Show ContentsMagnuson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

As a surname, Magnuson is derived from the Scandinavian personal name Magnus. The name was born by King of Norway Magnus the Good, who died in 1047. It made its way to Britain through the Danish invasions of Northeastern Britain.

Early Origins of the Magnuson family

The surname Magnuson was first found in Shetland, where they held a family seat in their territories in the Orkneys. The Viking influence of northern Scotland developed as a stepping stone to Iceland from Scandinavia. Many Viking expeditions were started from the Orkneys and the northern tip. Rollo, first Duke of Normandy, started his conquest of that part of France as an expeditionary from here. Hugo Magnus was found at 1114. Later the name was found in Cortance, Aberdeen in the 17th century.

Early History of the Magnuson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Magnuson research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1047, 1420, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Magnuson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Magnuson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Magnus, Manus, MacVanish, Magnusson, Magnuson, Magnos, Magnes, Magnusson, Magnuss, MacVinish, McWeynish, MacVinis and many more.

Early Notables of the Magnuson family

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

Magnuson Ranking

In the United States, the name Magnuson is the 4,553rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [1]


United States Magnuson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Magnuson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Carl Magnuson, aged 29, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1848 [2]
  • Edward, Howard, Lewis, John, Albert Magnuson all, who arrived in New York in 1849
Magnuson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • David Emanuel Magnuson, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1913 [2]


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)


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