Surname Jendgens - Meaning and Origin

Jendgens: What does the surname Jendgens mean?

The last name Jendgens is of German origin. It is derived from the German terms “jen” (journeyman) and “gens” (gender). The name thus means “journeyman of a certain gender”, and more specifically a male journeyman.

In medieval Europe, journeymen were skilled craftsmen who traveled to learn the trade, as opposed to apprentices or laborers who stayed in one place. These master craftsmen specialized in different trades and gained experience and knowledge by visiting different cities and working with masters of their chosen craft.

The name Jendgens is more commonly found in the northern German regions of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg. It is a relatively uncommon name, with few recorded bearers across the centuries.

As such, it is difficult to determine the exact meaning or origin of the name. However, given its German roots, it is likely to have been associated with a craftsperson who was travelling through town, and became known by their title of journeyman.

The last name Jendgens therefore refers to a person or family with a long history of crafting and travelling. It could represent a resilient group of individuals, who endured the hardships of life as skilled tradespeople and created a legacy of their experiences.

Jendgens: Where does the name Jendgens come from?

The surname Jendgens is most common today in German-speaking countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In Germany, it ranks 314th out of all surnames. In the Netherlands, it ranks 215th. In Belgium, it ranks 223rd. In other countries, it is rare or virtually non-existent; for instance, it does not appear in England's top 500 surnames. The meaning of Jendgens is well established but slightly disputed. It derives from the German word ‘jungens’, which translates to ‘son of’ and in the hereditary surname tradition of Germanic peoples, the term was used to signify ‘son of a young man’. It is possible the name was also derived from the Old German personal name ‘Jungo’. Due to Germany's heavy immigration in the 19th century, the Jendgens name has spread to most parts of the world with emigrants. However, it remains largely concentrated in the original German-speaking regions, with minor, scattered instances in other nations.

Variations of the surname Jendgens

Jendgens is an uncommon German surname of uncertain origin. Different spellings and variants exist, such as Jendgen, Jendgens, Jendgenss, Jendken, Jendxen, Jendzes, Jending, Jendink, Jendzis, Jendzinski, Gendgens, and Gendgen. It is also possible that it developed from the German given name Johannes.

The Jendgens family can trace its origins to the old Germanic world. The name likely began as a patronymic, meaning that its first bearer was the son of someone named Johannes or Jan. This original bearer would have used the suffix -ing, which was a common practice in medieval Germany, to create a nickname or surname out of his father's name. This surname was likely localized to specific areas in Germany, such as Prussia, Silesia, or Austrian Galicia.

DNAs tests have confirmed that Jendgens is indeed a German surname. It is possible to trace the family’s migration within Europe over time. For example, some Jendgens families migrated to Austria and Switzerland in the 1600s. Jendgens appeared in the United States much later, with the first recorded members appearing in the late 1800s.

Today, the Jendgens surname is still in use. Unfortunately, due to its rare nature, it can be difficult to track down records. However, thanks to its German origin, its prevalence in Germany has helped increase its visibility in other parts of the world. With the help of DNA testing, it is now possible to not only identify individuals with the Jendgens surname but also trace their family history all the way to its origins.

Famous people with the name Jendgens

• Maria Jendgens: German beauty pageant titleholder, Miss Universe Germany 2015.
• Nicole Jendgens: German television actress from the comedy series Sesamstraße.
• Lars Jendgens: German actor and voice actor seen in television series like Unter Uns and Tatort.
• Peter Jendgens: German film and television actor best known for roles in Der Poet and Der Fahnder.
• Inge Jendgens: German actress best known for her roles in TV series like Die Schwarzwaldklinik and Der Lehrer.
• Jan Jendgens: German diver, Olympic medalist, and world record holder.
• Inga Jendgens: German rhythm and blues singer and songwriter.
• Pauliina Jendgens: ICF World Canoe Slalom Champion and German junior champion
• Sarah Jendgens: German pianist and concert performer, appears at international festivals.
• Jens Jendgens: German professional volleyball player.

Other surnames

Jendges