"One Hundred Common Swedish Family Names or Surnames"

In the vast landscape of Sweden, the roots of many surnames can be traced back to the late medieval period, their origins deeply embedded in the Scandinavian language and culture. Here, we delve into the fascinating histories of some common Swedish surnames.

The surname Nystrom, meaning 'new river', is a topographic name composed of the elements by, meaning 'new', and strom, meaning 'river'. Similarly, Nordwall, meaning 'north bank', is derived from the elements nord 'north' and vall 'bank'.

Surnames like Malmgren, Kielman, and Lagman also have intriguing origins. Malmgren, meaning 'ore branch', is composed of malm 'ore' and gren 'branch'. Kielman comes from kil 'wedge' and man 'man'. Lagman, meaning 'laws man', is derived from Old Norse Logmaor, composed of log 'laws' and maor 'man'.

Yngvi, a variant of Freyr, was regarded as the ancestor of the Swedish royal family. Trana, meaning 'crane', and Uggla, meaning 'owl', are both names that originated from soldiers' nicknames. Orn, meaning 'eagle', is a Scandanavian name that carries a sense of power and majesty.

Naslund, meaning 'narrow neck of land with a grove', and Rapp, meaning 'quick', are names that reflect the character and landscape of Sweden. Tjader, another surname derived from soldiers' nicknames, and Ogren, an ornamental name formed by combining 'island' and 'branch', also have interesting origins.

Oquist, Malmquist, and Mahlberg are names that are derived from natural features. Oquist is composed of 'island' and 'twig', Malmquist is composed of 'ore' and 'twig', and Mahlberg is composed of 'gravel' and 'mountain'.

Marken, meaning 'forest pasture', and Osbeck, a topographic name formed by combining 'river mouth' or 'ridge' with 'brook', are names that reflect the rich natural landscape of Sweden.

The surnames Lagerman, Kilburg, Renstrom, Pihl, Olander, Palmberg, Quarnstrom, and Kilberg are all of Scandinavian origin and have meanings that range from 'laurel man' and 'wedge mountain' to 'arrow' and 'someone from the island of Olan or Aland'.

Saam, an ethnic name that is derived from Same, meaning 'Saami', refers to a member of the tribes of northern Scandanavia. Ohlsson, Pehrson, Lagergren, Lagerstrom, Kjellberg, and Sahlberg are all patronymic names, meaning 'son of Ola', 'son of Peter', 'laurel branch', 'laurel river', 'spring mountain', and 'hall hill', respectively.

Noreen, Wikstrom, Ranstrom, Zetterberg, and Sanderlin are names with origins in various languages, including Arabic, Greek, and Latin. Safstrom, meaning 'rush river', and Ylva, a derivative of the Old Norse ulfr, meaning 'wolf' or 'female wolf', are names that carry a sense of the wild and untamed.

Lastly, Oden, the Head God in Norse mythology, and Sanderlin, derived from Alexander, are names that have travelled through time and culture, leaving an indelible mark on the Swedish landscape.

While specific individuals who bore these top 100 Swedish surnames in the 17th or 18th century are not listed in the results, it is known that Swedish surnames at that time were often patronymic or derived from occupations or locations. However, the exact journey of these surnames through the centuries remains a rich tapestry waiting to be unraveled.