson is not only a marker of familial lineage but also a testament to a historical tradition of patronymic naming that spans many nationalities and centuries. Its enduring prevalence across Northern Europe and beyond underscores its significance as a cultural heritage identifier.
Typical given names associated with the Jonsson surname
Male
- Agust
- Christer
- Christian
- Daniel
- David
- Ian
- Karl
- Magnus
- Malin
- Nicholas
- Orn
- Per
- Simon
Female
- Anna
- Annika
- Camilla
- Charlotte
- Elizabeth
- Eva
- Helena
- Karen
- Kerry
- Kim
- Linda
- Marta
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Janson
- Jenson
- Jansson
- Jhonson
- Joanson
- Joensson
- Joensen
- Jensson
- Johansson
- Johnason
- Johnasson
- Johnnson
- Johnsen
- Johnson
- Johnsons
- Johnssen
- Johnsson
- Johonson
- Joinson
- Jonason
- Jonassen
- Jonasson
- Joneson
- Jonhson
- Jonison
- Jonnson
- Jonsen
- Jonson
- Jounson
- Joynson
- Jeansson
- Johannson
- Johannsson
- Johansen
- Johanson
- Johnso
- Johnsone
- Johnston
- Johnstone
- Johnton
- Johson
- Jonkinson
- Jonzen
- Josson
- Jennison
- Jensen
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Jonsson in...
Braille
⠚⠕⠝⠎⠎⠕⠝
Morse
.-------.......----.
Semaphore
There are approximately 337 people named Jonsson in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around five in a million people in Britain are named Jonsson.
Origin: Scandinavian
Region of origin: Europe
Country of origin: Sweden
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Swedish
Famous people named Jonsson
- Ulrika Jonsson - Television presenter, journalist
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.