Surname Hensell - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hensell: What does the surname Hensell mean?
The last name Hensell is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is thought to have emerged from the personal name Henry. Alternatively, the origin may be traceable to the ancient word ‘henas’, which refers to an enclosure built by a hawk to protect its nest.
In Europe, the Hensell family settled in various locations, including Norfolk, Oxfordshire, South Yorkshire and Scotland. The earliest record of the name dates back as far as 1273, when Adam de Hensell appeared in the "Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire". John Hensell was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax in 1379, and James Hensel was recorded in the Register of the Priory of Stirling in Scotland in 1614.
In modern times, the Hensell surname is still widely scattered across the United Kingdom and the United States. Famous members of the Hensell family include English poet and novelist Ann Hensell and former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
The Hensell family motto, “In Domino Confidimus”, translates to “We Trust in the Lord”. This phrase embodies the family's strong Christian values and their reliance on God and His power.
Order DNA origin analysisHensell: Where does the name Hensell come from?
Today, the last name Hensell is most commonly found in the United States, especially in the midwestern states of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. The surname has also spread to some other countries, such as Canada, England, Peru, and Germany.
In the United States, the name is most prominent in Michigan, where it is the 536th most common surname. It is followed by Ohio, where it is the 12,341st most common surname. In Indiana, the name is slightly less common, ranked at 16,789.
Research of the surname has revealed that it has origins in Germany, with the roots of the name coming from the medieval personal names Hainsul or Hansul. It likely means "son of Hain," a short form of one of the Germanic names ending in -haim or -heim, which are derived from heim, meaning "home."
The name was popular throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, but as different cultures adopted different versions of the name, its spelling began to vary. This explains the diversity of spellings that can be found today, such as Hensell, Hinsley, Hensley and Hains.
The last name spread to America when German immigrants began to settle in the states in the 19th century during the colonial era. Many of these families, including the Hensells, were part of the Palatine migration, which was an attempt by German immigrants to escape religious persecution in their own country.
Variations of the surname Hensell
The surname 'Hensell' is likely derived from the Latin 'Hensil', which means 'little hen' and is of old English origin. It appears in several forms in different parts of the world, including Hensell, Hensil, Hincel, Hincell and Hinckell.
Variants of this surname can sometimes include different spellings such as Hensell, Heinsel, Henzil or Hensor. In Scotland the surname can take on an even more varied form, appearing as 'Hance' or 'Hancell'.
It is also possible to find anglicised variants, which have experienced slight alterations as they have travelled from country to country. Here, Hensell can appear as Hainsell, Hainsall, Hainzall, Hainsill, Hainzell or Hensail.
In some places, like America and Canada, the Hensell surname has been formed into hyphenated surnames, such as Hensell-Henshall, Hensell-Heinsel or Hensell-Hainsell. This is a result of the tendency of different family branches to adopt different spellings through the ages.
In some cases, the Hensell surname may also have branched off to form entirely new surnames. These may include Hensen, Hensley, Hensman and Henson. These separate surnames could have evolved as a result of emigration from a country where the Hensell surname was well established (such as Britain) and adapted to a new country's languages and trends.
Overall, the Hensell surname has evolved and adapted over the centuries, taking on a number of different forms worldwide.
Famous people with the name Hensell
- Jonathan Hensel: Olympic Swimmer
- Elizabeth Hensel: Writer
- John Hensel: Musician
- Bill Hensell: Actor
- Alan Hensel: British Army Officer
- Ed Hensel: Baseball Player
- Richard Hensel: Musician
- Bill Hensel: Politician
- Tom Hensel: Politician
- Nick Hensel: Professional Golfer
- Adam Hensel: Professional Soccer Player
- Frank Hensel: Professional Golfer
- Dorothy Hensel: Cartoonist and Illustrator
- Mark Hensel: Actor
- Steve Hensel: Musician
- Mike Hensel: Businessman
- Jeff Hensel: Football Player
- LaDonna Hensel: Author
- Joe Hensel: Professional Basketball Player
- Dean Hensel: Comedian and Actor