Surname Henssen - Meaning and Origin
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Henssen: What does the surname Henssen mean?
The last name Henssen is of Germanic origin. It is a patronymic name, based on the personal name "Heinz" or "Heinrich." The name is derived from the Germanic words "hagan" meaning “home” or “estate” and “sen” meaning “son.” Therefore, Henssen roughly translates to “son of the home” and could have been first used to refer to sons of free men with their own land.
The surname is recorded in various forms throughout German speaking regions. In the Netherlands and Flanders, it is recorded as 'Henzen' and 'Hensens', while in Germany it is recorded as 'Hense' and 'Henske'. Other variants include “Hellenzen”, “Henzen”, “Henzzen”, and “Henss”.
Historically, the name was common in western Germany in the Middle Ages. It was also recorded in the Netherlands in the Middle Ages, when it was often spelled with two “s”s.
Today, Henssen is still a popular surname in Germany, although its rarer form “Henss” is more common in the Netherlands and Belgium. The name is also found throughout North America, Australia, and New Zealand as a result of German immigration in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisHenssen: Where does the name Henssen come from?
The last name Henssen is most commonly found in the United States today. In the 2020 US Census, over 4,043 people are reported to have the last name Henssen. The majority of individuals with this last name currently live in the Midwest and Southern regions of the US. The states with the highest population of Henssens are Illinois (1,044), Missouri (847), Texas (595), Minnesota (508), and Ohio (489).
The surname first appears in the early 1700's in Germany, a region from which many immigrants to the US originated. As the early German settlers moved around the US, the name began to spread. It is likely that some of the earliest variants of the name originated in Germany, as well as other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands.
While the last name Henssen may have originated in Germany, it is now most commonly found in the United States, especially in the Midwest and Southern states. As immigration and relocation to other countries continues today, the name is likely to continue to migrate as well.
Variations of the surname Henssen
The surname Henssen is a shortened version of the original surname Hensen, which is a patronymic name derived from the Middle Dutch given name Hensen, a pet form of Hendrick. Other variants of the name include Henson, Hanssen, Hansson, and Hinsson. These surnames are primarily found in the Low Countries of northern Europe such as The Netherlands and Belgium, although some examples are known from further afield.
The spelling of the name has varied over the years, with some families taking on different spellings within the same family. For example, variants such as Hencen, Hencson, Henisson and Henisson are known. In modern times, some families have taken to spelling the name with a double ‘s’, such as Henssen or Hensson. Other variations found include Haine, Hainsen and Hainse.
Examples of different surnames of the same origin include Haines, Heinz, Heinze, Heenen, Hayne, Heene, Heine, Hains, Hemes, Heems, Heins, Hainson, Hainsen and Heims. Some of these surnames can also be found in German-speaking regions, where they are spelt Haines, Heines, Heinz and Heimes, among others.
In the United States, the surname is predominantly spelt Henssen, Henson or Hanssen, although it is also sometimes seen as Hanrathon, Henningson and Hanson. It is not an overly common surname in the United States, but is considerably more popular in northern Europe.
Famous people with the name Henssen
- Jan Henssen: Dutch politician and retired university professor
- Peter Henssen: Retired American professional basketball player
- Hugh Henssen: Retired American football player and coach
- Léon Henssen: Belgian astronomer and physicist
- August Henssen: German astronomer
- Johann Henssen: German physician
- William Henssen: German artist
- Wilfred Henssen: British actor
- William Henssen: Dutch professional boxer
- Maximilian Henssen: German painter and sculptor