efternamn

Efternamn is the term for the surname or family name used in Swedish and Swedish-speaking contexts. It functions as a hereditary identifier that links individuals to a family and is typically used together with a given name on official documents and in daily life. The etymology reflects its purpose: efter means “after” or “following” and namn means “name,” i.e., the name that follows the given name as a family identifier.

Historically, Swedish naming practice relied on patronymics: a child was named after the father with the suffixes -son or -dotter (for example Andersson, Johansson). During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many families adopted fixed surnames, often derived from farms, local places, or arbitrary family names. Since then, efternamn are generally inherited across generations and do not change with each new generation.

In modern Sweden, the use and change of efternamn are governed by law, with formal procedures for adopting, changing, or combining names. It is common for couples to select a common family name, and individuals may also choose to legally adopt a new surname, including hyphenated or compound forms, subject to registration and regulatory rules.

Cultural usage: while the Sweden-specific term is efternamn, the concept exists worldwide under “surname” or “family name.” In practice, efternamn appear on passports, national IDs, and birth records, and are central to formal address and legal identification.