This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Pettersen family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Pettersen Family History

Pettersen Surname Meaning

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.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pettersen family from?

You can see how Pettersen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pettersen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Pettersen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 13 Pettersen families living in London. This was about 34% of all the recorded Pettersen's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Pettersen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pettersen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Pettersen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Pettersen. 100% of Pettersen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Pettersen | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Pettersen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Pettersen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pettersen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pettersen

Passenger Lists

There are 31,000 immigration records available for the last name Pettersen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Pettersen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Pettersen. For the veterans among your Pettersen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pettersen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pettersen family history

Discover More

What is the average Pettersen lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Pettersen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Pettersen in 1947 was 56, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pettersen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pettersen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Pettersen family tree

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