Nordstrom
A Scandinavian surname meaning “north stream” or “river in the north.”
The #6,220 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 56,156 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Nordstrom is built from Scandinavian elements meaning “north” and “stream” or “river.” In Swedish, the more standard spelling is Nordström, with the umlaut often dropped after immigration into English-speaking countries. The name most likely began as a habitational surname referring to someone living by a northern stream, or as an ornamental place-style surname formed from natural features.
History
The surname is especially associated with Sweden and Swedish-American communities, where the spelling often changed to Nordstrom after emigration. It appears in the United States in a range of immigrant family lines, and the simplified spelling became well known through public figures and the retail company founded by John W. Nordstrom. The original Scandinavian form with -ström remains common in Sweden.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The spelling Nordström keeps the Swedish letter ö, but in English-speaking countries it is often simplified to Nordstrom for ease of spelling and typing.