Explore the Family Name Pettersen
The meaning of Pettersen
Norwegian and Danish: patronymic from the personal name Petter, a vernacular form of Peter. This surname is also found in northern Germany. Compare Petersen 2 and Peterson 1. Some characteristic forenames: Scandinavian Erik, Johan, Per, Thor, Agnar, Arnt, Astrid, Audun, Bjorn, Gunner, Jarl, Ketil.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Pettersen in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Pettersen has seen a decline in popularity over the decade from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Pettersen ranked 19,090 in terms of popularity and saw a drop by almost 24% to 23,647 in 2010. The number of people with this surname also decreased from 1,318 in 2000 to 1,072 in 2010, marking an approximate 19% decrease. Consequently, the proportion of people bearing the surname Pettersen per 100,000 people also fell by about 27%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,090 | #23,647 | -23.87% |
| Count | 1,318 | 1,072 | -18.66% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.49 | 0.36 | -26.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pettersen
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Pettersen has also evolved over time, as shown in the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (95.75% in 2000 and 93.94% in 2010), there was a noticeable increase in those identifying as Hispanic, from 1.97% in 2000 to 3.54% in 2010. Furthermore, the percentage of those identifying as Black doubled from 0.38% to 0.84% during the same period. However, the percentages of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native remained relatively low and unchanged. Those identifying as belonging to two or more races saw a slight decrease.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.75% | 93.94% | -1.89% |
| Hispanic | 1.97% | 3.54% | 79.7% |
| Two or More Races | 1.44% | 1.21% | -15.97% |
| Black | 0.38% | 0.84% | 121.05% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.47% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |