The surname "Swanson" is of Scandinavian origin, specifically Swedish. It is derived from the Swedish personal name "Svante," which is a variant of the name "Sven," meaning "young warrior" or "young man" in Old Norse. The surname "Swanson" signifies "son of Svante" or "son of Sven." The first documented reference to the surname "Swanson" in the United States can be traced back to the late 19th century. Many Swedes migrated to the United States during that period, and it was during this time that the surname "Swanson" started appearing in American records. Today there are approximately 83,000 people with the family name Swanson living in the US, making it the 258th most popular name in the country.