Last Name Hakansson

The surname Hakansson is a Swedish patronymic surname derived from the given name Håkan, which is an Old Norse form of the name Henry. The "-sson" ending indicates that it was originally a patronymic, meaning that it was passed down from the father to his sons. The use of patronymic surnames was common in Scandinavian countries before the adoption of fixed hereditary surnames in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The name Hakansson would have originally been used to identify a son of a man named Håkan.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Hakansson

The meaning and origin of the last name Hakansson

The surname Hakansson is a Swedish patronymic name derived from the given name Håkan, an Old Norse variant of the Scandinavian name Erik or Henry. The "son" suffix indicates that it was originally given as a nickname to the son of a man named Håkan. The name Hakansson is common in Sweden, where it originated due to the country's Nordic heritage and the widespread use of patronymic names during the Viking Age (approx. 800-1050 AD) and the Middle Ages. As a result of Swedish emigration, the surname Hakansson is also found among Swedes in other parts of the world, particularly North America.

Geographical distribution of the last name Hakansson

The surname Hakansson is predominantly found in Sweden, where it originates from the region of Västerbotten and Norrbotten in the north. It's a patronymic form derived from the male given name Håkan, which means "the hawk" in Old Norse. Over time, the name has spread throughout Sweden due to migration and settlement patterns. In recent years, there have been immigrants with the surname Hakansson in other parts of the world, particularly in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where Swedish immigrants settled during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In these nations, the distribution of the name is more dispersed, reflecting the migratory patterns of Swedish immigrants.

Variants and spellings of the last name Hakansson

The surname Hakansson has several variations and spellings, primarily due to differences in transliteration and regional dialects. Some common variants include:

1. Håkansson (Swedish), with the 'å' pronounced as 'o' in English and the final 's' being silent.
2. Häkansson (Swedish), where 'ä' is pronounced as 'e' in English and the final 's' is silent.
3. Haakansson (Norwegian and Danish), with a different pronunciation for the initial 'å'. In Norwegian, it is typically pronounced as 'o', while in Danish, it might sound closer to the English 'au'. The final 's' is also pronounced in these versions.
4. Hackansson (English transliteration of the Swedish surname without diacritics).
5. Hakanson (less common variant without the additional 'o').
6. Häkansson (an alternative spelling with a different placement of the accent mark).
7. Haakan(n)son (additional variations due to differences in transliteration).

Famous people with the last name Hakansson

The Hakansson family has produced several notable individuals across various fields. One of the most renowned is Henrik Hakansson, a Swedish actor and musician, best known for his roles in films such as "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "Europa Report." In the world of sports, Leif Hakansson, a Finnish ice hockey player, played professionally for teams like Jokerit and TPS Turku. He represented Finland at multiple international events including the Winter Olympics. On the academic side, Per-Olof Hakansson, a Swedish sociologist, is recognized for his contributions to research on urbanization and industrialization. Lastly, in the realm of business, Magnus Hakansson, the former CEO of Volvo Cars, played a significant role in leading the company through strategic changes during his tenure from 1982 to 1992.

Genealogical research on the last name Hakansson

The surname Hakansson is of Swedish origin, derived from the personal name Håkan and the patronymic suffix -sson. Håkan is a variant of the ancient Scandinavian name Haki, which means 'high' or 'exalted.'

Hakansson is a common surname in Sweden, particularly in regions such as Dalarna and Värmland, where the name has been traced back to the 15th century. Notable individuals with the surname Hakansson include Swedish film director Bo Hakansson, ice hockey player Mattias Häkelinen-Hakansson, and former professional footballer Mikael Håkansson.

The migration of Swedish settlers to North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries led to an increase in the number of individuals bearing the surname Hakansson in countries such as the United States and Canada. Today, the name remains predominantly found in Sweden but is also present in significant numbers in other Scandinavian countries, North America, and Australia.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Hakansson"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 28 July 2025

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