Gustavsson Family History

Swedish: patronymic from the personal name Gustav, which is most likely of Slavic origin, a derivative of the name Gostislav ‘glorious guest’. This name is a compound of Old Slavic gostь ‘guest’ + the element slav ‘glory’ or ‘famous’ (from Old Slavic slava ‘glory’).

Alternatively, the name could be of Old Swedish origin, possibly derived from the Old Norse elements Gotar ‘Goths’ and stafr ‘staff’, hence meaning ‘staff of the Goths’.

The name Gustav has been borne by eight kings of Sweden.

Compare Gustafsson and Gustavson.