Anderson Cemetery Records
Search burial records, grave locations, and genealogy data for the Anderson family name across all 50 states.
🏺 Origin of the Anderson Surname
Anderson is an English and Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning "son of Andrew," from the Greek "Andreas" (manly, warrior). In Scandinavia, the equivalent surnames are Andersson (Swedish), Andersen (Danish/Norwegian), and Andreasson. When Scandinavian immigrants arrived in America, their names were often anglicized to Anderson.
🇺🇸 Anderson Families in American History
Anderson families came to America from England, Scotland, Ireland, and in large numbers from Scandinavia — particularly Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Scandinavian Andersons concentrated heavily in the upper Midwest, especially Minnesota (the largest Scandinavian-heritage state in the US), Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas. Swedish Andersson families alone account for a significant portion of American Andersons.
Where Anderson Families Are Concentrated
| State | Notes |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | One of the very highest Anderson concentrations — Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish heritage |
| Wisconsin | Significant Scandinavian Anderson settlement, especially Swedish |
| North Dakota | Norwegian Anderson families dominate in rural communities |
| Iowa | Swedish and Danish Anderson settlement in central Iowa |
| South Carolina | Anderson County named after patriot Robert Anderson; colonial English roots |
Famous Americans Named Anderson
Contralto and civil rights figure; buried at Eden Cemetery, Collingdale, PA
Author of Winesburg, Ohio; buried at Round Hill Cemetery, Marion, VA
Union general at Fort Sumter; buried at West Point Cemetery, NY
Composer (Sleigh Ride); buried at Woodbridge Center Cemetery, Woodbridge, CT
Search Tips for Anderson Family Records
Search for Andersson and Andersen variants when researching Scandinavian-heritage families
Lutheran church records are the most important source for Scandinavian Anderson genealogy in the Midwest
Minnesota Historical Society has exceptional Scandinavian-American records and immigration documentation
For Norwegian Andersons, Bygdebøker (Norwegian farm histories) sometimes trace families to American cemeteries
Swedish Anderson families often appear in Stockholm/Gothenburg emigrant records with American destination noted
Variant Spellings to Search
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell Scandinavian Andersons from English or Scottish ones?
Geography is the most reliable indicator: Midwest Andersons (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Dakotas) are predominantly Scandinavian-origin. East Coast and Southern Andersons are more likely English or Scots-Irish. Lutheran vs. Presbyterian/Methodist church affiliation also helps.
Are Swedish Andersson and Norwegian Andersen the same as American Anderson?
They are the same name spelled differently. In Sweden, patronymics ending in -son were common until hereditary surnames were required. Andersson is the Swedish form; Andersen is the Norwegian/Danish form; Anderson is the English and anglicized Scandinavian form.
Why are there so many Scandinavian Andersons in Minnesota?
Minnesota attracted enormous Scandinavian immigration from 1860–1920 because the climate and landscape resembled Scandinavia, land was available, and earlier arrivals sent letters home encouraging others. The Lutheran church provided community infrastructure that kept family groups together.
Can I find Marian Anderson's family records in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia, and her family records are in Pennsylvania. She is buried at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, PA — a historically African American cemetery with records accessible through genealogical databases.
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