Larsen
A Scandinavian patronymic meaning “son of Lars,” with Lars itself coming from Laurence.
The #606 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 5,517 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Larsen is a classic Scandinavian patronymic surname built from Lars, a common short form of Laurence, plus the suffix -sen, meaning “son.” In plain terms, it originally meant “son of Lars.” The deeper root is Latin Laurentius, associated with the name Laurence.
History
This surname is especially common in Denmark and Norway, and it also appears in Sweden, where the same patronymic pattern is found. It spread widely in the modern period as Scandinavian naming systems became fixed hereditary surnames. In English-speaking countries, Larsen is now a familiar immigrant surname and remains strongly associated with Scandinavian ancestry.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Larsen is one of several Scandinavian surnames that preserve an older patronymic system that once changed from generation to generation.
From the historical record
“and see Archer in Diet.] LARSEN (Scand.) LaRs' (Laurence's) Son [see .Laurence in Diet. ; and + the Seand. fil. suff. -sen, Dan.-Norw. son = Swed. son'\ LEBAS 1 (Fr.) The Short [Fr. le, the ; Lat. LE BAS ,1 ille + Fr. has, short, low, shallow ; L.Lat. bass-us; i. Celt. : ep. Wei. bas, low,”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)