Added 2005-04-17 @ 04:41:58 AM, currently rated 5.0/5 (1 vote)
The "son of X" pattern is very common in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland.
In Sweden, the 20 most common surnames (and 45 out of the 100 most common
surnames) are "son names".
In Norway, the 13 most
common surnames (and 58 out of the 100 most common surnames) are "son
names".
In Denmark, at least the 20 most common surnames
are "son names".
With the exception of Iceland,
where almost everyone have son or daughter names, the names have lost their
original meaning. Most people called Johansson or Johansen do not have a
father called Johan.