Nelsen
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Niels” or “son of Nelson,” especially common in Scandinavian and Anglicized forms.
The #5,128 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 45,237 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Nelsen is a surname formed from a personal name, most often as an Anglicized spelling of Scandinavian patronymic forms. It is usually linked to Niels, the Danish and Norwegian form of Nicholas, so the name originally meant “son of Niels.” In some cases it may also reflect an English or American spelling of Nelson, another patronymic surname with the same basic structure.
History
The surname became more visible in English-speaking countries through Scandinavian immigration, especially in the Upper Midwest of the United States. Because spelling was often fluid in records, Nelsen and Nelson could be used interchangeably or independently by the same family line. The name is now found mainly in the United States and Canada, with ties to Danish, Norwegian, and broader North European ancestry.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Nelsen is one of several surnames that ultimately trace back to the ancient Greek name Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people.”