Samuelson

Samuelson is a surname of English and Scandinavian origin. It is a patronymic meaning "son of Samuel," with Samuel derived from the Hebrew Shmuel. The form Samuelson is common in English-speaking countries, while Samuelsson is a frequent Swedish variant; other spellings include Samuelsen and Samuelsen. The name has appeared in records since the early modern period and spread with migration to North America and across Northern Europe.

Today the surname is most often found in the United States and Canada, with significant presence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. It is also used by some families that Anglicize a Hebrew or other given name to Samuelson.

Notable people bearing the surname include Paul Samuelson (1915–2009), American economist and Nobel Prize laureate in Economic Sciences (1970). He was a foundational figure in modern economic analysis and authored influential textbooks. Ralph Samuelson, American inventor credited with developing water skiing, is another well-known bearer of the name.