Surname Knutzon - Meaning and Origin

Knutzon: What does the surname Knutzon mean?

The last name Knutzon is of Scandinavian origin, likely originating in either Denmark or Sweden. Its etymology can be broken down to two parts and likely originally referred to a “knut" or knot, combined with “son” which is a common suffix for a patronymic name. This likely implied that the ancestor was named “Knut” and passed that name down as a surname to their descendants.

The earliest known record of the Knutzon name dates to 1593, in a book entitled Patronymica Stockholmeninga, which was a record of the surnames in Stockholm. After that, the name spread throughout the Scandinavian areas, with a few recorded instances as far back as 1699.

The Knutzon surname is a fairly rare one, even in areas of its origin. This is likely a result of the fact that it wasn’t very common to pass surnames down to descendants during the era in which the name originated and even less common to do so if the ancestor wasn’t at least moderately affluent.

In modern times, those who possess the surname of Knutzon likely have some type of connection to Scandinavia, as it is very unlikely for the name to exist elsewhere. It is not known exactly how common the surname is today, but it is thought to be somewhat rare, with those bearing the name being widely dispersed and found in many different countries.

Knutzon: Where does the name Knutzon come from?

Knutzon is a Scandinavian surname that is most prevalent in Denmark and Norway today. The name was in use as early as the 16th century in Greenland, while most of the current bearers of the name are descended from Danish settleres who arrived to the region in the 18th century.

As of 2021, the latest population census in Denmark shows that there are still nearly 1,100 people in the country who carry the name Knutzon. The majority of these people live in the capital of Copenhagen, as well as in the towns and villages of the surrounding region. Outside of Denmark, the name is common in parts of Norway with a population of nearly 2,000, mostly in the regions of Oslo and Trondheim.

Despite its Nordic heritage, the name is also found in the nearby countries of Sweden and Finland, with a sizable population in each. Germany and The Netherlands also list a fair number of Knutzon's, as well as smaller enclaves in other parts of Europe such as Italy and Austria.

The name is also found in North America where the immigration of Danes and Norwegians during the 19th and 20th centuries has led to the formation of sizeable Danish and Norwegian communities in both Canada and the United States. The name Knutzon can be found in Canadian towns such as Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, and Calgary, as well as in many different areas across the United States. It is also worth noting that the name is used in Australian records from the early 20th century, although Knutzon's are much rarer in the country today.

Variations of the surname Knutzon

Knutzon is an uncommon Scandinavian surname with an uncertain origin. It is derived either directly from a Norse personal name, or from a nickname in Old Norse expressing something to the effect of “bold knut” or “knuckled knut.”

Knutzon is mainly concentrated in Denmark and the United States. Other variants of the name include Knutsen, Knutson, Knutsson, Knudsen, and Knudson. In Scandinavia, many other spellings of the surname exist, including Knutz (Germany), Knudzon (Denmark), and Knutzonen (Finland).

In the US, the surname has been extensively anglicized from its original Germanic and Scandinavian forms to Knutson and Knudson. Americanized variants of the name include Knutten, Knutt, Knotson, Knotson, Nutson, and Nudson.

In Denmark, the surname can appear in various spellings, many of which contain a “z” instead of an “s”, such as Knutz, Knutzonen, Knudzzen, Knudtzon, Knudtzen, and Knudzzon. The surname may also contain double consonants or reversed letters, such as Knudtton or Knuttson.

In Sweden, the surname is sometimes spelled Knutssen, Knutstone, Knutsdotter, Knutstorren, Knutssen, or Knutstone. Other Scandinavian surnames derived from Knutzon include Knutstorp, Knutstram, and Knutstorpf. As with other Scandinavian surnames, feminized versions of the name appear in the form of Konutz and Knutssdotter.

Famous people with the name Knutzon

• Lars Knutzon: Danish actor, director and screenwriter.
• Henrik Knutzon: Danish actor, known for his roles in popular Danish television series like Bankerot (2009-2012) and Oldboys (2011-2014).
• Nils Alexander Knutzon: Norwegian actor, known for roles in The Wave (2008) and Skaret (2012).
• Anette Knutzon: Swedish actress, known for her roles in Swedish television series like Agentgåten (2007-2008) and Ängelby (2015).
• Peter Knutzon: Danish actor, director and screenwriter, best known for his lead role in the popular drama series Alt er godt (2009-2011).
• Sandra Knutzon: Swedish actress, known for her roles in the Swedish television series Det okända (2016-2018) and Sista Semestern (2018).
• Ditlev Knutzon: Danish actor, writer and director best known for his lead role in the movie Skønheden og udyret (1982).
• Kai Knutzon: Norwegian actor, known for his roles in popular Norwegian television series like Brødrene Dal (1992-1994) and Hotel Cæsar (1995-1997).
• Robert Knutzon: Norwegian actor, director and screenwriter, known for his leading role in the popular Norwegian television series Det tredje øyet (2001-2005).
• Frank Knutzon: Danish actor, film director and documentary filmmaker, best known for his critically acclaimed documentary about the life of disabled persons in Europe, called Musik for øjnene (2012).

Other surnames

Knutzen