Origin of the surname Erik

Recorded in several forms including Eric, Erick, Erik, and the patronymics Ericssen, Erickssen, Ericson, Ericsson, Erickson, Eriksson and others, this is one of the most famous surnames of Scandanavia. It is also one which is widely recorded in Scotland, Iceland and the Faroes, and was arguably the first European name to reach the shores of North America through the exploits of Leif Eriksson, the son of Eric, the Red, who is believed to have landed there in the year 1000. The name Eric derives from an ancient Norse word meaning king, and is probably from the same Germanic root as 'reich', meaning to rule.

The majority of Scandanavian surnames are patronymics, although they rarely became hereditary in the manner of German or British surnames until the 18th century. Then not only did the name spellings become 'fixed', but the various governments sought to encourage the creation of new names new ornamental names away from the patronymics such as Andersson or the various forms of Eric + son. They have not been entirely successful in their quest. Early examples of this surname include Lawrence Erickson of Breck in the Shetland Isles, Scotland, in the year 1613, whilst John Ericsson (1803 - 1889) was one of the most famous inventors of the 19th century. Born in Sweden he went to the United States where he developed the first steam turbine in 1839, and later in 1862 the famous 'ironclad' warship known as Monitor. He is also credited with developing the first 'destroyer' in 1881.

The surname Erik. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname erik is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname erik, and in addition to the original locations of erik, we can find out where people with the surname erik can currently be found.

The surname Erik around the world

The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname erik provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname erik has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Erik

For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname erik, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of erik developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname erik are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about erik and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname erik or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of erik.

Notable Figures Named Erik

Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname erik were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like erik can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.

The surname Erik and its bibliographic sources

The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of erik are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname erik, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of erik, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Erik