History of your Surname
Get access to Karlsson family records.Start a free trial

Karlsson Family History

Karlsson Name Meaning

Swedish: patronymic from the personal name Karl (see also Charles ). Compare Carlsson .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Karlson, Carlsson, Karlsen, Larsson, Ohlsson, Jansson, Kallsen

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Karlsson family from?

You can see how Karlsson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Karlsson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Karlsson families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 4 Karlsson families living in Missouri. This was 100% of all the recorded Karlsson's in USA. Missouri had the highest population of Karlsson families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Karlsson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Karlsson ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Servant were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Karlsson. 60% of Karlsson men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Karlsson women worked as a Servant. Some less common occupations for Americans named Karlsson were Superintendent and Maid. .

View Census Data for Karlsson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    60%
  • Superintendent
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Servant
    34%
  • Registered Nurse
    34%
  • Maid
    34%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Karlsson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Karlsson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Karlsson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Karlsson

Passenger Lists

There are 69,000 immigration records available for the last name Karlsson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Karlsson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 381 military records available for the last name Karlsson. For the veterans among your Karlsson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Karlsson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Karlsson family history

Discover More

What is the average Karlsson lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Karlsson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Karlsson in 1956 was 34, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Karlsson

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Karlsson family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Karlsson last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial