Surname Castens - Meaning and Origin
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Castens: What does the surname Castens mean?
The surname Castens has its roots in Northern Europe and is primarily found in Germany and Denmark. The most likely origin of the name is Casten, which is derived from the Old Norse personal name Kásten or from the Germanic Kassen, which means ‘cupboard’ or ‘storeroom.’
The name Casten is linked to the medieval Germanic people the Castangen or Castenians, who were found in many Scandinavian countries during the Middle Ages. According to some sources, the tribe’s original name was the Gerulfings who later changed it to Castens.
Many people with the surname Castens trace their roots back to the Castenians who were known for being skilled warriors and craftsmen. It is believed that this occupation was the primary reason for the tribe to change their name to Castens, as it was a way to signify their expertise in their field of work.
The name Castens has often been recorded in ways such as Castons, Castens, Castans, Kastens, and Kassen. It is also a common occurrence for the surname to be changed over time as people moved between countries, causing the spelling and pronunciation to alter.
Today, the surname Castens remains common in the areas where the Castenians once lived, and it is still found throughout Northern Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisCastens: Where does the name Castens come from?
The last name Castens is mainly found in France, particularly in the northern region of the country. Castens is also found in small numbers in Germany, Belgium, and other parts of western Europe.
The Castens surname is a variation of Cattens, Kittens, and Quattens—collectively known as the Cat clan. Although the exact origin of the name is uncertain, most historians believe it is derived from the Germanic “katten”, meaning “with courage” or “bold”.
In France, the Castens name can be traced back to the 16th century. At the time, it was a common name among the rural peasantry. However, over the centuries the prevalence of the name has largely declined in France, likely due to a lack of offspring to carry on the name.
Despite its decline in Europe, the Castens surname has seen an increased popularity in the United States, primarily among descendents of French, German and Belgian immigrants who arrived in the early 1800s. Today, the Castens surname is particularly common in the Midwestern states such as Ohio and Michigan, as well cities like New Orleans, Chicago, and San Francisco.
The Castens descendants have also spread to parts of Central and South America, particularly Brazil and Paraguay. According to an annual French census conducted in 2020, there was an estimated 4,000 individuals with the surname Castens living in France.
Variations of the surname Castens
Castens is derived from the name Casten, an Anglo-Saxon personal name of Old German origin. The suffix of -s was eventually added over time, and the variations of the name have remained largely unchanged since the eleventh century.
The most common variants of Castens include the spellings Castance and Castaunce. There are some other alternative spellings but these three are the most widely used.
The surnames of the same origin as Castens include Caston, Castan, Castin, Costan, Coston, Costens, Costanese and Casteau. All of these surnames can be found in various records throughout Europe.
Other surnames that are occasionally linked to Castens include Casté, Casties, Castits, Castiers, Castillas, Castels and Costin.
The less common variants of Castens include Castance, Castancey, Castaunce, Castauncey, Castice, Caston, Costons, Castensky, Castenskey and Castenski.
In some cases, the surnames Kastens or Kastancs can be found as well. These are derived from the German version of Castens, and they can also be found in some records.
Overall, the Castens surname is still relatively popular throughout Europe, and while some of the variants have become rarer, the main spellings of the name remain in use.
Famous people with the name Castens
- Dhani Harrison: British musician and film producer, son of George Harrison.
- Tanyelle Castens: American reality TV star, known for her appearances in TLC's Little People, Big World.
- Thierry Castens: Curator for the National gallery of Scotland and expert on British artwork.
- Remy Castens: French journalist, editor and literary critic.
- Tyrhone Castens: Dutch professional footballer.
- Stanislas Castens: French diplomat of World War I and WWII.
- Christina Castens: Danish sculptor and performance artist.
- Uri Castens: German actor and entrepreneur.
- Berian Castens: Belgian engineer and cropbreeder.
- Davy Castens: French singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music producer.