Surname Henjes - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Henjes: What does the surname Henjes mean?
The last name Henjes is a Germanic surname which originated in the region around Saxony and Thuringia in eastern Germany. Its exact origin is uncertain, but scholars have proposed that the name could come from the Old High German words henni or henje meaning "little hen" or a diminutive form of "Henri". It later spread to other parts of Germany, and then to other parts of Europe, as people with this particular surname migrated in search of new opportunities.
The surname Henjes is extremely common in Germany, particularly in the state of Lower Saxony. It is also found in areas that were part of Prussia prior to 1920, and is particularly common in Protestant parts of Germany.
In some instances, the surname may have been adopted by Jewish and Polish families as they fled persecution and oppression in other parts of Europe. This migration strengthened the number of people carrying this surname domestically and internationally.
Those with the last name Henjes have been known to be a proud and hardworking people, and have tended to excel in a variety of different areas. They have been responsible for many successes, ranging from making important technical breakthroughs to opening and running successful businesses.
Overall, the last name Henjes, like other German surnames, is a testament to a proud and resilient people who have worked hard to bring about success in all areas of life.
Order DNA origin analysisHenjes: Where does the name Henjes come from?
The last name Henjes is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries today, especially in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, located in southwest Germany. It is believed to have first originated in the area, likely sometime in the Middle Ages, though the exact origin is not known. While the name is most commonly found in Germany today, it can be found in other parts of Europe as well, including Switzerland, Austria, and France.
The meaning of the last name is believed to derive from the German phrase “hein Jesu,” which translates to “yes, Jesus.” This likely refers to the religious background of an individual. While Henjes can be found in many other countries around the world, the vast majority reside in Germany, with the largest concentrations being the cities of Stuttgart, Berlin, and Munich.
Given the strongholds of Henjes in Germany, it can be safely assumed that many of the modern Henjes individuals have descended from those who were born and bred in the country. Many of these individuals may have stayed in the areas where the name originated, while others may have ventured to different parts of Germany, Europe, or even further afield in the centuries that followed. With any luck, future genealogy research may help to uncover more about the history of the Henjes family.
Variations of the surname Henjes
The surname Henjes is of German origin and is derived from the personal name Henjo, which is a short form of Heinrich or Henry. The surname is sometimes spelled as Henje or Henkes, while variations include Henker, Henckel, Henzel, Hentschel, and Hentschl. The name can also be spelled as Hensch, Hensen, Hensgen, Henske, or Hentschelle.
The surname appears in many different variants across Germany, from the Low German ‘Henjes’ to the more Bavarian ‘Henkz’ and Saxon ‘Hentzschal’. In other regions of countries with German-speaking populations, such as Austria and Switzerland, the surname is typically spelled as ‘Henkel’, ‘Hinkle’, or ‘Henk’.
In the Netherlands, the surname is often found as ‘Henkens’ or ‘Hentges’. In records of the Netherlands prior to 1900, the spellings ‘Henkle’, ‘Henkles’, and ‘Henks’ may be found.
In America, the surname is often Americanized as ‘Hahn’, ‘Hans’, ‘Hance’, ‘Hanz’, ‘Hanich’, or ‘Hench’. This was likely done to make the surname more distinct and easier to pronounce.
Whether spelled Henjes, Henje, Henkes, Henker, Henckel, Henzel, Hentschel, Hensch, Hensen, Hensgen, Henske, or Hentschelle, the surname has the same Germanic origin.
Famous people with the name Henjes
- Mark Henjes: retired German basketball player who won two national titles for Dortmund.
- Maik Henjes: former professional tennis player from Germany, who gained a ranking of 52nd in singles and 21st in doubles.
- Michal Henjes: Polish racing cyclist.
- Robert Henjes: German freestyle skier who won the silver medal at the 1995 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships.
- Winfried Henjes: former president of the Schleswig-Holstein Football Association.
- Gunter Henjes: German historian and academic who wrote on contemporary German history and joined the German Historical Institute in 2008.
- Christian Henjes: former German footballer who played for Karlsruher SC between 1977 and 1983.
- Frans Heinrich Henjes: Dutch admiral who commanded the Dutch Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
- Martin Henjes: German international rugby union player who played from 1990 to 2004.
- Philipp Henjes: German rower who won a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.