Karlsson is a Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning "son of Karl" or "Karl's son". It is one of the most common surnames in Sweden and has a number of alternative spellings. Apart from Karlsson, Carlsson is the most common spelling variation. Karlson and Carlson also exist, but are uncommon, as are Carlzon and Qarlsson (Annika Qarlsson). The parallel Danish-Norwegian forms are Karlsen and Carlsen.
The surname is also found in Iceland, where it is not strictly a surname, but a patronymic.
Geographical distribution
As of 2014, 92.3% of all known bearers of the surname Karlsson were residents of Sweden, 2.8% of Finland and 1.2% of Norway.
In Sweden, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:52) in the following counties: Kalmar (1:21) Kronoberg (1:24) Östergötland (1:28) Blekinge (1:29) Örebro (1:32) Jönköping (1:33) Södermanland (1:33) Värmland (1:37) Halland (1:38) Västra Götaland (1:44)
In Finland, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average (1:945) in the following regions: Åland (1:25) Southwest Finland (1:344) Ostrobothnia (region) (1:593) Uusimaa (1:724)
A
Allan Karlsson (skier) (1911–1991), Swedish cross country skier
Allan Karlsson (footballer), Swedish former footballer
Anders Carlsson (politician) (born 1951), Swedish social democratic politician
Anders Karlsson (physicist) (born 1964), Swedish physicist
Andreas Karlsson (born 1975), Swedish ice hockey player
Ann-Ewa Karlsson (born 1955), Swedish Olympic high jumper
Ann-Marie Karlsson (born 1968), Swedish cross country skier
Arne Karlsson (sailor) (born 1936), Swedish sailboat racer
Arne Karlsson (sport shooter) (born 1946), Swedish sports shooter
Arvid Carlsson (1923–2018), Swedish neuroscientist, Nobel Prize in 2000
Åsa Karlsson (born 1973), Swedish politician
Åsa-Britt Karlsson (born 1957), Swedish politician
B
Bert Karlsson (born 1945), Swedish record company manager and politician
Bertil Karlsson (1919–2012), Swedish athlete
Bo Karlsson (born 1949), Swedish football referee
C
Christoffer Karlsson (born 1988), Swedish football (soccer) player
Conny Karlsson (shot putter) (born 1975), Finnish shot putter
D
David Karlsson (disambiguation)
E
Einar Karlsson (1908–1980), Swedish wrestler
Erik Karlsson (born 1990), Swedish ice hockey player
Evie (singer) (full name Evie Karlsson, born 1956), U.S. Contemporary Christian music singer