The correct spelling of the surname "Gustafson" is pronounced /ˈɡʊstəfsən/. The IPA phonetic transcription reveals that the first syllable is pronounced with a short "u" sound followed by the "s" sound. The second syllable has a "t" sound followed by "af" and "s" sounds. The final syllable is a short "u" sound, followed by the "n" sound. To spell this name correctly, one must be careful to include all the letters in the correct order, with attention to the vowel sounds.
The word "Gustafson" is a surname of Swedish origin. It is derived from the combination of the personal name "Gustaf" and the patronymic suffix "-son", meaning "son of Gustaf". "Gustaf" is the Swedish variant of the name Gustav, which originates from the Old Norse elements "gōð" (good) and "staf" (staff). Therefore, "Gustafson" means "son of Gustav" or "descendant of Gustav" in Swedish.