Surname Hannen - Meaning and Origin

Hannen: What does the surname Hannen mean?

The surname Hannen is of Irish origin and is derived from the Irish name O'Hannain. The "O" in Irish names often means "descendant of", hence it is understood that the Hannens are descendants of Hannain. Hannain is a diminutive of the personal name Annan, which itself is possibly related to the name Eanna, meaning "bird-like". Therefore, one may interpret the surname Hannen as "descendant of the bird-like one”. It's also important to note that surnames can have multiple origins and meanings depending on geographical locations and migrations over centuries. Some people with the surname Hannen may also have roots in Germany, as 'Hannen' is a well-recorded surname in the country. In such cases, it could be a variant of the personal name Johannes. Despite these variations, the surname is relatively rare, emphasizing a unique lineage for those who carry it.

Hannen: Where does the name Hannen come from?

The surname Hannen is believed to originate from Germany and Ireland. In Germany, it is a patronymic surname that comes from the personal name Johannes or Hann, which means "God is gracious". It may also come from the Gaelic personal name ‘O’Haonghusa’, where ‘O’ means ‘descendant’ and ‘Haonghusa’ means ‘unique choice’.

In Ireland, this surname can be found in County Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary. However, the Hannen surname is not particularly common in either country today.

Populations with the Hannen surname have migrated over time, some even reaching the United States and the United Kingdom, where you may encounter the name today. But overall, the surname Hannen is relatively rare in terms of frequency, both in the places of its origin and elsewhere in the world.

Variations of the surname Hannen

The surname Hannen has a few variations and derivatives that originated from the same roots. The different spellings of this surname may include Hannon, Hannan, Hanan, Hennen, Hennin, and Hannin.

The surname Hannen is thought to have Irish origins and can be linked to Ó hAnnáin, which means the descendant of Annán. Sometimes, it is anglicized as Hannon or Hannan.

Moreover, the surname could also have Germanic roots, possibly originating from the Old German personal name "Hagano," which translates to "hawkin" or "little hawk." Here, common variants seen are Hainen, Hainnens, and Von Hannen.

Also, slight phonetic and regional alterations can lead to variations in the same surname. Thus, based on geographical location and local accents, people have changed the pronunciation and spelling of their surnames over generations leading to numerous variants.

Famous people with the name Hannen

• David Terence Puttnam, Baron Puttnam CBE, HonFRSA, HonLLD (born 1941), formerly David Hannen, is a British film producer and educator.
• Nicholas John Hannen (1881–1972) was an English actor, notable in the first half of the 20th century.
• Sir James Hannen (1821–1894) was a noted British judge of the 19th century. He was the presiding judge at the infamous Parnell Commission.
• James Tom Hannen, also known as Jimmy Marseille, was a Scottish footballer for clubs such as Aberdeen, Dunfermline Athletic, and Cowdenbeath in the 1920s.
• William Hannen (1868–1943) was a British sport shooter. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.
• Andre Hannen is a professional footballer from Germany who currently plays as a centre-back for SV Lippstadt 08.
• Michael Hannen is a professor emeritus at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley.
• Shane Hannen is a young Australian actor best known for his roles in television shows such as Home and Away.
• Dr. Judith Hannen is an American psychologist known for her work in child psychology.
• Robert Hannen was an American screenwriter best known for his work on movies such as "High Lonesome" and "Desert Passage".

Other surnames

HanneHanneckeHanneckenHanneenHannekHannekeHannekenHannellyHannemannHanney