Contents [hide]

Carlson History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Carlson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Norway
Sweden
Scotland

Etymology of Carlson

What does the name Carlson mean?

The distinguished name Carlson comes ultimately from the Germanic personal name Carl, which was Latinized as 'Carolus'. Early forms of the name in Britain predate the Norman invasion, but some bearers of this name no doubt come from Norman stock. The suffix 'son' or 'ston' indicate a patronymic surname created from the name of a father or male relative. In Europe the name's popularity was in no small part due to the fame of Emperor Charlemagne (742-814) or 'Carolus Magnus' in Latin.

Early Origins of the Carlson family

The surname Carlson was first found in Suffolk where the first record of the name was listed in 1208 when Carolus held estates in that shire. 1

While many of the family were English, in Scotland the name was numerous in Caithness. "Aychin Carlichsoun was witness to an obligation by the earl of Ross in 1439, and in 1494 there is recorded the obit. 'Duncan Charlissoun apud Lochdochord'. The 1439 form has been influenced by the Gaelic form of the name Charles. " 2

There are numerous places named Charleston or Charlestown worldwide, many of which were in honour of King Charles II (1630-1685.)

Early History of the Carlson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carlson research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1253 and 1550 are included under the topic Early Carlson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carlson Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Carlson are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Carlson include: Charleston, Charleson, Charlson, Cherlson, Churlson and many more.

Early Notables of the Carlson family

More information is included under the topic Early Carlson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carlson Ranking

In the United States, the name Carlson is the 253^rd most popular surname with an estimated 104,454 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Carlson is ranked the 585^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,564 people with that name. 4

Carlson migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Carlson or a variant listed above:

Carlson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Carlson, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 5
Mrs. Carlson, aged 44, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1848 5
Anders Carlson, aged 25, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1848 5
Johan Carlson, who arrived in New York in 1849
Ludwig Theodor Carlson, aged 23, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1850 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carlson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Thomas Carlson, (b. 1880), aged 24, Cornish farmer, from Helston, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Majestic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th September 1904 en route to Chicago, Illinois, USA 6
Mary S Carlson, who landed in Colorado in 1906 5
Nels Carlson, who landed in Wisconsin in 1907 5
Johan Alfred Carlson, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1914 5
Alfred John Carlson, who landed in Wisconsin in 1920 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carlson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Carlson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Frederick Carlson, aged 37, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
Carl Carlson, aged 28, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1874 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Carlson (post 1700) +

Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson (b. 1969), American television host, conservative political commentator and writer who hosted of the nightly political talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News (2016-2023)
Richard Warner "Dick" Carlson (1941-2025), American journalist, diplomat, and lobbyist who was the director of the Voice of America from 1986 to 1991, father of conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson
K. C. Carlson (1957-2025), American comic book editor known for his work on Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy and Batman
Phyllis Carlson, American baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Eric Carlson (1958-2024), American founding member and lead guitarist of heavy metal band Mentors
Christopher Carlson (b. 1969), American actor
Christopher Carlson (b. 1997), American rower, who competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Jeffrey S. Carlson (1975-2023), American Broadway, film, and television actor and singer, known for his role on the daytime soap opera All My Children
Dean Paul Carlson (1950-2022), American professional quarterback in the National Football League (NFL)
Linda Carlson (1945-2021), American actress from Gaylordsville, Connecticut, known for her starring role in Westside Medical and her roles in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992), The Pickle (1993), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), and Murder One (1995–1997)
... (Another 121 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Carlson family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Andrew Carlson (d. 1914), American Third Class Passenger from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 8

Flight 191

Ms C Carlson (d. 1979), American passenger from Los Angeles, California, USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 9

Grover Shoe factory

Mr. Ernest C. Carlson, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 10
Mr. Charles Carlson, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he survived 10

RMS Lusitania

Mr. C. J. Carlson, Swiss 3rd Class passenger returning from Chicago, Illinois, USA going to Sweden, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 11

SS Atlantic

Chr. Carlson, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mathilda Carlson, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mr. Olaf Carlson, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Ray C. Carlson, American Seaman Second Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 12
Mr. Harry Ludwig Carlson, (Bud) American Storekeeper Third Class from Connecticut, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 12

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html