Engström

Engström is a Swedish surname. It is a habitational name derived from the elements äng, meaning meadow, and ström, meaning stream, a combination common in Swedish toponymic surnames. The form is found with diacritical marks in Swedish, with the non-diacritic form Engstrom commonly used in international contexts or where diacritics are not readily available.

Historically, Engström arose in the 19th century as Swedish families adopted fixed surnames rather than traditional patronymics. Since then, it has become widespread among families in Sweden and Swedish-speaking communities in Finland. Through emigration and globalization, Engström is now encountered in other Nordic countries, Europe, and North America, especially in communities with Swedish ancestry.

The surname is borne by numerous individuals across public life, including members of sports, academia, the arts, and public service. Because it is relatively common, the name may refer to different people depending on context.

There is no single canonical meaning beyond its topographic origin, but the combination evokes a landscape feature—a meadow by a stream—that may have influenced surname choice in rural Sweden. Like many Swedish surnames, Engström is a marker of heritage and regional background for families bearing it.