Origin of the Peterson Surname
The Peterson surname is of English/Scandinavian origin (English). In the 2010 U.S. Census it ranked #71 with 278,297 Americans (94.34 per 100K people).
What the name meant to the first families who bore it — and how Peterson traveled across regions and centuries — is written out in the full Heritage Report.
Quick Facts
| Surname | Peterson |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Full etymology in the Heritage Report |
| Origin | English/Scandinavian |
| Language | English |
| US Rank (2010) | #71 |
| US Count (2010) | 278,297 |
| Per 100K People | 94.34 |
| First Letter | P |
Ethnic Distribution of Peterson
Among 278,297 Americans named Peterson, the largest self-reported group is White (84.39%).
The full multi-group chart (every percentage, print-ready) is inside the Heritage Report — not repeated here.
Popularity of Peterson Over Time
Between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the national rank of Peterson moved down. Exact counts for both years — print-ready — are in the Heritage Report.
Where did the Peterson family really come from?
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The Complete Story of the Peterson Family
What you’ve read above is just the overview. Your full Peterson Heritage Report goes far deeper — and it’s yours to keep, print & share with your family.
- ✓ The true origin & meaning of Peterson
- ✓ The Peterson coat of arms & heraldry
- ✓ Migration journey across the world
- ✓ Where Peterson families live today
- ✓ Notable Peterson bearers in history
- ✓ Name variations & spellings worldwide
- ✓ A step-by-step guide to start tracing your own family tree
🎁 A heritage keepsake to pass down — perfect as a gift.
Get one Peterson fact most families never hear by email — a teaser, not the full etymology (that’s in the report).
Similar Surnames to Peterson
These surnames share similar popularity, spelling, or cultural background with Peterson.
Other English/Scandinavian Surnames
Explore more surnames with English/Scandinavian roots. There are 162,254 surnames in our database — here are some that share the same English/Scandinavian origin as Peterson.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peterson
Top Surnames Starting with P
The most common American surnames that begin with the letter P, ranked by population.
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