Surname Behrnsen - Meaning and Origin

Behrnsen: What does the surname Behrnsen mean?

The last name Behrnsen is an occupational surname of German origin. The name translates literally to mean "barrel maker" or "barrel seller". The surname likely originated in the early Middle Ages during a time when towns and villages became populated with tradesmen specializing in specific areas. Barrel making or selling was likely one of those trades.

In German culture, the last name Behrnsen could be used to identify a family, clan or group of people descended from or associated with a particular barrel maker. The same could be said for any other family with an occupational name. During this time, most surnames didn’t exist and, if they did, they were rarely used. Instead, people identified each other by a first name and a descriptive label of their trade.

Today, the surname Behrnsen still symbolizes a historically associated occupation, though the barrel making/selling industry no longer exists as it did in the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, the name lives on and still serves to identify a certain family, group or clan. It's a name with centuries-old meaning and significance that will likely persist for generations to come.

Behrnsen: Where does the name Behrnsen come from?

The last name Behrnsen is most commonly associated with the city of Hamburg in Germany, where the name originates from. Today, the surname is still present in the area with many families having existed there since the early 16th century. A branch of the family is also found in the United States of America, with the first Behrnsen family members arriving in 1854.

As a result of its Germanic origin, the last name now has a presence in various parts of Europe, particularly Germany. It is also found in the Netherlands, Denmark, Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden and Poland.

It is estimated that more than 1500 people with the surname Behrnsen exist in Germany alone. Many descendants with the same family name can also be found in the United States of America, with an at least 700 reported instances of the surname having been recorded here in the 2000 census.

Although the name is not especially prominent outside of Europe, its presence is still growing as a result of the vast diaspora of Germanic immigrants in many other parts of the world. It is also possible to find the Behrnsen last name in Canada, South Africa and Australasia, amongst other places.

Ultimately, the last name Behrnsen has a long and rich history that dates back to Germany, and, although there is no single part of the world where it is particularly concentrated, the name is still found in many different countries wherever people of Germanic origin have established homes.

Variations of the surname Behrnsen

The surname Behrnsen is of German origin and is a rare surname in modern times. It is most commonly spelled as Behrnsen, but there are several other variants and spellings of the surname.

Behnsen

This spelling of the surname is the same as Behrnsen, without the extra 'r' in the middle.

Behrensen

The spelling of the surname with an 'e' between the 'h' and 'r' is very popular and it is the most widely used variant of the German surname Behrnsen.

Behrens

This is an English form of the German surname, often spelled without the 'en' at the end.

Behren

This variant of Behrnsen is a German form of the name without the 'sen' at the end.

Behrns

This spelling of the surname is an abbreviated form of Behrnsen.

Berghsen

This variant of the surname drops the initial 'B' and replaces it with 'Bergh'.

Bergen

This is another German form of the Behrnsen surname, with an added 'en' at the end.

Bergenheim

The variation of the surname which adds the German place name 'heim' is a very common spelling.

Berndsen

This form of the Behrnsen surname is a combination of 'bernd' and 'sen', which refers to the surname's original German origin.

Bergmann

This variant of Behrnsen adds the German word 'mann', which means 'man'.

Berner

This surname is a combination of 'bernd' and 'er', which means 'man'.

Berndt

This German form of the Behrnsen surname adds the word 't', which is a diminutive form of 'bernd'.

In conclusion, there are numerous variants and spellings of the surname Behrnsen, ranging from subtle changes to the addition of various words and suffixes. All of these variations are rooted in the original German spelling and pronunciation of the surname.

Famous people with the name Behrnsen

• Helle Behrensen, Danish scientist.
• Daisy Elizabeth Behrensen, Australian politician.
• Henning Behrensen, German footballer.
• Lisa Behrensen, Canadian actress.
• Christian Behrensen, German artist.
• Antje Behrensen, German politician.
• Heidrun Behrensen, German folk musician.
• Maike Behrensen, Dutch athlete.
• Jonas Behrensen, Swedish software developer.
• Lizzy Behrensen, Danish writer.

Other surnames

Behrns