RASMUSSEN Surname Meaning and Family History

Rasmussen is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Rasmus," a Scandinavian form of the personal name Erasmus. Erasmus derives from the Greek ερασμιος (erasmios) which means "beloved." 

Spellings of Rasmussen that end in -sen are most likely Danish or Norwegian in origin, while those that end in -son could be Swedish, Dutch, North German, or Norwegian.

Rasmussen is the 9th most popular surname in Denmark and the 41st most common last name in Norway.

Surname Origin: Danish, Norwegian, North German, Dutch

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Alternate Surname Spellings: RASMUSEN, RASMUSON, RASMUSSON, RASMUS 

Famous People with the Surname RASMUSSEN:

• Saint Erasmus (Saint Elmo) - 4th-century martyr and patron saint of sailors.
• Theodore Rasmussen - Canadian neurosurgeon and scientist who gave his name to the rare disease, Rasmussen's encephalitis. 
• Knud Rasmussen - Greenlandic anthropologist and polar explorer; the first European to cross the Northwest Passage via dog sled
• Scott Rasmussen - co-founder of the sports television network ESPN
• Lars and Jens Rasmussen - brothers and creators of Google Maps

Where is the RASMUSSEN Surname Most Common?

Considering its Scandinavian origins, it's not surprising that Rasmussen is most prevalent today in Denmark, where it ranks as the 8th most common surname in the country. Surname distribution data from Forebears also identifies the surnames popularity in Norway, where it ranks 41st, as well as the Faroe Islands (12th) and Greenland (10th).

WorldNames PublicProfiler also indicates that Rasmussen is by far most commonly used by people living in Denmark. Norway comes in a distant second. Within Denmark, the surname is found most frequently in Fyn and Størstrom, followed by Aarhus, Vestsjælland, Vejle, Roskilde, Frederiksborg, København, Bornholm and Staden København.

Genealogy Resources for the Surname RASMUSSEN

• Rasmussen Family Crest - It's Not What You Think: Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Rasmussen family crest or coat of arms for the Rasmussen surname. Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.
• Rasmussen DNA Project: Rasmussen is a Scandinavian patronymic surname, meaning that your DNA matches will not necessarily (or likely) even be people named Rasmussen. This project will help you determine which Scandinavian and/or haplogroup projects are best to join for research into your Rasmussen heritage.
• RASMUSSEN Family Genealogy Forum: This free message board is focused on descendants of Rasmussen ancestors around the world. Search the forum for posts about your Rasmussen ancestors, or join the forum and post your own queries. 
• FamilySearch - RASMUSSEN Genealogy: Explore over 1.5 million results from digitized historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Rasmussen surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• RASMUSSEN Surname Mailing List: Free mailing list for researchers of the Rasmussen surname and its variations includes subscription details and searchable archives of past messages.
• GeneaNet - Rasmussen Records: GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Rasmussen surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries.
• The Rasmussen Genealogy and Family Tree Page: Browse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Rasmussen surname from the website of Genealogy Today.
• Ancestry.com: Rasmussen Surname: Explore over 1.4 million digitized records and database entries, including census records, passenger lists, military records, land deeds, probates, wills and other records for the Rasmussen surname on the subscription-based website, Ancestry.com.