Surname Johannesen - Meaning and Origin
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Johannesen: What does the surname Johannesen mean?
Johannesen is a German-Norse combo surname that is derived from two distinct German and Norse words – Johannes and son. The name Johannes is a Germanic name that means “Yahweh is gracious” or “Yahweh has been gracious” and the Danish and Norwegian word son means “son”. Therefore, Johannesen means “the son of Yahweh’s grace” or “the son of gracious Yahweh”.
The name originated in Scandinavia, specifically among the Norse and Danes, but variations of the name are found throughout Europe. It is one of the most popular surnames in Norway, and is also relatively common in Denmark and Germany. Within the US, Johannesen immigrants have primarily sided from Norway, Germany, Denmark and Sweden.
Johannesen is a surname that carries a lot of history behind its origin. It is unique and special on its own, while still offering all the respect and history attached to a more traditional surname. The name itself speaks of the generosity of Yahweh, while providing an individual with a strong and distinct sense of identity.
Order DNA origin analysisJohannesen: Where does the name Johannesen come from?
The last name Johannesen is most common in Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway. It is relatively rare in the rest of the world. For example, in the United States the name was ranked in the 1,884th spot for the most frequently used surnames in 2020.
In Norway, Johannesen is the 22nd most common surname. The name is often related to the Christian name Johannes, or John in English. Combined with the -sen suffix, Johannesen is usually a patronymic name meaning “son of Johannes.”
The name is most heavily concentrated near the southern coast of Norway in the counties of Vest-Agder, Rogaland, and Telemark. It is also popular in parts of Sweden, particularly in the province of Östra Götaland, where it ranks as the 31st most popular surname.
Johannesen can also be found in smaller numbers around the world. This is due to emigration of Norwegians to other countries like the United States and Canada from the mid-18th century onwards. It is also found in other parts of Europe, such as France, Denmark, and Germany. Finally, the name is found in countries with large numbers of Norwegian expats, such as Brazil and Argentina.
Variations of the surname Johannesen
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Johannesen are Johannessen, Johansen, Joneisen, Jonsen, Johannesson, J Citizenship, Jonson, Johannsen, Johanneson, Johansen and Johannes.
Johanesen is a very popular surname in Norway. It originated from the name Johannes, which is the Latin form of the Greek name Ioannes. Both of these names translate to English as John. The surname Johannesen is derived from Johan, which is a common Scandinavian and German given name.
The surname can be spelled in a variety of ways due to the variation in pronunciation. Common variations of the surname include Johannessen, Johansen, Joneisen, Jonsen, Johannesson, J Citizenship, Jonson, Johannsen, Johanneson, Johansen and Johannes. While the variations may look different at first, they are all ultimately derived from the same six letters: J-O-H-A-N-N.
The surname is also widespread across other Nordic countries like Denmark, Finland and Sweden. People of this surname are often referred to as Johansen, and names derived from this moniker include Johansson, Jansson, Jonsson and Ohman.
Johannson is the most popular form of the surname in Norway, followed by Johannesson and then Johansen. In 2017, it was the 13th most common surname in Norway, though it was the 7th most popular in the 1950s. The surname is also common in the United States as many immigrants with the surname have settled in the country.
Overall, Johannesen is an extremely popular surname across the Nordic countries, and it is gaining traction in the United States with the number of immigrants that are now living there.
Famous people with the name Johannesen
- Greg Johannessen: American writer and producer known for his works on TV shows such as Millennium, Homeland, and The X Files.
- Terje Johannessen: Norwegian skier who won a bronze medal in slalom at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
- Henrik Johannesen: Danish footballer who plays as a defender for the Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland.
- Anne Johannesen: Norwegian athelete who was five-time Norwegian champion in speed skating.
- Lars Solveig Johannesen: Norwegian professor of psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
- Tofte Johannesen: Norwegian feminist author and activist who has published several books in Norwegian and English.
- Palle Johannesen: Danish football goalkeeping coach who has worked for the Danish national team, FC Copenhagen and Viborg FF.
- Helge Johannesen: Danish actor who has appeared in films such as Brothers, Wilson & Paradise, and Bitten.
- Lone Johannesen: Danish-American poet and writer who won the American-Scandinavian Foundation's 2001 Literary Prize for Poetry.
- Gudrun Johannesen: German-American actress, director, and singer who was the voice of Carlotta in Disney's Little Mermaid.