Etymology
Larsen is a surname of Danish and Norwegian origin, meaning "son of Lars." It is a patronymic surname formed by adding the suffix -sen to the given name Lars, which is the Scandinavian form of Laurence 1. The root name Laurence derives from the Roman cognomen Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum," a city in ancient Italy whose name likely comes from Latin laurus "laurel."
Historical Context
Patronymic surnames were traditionally used throughout Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark and Norway, where the custom of a child taking the father's first name as a surname effectively created new names with each generation. The -sen suffix means "son of," making Larsen equivalent to the English patronymic Larson. This naming convention was only replaced by permanent hereditary surnames in most of Scandinavia beginning in the 19th century. The widespread use of Larsen reflects the historical popularity of the given name Lars across the region.
Notable Bearers
The name Larsen has been borne by many notable individuals, including Danish-born explorer J. A. (Jacob Alexander) Larsen, who contributed to the Exploration of northern Canada; American football coach and player Jim Larsen; and guitarist Tommy Larsen. In arts, the novelist Anne B. Larsen and opera singer Hermann Larsen are known. American wrestler Curt 'Mr. Kennedy' or 'Ken Anderson' but also earlier wrestlers introduced persons known simply 'Larsen' in broader pop culture identification unknown many recognize it.
Distribution
According to the 2010 United States Census, Larsen was the 606th most common surname in the country, born by nearly 56,000 people, the majority of whom (94.2%) identified as white. It remains most concentrated in Scandinavia due deep history Denmark Norway.
Overview Fact Key
- Meaning: Son of Lars
- Origin: Danish, Norwegian
- Linguistic Type: Patronymic
- Usage Regions: Denmark, Norway, United States
Roots
Variants
Other Languages & Cultures
Sources: Wiktionary — Larsen