Petersen is a common Danish patronymic

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

, meaning ''"son of Peter"''. There are other spellings. Petersen may refer to:

People

In arts and entertainment

Adolf Dahm-Petersen Adolf Dahm-Petersen (2 January 1856 – 29 January "California Death Index, 1905-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKSM-WPXW : 5 June 2015), Adolph D Petersen, 1922; citing 1695, Department of He ...

, Norwegian voice specialist *

Anja Petersen Anja Petersen (''née'' Metzger) is a German operatic soprano and university lecturer. She works as a soloist in opera and concert, and as a member of the RIAS Kammerchor. She has appeared in world premieres in both opera and concert, including ...

, German operatic soprano and university lecturer * Anker Eli Petersen, Faroese writer and artist * Ann Petersen, Belgian actress * Chris Petersen (born 1963), American child actor *

Devon Petersen Devon Petersen (born 4 June 1986) is a South African professional darts player and a pundit for Sky Sports. He has qualified for the PDC World Championship on seven occasions with his best result coming in 2014, 2019 and 2021 when he reached ...

(born 1986), South African darts player * Elmer Petersen, American artist * Gustaf Munch-Petersen, Danish writer and painter * Joel Petersen, bass guitarist *

John Hahn-Petersen John Hahn-Petersen (4 November 1930 in Frederiksberg – 4 January 2006) was a Danish theatre, TV and movie actor. He made his debut in 1955 and starred in a number of productions, including ''Matador'', ''Landsbyen'', and ''Taxa''. In 2006 he h ...

, Danish actor * Josef Petersen, Danish novelist * Patrick Petersen, American actor * Paul Petersen, American movie actor, singer, novelist, and activist *

Robert E. Petersen Robert Einar "Pete" Petersen (September 10, 1926 – March 23, 2007) was an American publisher who founded the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1994.Hevesi, Dennis (March 27, 2007)Robert Petersen, Publisher of Auto Buff Magazines, Dies at 80.''Ne ...

, publisher, auto museum founder *

Robert Storm Petersen Robert Storm Petersen (19 September 1882 – 6 March 1949) was a Danish cartoonist, writer, animator, illustrator, painter and humorist. He is known almost exclusively by his pen name Storm P. Biography He was the son of a butcher ...

, Danish cartoonist, writer, animator, illustrator, painter and humorist * Sandy Petersen, American game designer * Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, German musician * William Petersen, American actor * Wolfgang Petersen (1941–2022), German film director

In government and politics

Alicia O'Shea Petersen Alicia Teresa Jane O'Shea Petersen ( McShane; 2 July 1862 – 22 January 1923) was a Tasmanian suffragist and social reformer. Biography Alicia Teresa Jane McShane was born in Tasmania to Hugh and Jane ( Wood) McShane. She became interested ...

, Australian activist *

Alfonso Petersen Alfonso Petersen Farah (born 2 February 1961) is a Mexican physician and politician who served as municipal president of Guadalajara, Jalisco, from 2007 to 2009. Petersen studied medicine at the LaSalle University and the National Autonomous Un ...

, Mayor of Guadalajara, Mexico *

Andrew Petersen Andrew Nicholas Petersen (March 10, 1870 – September 28, 1953) was a patternmaker and foundry company executive who served as a U.S. Representative from New York. Early life Born near Thisted, Denmark, Petersen immigrated to the United S ...

, member of the United States House of Representatives *

Carl Wilhelm Petersen Carl Wilhelm Petersen (born 1 January 1868 in Hamburg; died 6 November 1933 in Hamburg) was a German lawyer, politician for the German Democratic Party (German abbr.: DDP) and First Mayor of Hamburg (1924 – 29 and 1932 – 33). Peterse ...

(1868–1933), German politician and first mayor of Hamburg * Chap (John Chapman) Petersen, American, Virginia politician *

Cynthia Petersen Cynthia Petersen is a Canadian lawyer and judge. Petersen has been a judge for the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since June 2017. Before becoming a judge, Petersen was the Discrimination and Harassment Counsel for the Law Society of Upper Can ...

, Canadian judge *

Elsebeth Kock-Petersen Elsebeth Kock-Petersen (born 15 January 1949) is a Danish Venstre politician. She was a member of the Folketing who represented the constituency from 1975 to 1977 and then the between 1984 and 1990. Kock-Petersen was appointed the youngest ever ...

, Danish politician *

Ewa Hedkvist Petersen Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (born 15 January 1952 in Arvidsjaur, Norrbotten) is a Swedish politician representing the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Sweden. She was a Member of the Riksdag between 1985 and 1994, and a Member of the European Parliame ...

, Swedish politician *

Flo Bjelke-Petersen Florence Isabel Bjelke-Petersen (née Gilmour; 11 August 1920 – 20 December 2017) was an Australian politician and writer. She was a member of the Australian Senate from 1981 to 1993, and was the wife of the longest-serving Premier of Queens ...

, Australian politician and writer * George Petersen, Australian politician *

Hans Christian Petersen Hans Christian Petersen (11 August 1793 – 26 September 1862) was a Norwegian politician and served as the ''de facto'' prime minister of Norway during the personal union of Sweden-Norway from 1858 to 1861. Early life Hans Christian Peter ...

, Norwegian politician *

Harald Petersen Harald Petersen (1893–1970) was a Danish politician who served as the Justice Minister (Denmark), minister of justice and twice Minister of Defence (Denmark), minister of defence in the 1940s and 1950s. Early life and education Petersen was bo ...

, Danish politician * Hjalmar Petersen, American politician * Jan Petersen, Norwegian diplomat and politician * Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Australian politician * Marita Petersen, Faroese politician *

Matthew S. Petersen Matthew Spencer Petersen (born 1970) is an American attorney who served as a member of the United States Federal Election Commission. In 2017, he was nominated by President Donald Trump to be a United States district judge of the United States D ...

, U.S. Federal Election Commission member * Niels Helveg Petersen, Danish politician * P. Walter Petersen, American politician * Søren Jessen-Petersen, Danish United Nations official

In music

* Petersen Zagaze Zambian singer and song writer.

In military

Danny J. Petersen Danny John Petersen (March 11, 1949 – January 9, 1970) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War. Biography Petersen joined t ...

, American Medal of Honor recipient * Forrest S. Petersen, United States Navy admiral and aviator * Frank E. Petersen, retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general *

Sigmund R. Petersen Rear Admiral Sigmund R. Petersen (born ? ) is a retired career officer who served in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps, its successor, the Environmental Science Services Administration Corps (ESSA Corps), and the ESSA Corps's succ ...

, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) rear admiral and fourth Director of the NOAA Corps

In religion

* Mark E. Petersen, member of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church) * Ole Peter Petersen, founder of Methodism in Norway

In sport

* Alviro Petersen, South African cricketer *

Cal Petersen Calvin Louis Petersen (born October 19, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was s ...

(born 1994), professional ice hockey goaltender * Chris Petersen (born 1964), American football coach * Ike Petersen, American football player *

Johannes Petersen Johannes Petersen (unknown — unknown), was a Danish chess player, Danish Chess Championship winner (1920). Biography In the 1920s and 1930s Johannes Petersen was one of Danish leading chess players. In 1920, in Aalborg he won unofficial Danish ...

, Danish chess master *

Lou Petersen Louis Charles Petersen (19 April 1897 – 25 June 1961) was a dual-code rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in rugby union and rugby league. Early years Petersen served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War I and it wa ...

, New Zealand dual-code rugby international *

Matthew Petersen Matthew Andrew Petersen (born 27 March 1980) is a former United States international rugby league footballer who played for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the Super League. He also played for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. His position o ...

, Australian rugby player * Morten Petersen, Danish football player * Nils Petersen, German football player *

Sara Petersen (badminton) Sara Runesten Petersen (born 8 May 1975) is a Denmark-born female badminton player from New Zealand. Career Petersen competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the mixed doubles with partner Daniel Shirley. They defeated Philippe Bou ...

, New Zealand badminton player * Sara Petersen (hurdler), Danish 400 metres hurdler *

Ted Petersen Ted Petersen (born February 7, 1955) is a former professional American football offensive lineman. He played for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns, and the Indianapolis Colts ...

, football player * Thyge Petersen, Danish boxer

In other fields

* Anders Petersen (disambiguation) *

Carl Petersen (disambiguation) Carl Petersen may refer to: * Carl Wilhelm Petersen (1868–1933), German politician and first mayor of Hamburg * Carl Petersen (athlete) (1902–1983), Danish Olympic athlete * Carl Emil Petersen (1875–1971), American Medal of Honor recipient * ...

Grant Petersen Grant Petersen is a bicycle designer, author, and the founder and owner of Rivendell Bicycle Works. He was U.S. marketing director for Bridgestone Cycle (U.S.A.), Inc. during the 1980s and 1990s, where he designed the XO series of bicycles. He ...

, American bicycle company owner *

Jack Petersen (disambiguation) Jack Petersen may refer to: * Jack Petersen (boxer) * Jack Petersen (guitarist) Jack Leroy Petersen (born October 25, 1933) is an American jazz guitarist and educator. He was a pedagogical architect for jazz guitar and jazz improvisation at Ber ...

* Johan Carl Christian Petersen, Danish seaman, interpreter, and Arctic explorer *

Julius Petersen Julius Peter Christian Petersen (16 June 1839, Sorø, West Zealand – 5 August 1910, Copenhagen) was a Danish mathematician. His contributions to the field of mathematics led to the birth of graph theory. Biography Petersen's interes ...

, Danish mathematician *

, Literary scholar and university professor * Rodney L. Petersen, American scholar of history, ethics, and religious conflict * Ron Petersen (born 1934), American mycologist with the standard author abbreviation "R.H.Petersen" * Sophie Petersen (1885–1965), Danish geographer

Other uses

* Petersen (film), a 1974 Australian drama film * Petersen Automotive Museum *

Petersen Bay Johan Petersen Fjord, also known as Petersen Bay ( da, Petersen Bugt), is a fjord in King Christian IX Land, Eastern Greenland. The fjord is named after Danish Arctic explorer Johan Petersen (1813–1880). Geography This fjord is located on the we ...

, Greenland * Petersen Graph, famous for its special properties in graph theory