Surname Lense - Meaning and Origin
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Lense: What does the surname Lense mean?
The surname Lense is a German occupational name for a glassmaker. The surname was most likely derived from the German word linsen, meaning “lense.”
In the 13th century, the Lenses were among the earliest glass makers who produced lenses for spectacles and other technical instruments. Their crafts made such an impact throughout the region that people in the area began to take on their last name as a proud reminder of their trade.
Eventually, the Lense surname spread all the way to America with the first Lenses arriving in Pennsylvania in 1737. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, more Lenses made the trip across the pond and many of them established German, Dutch, and Lithuanian communities in the United States.
Today, the surname Lense is distributed around the world with many people of various origins tracing their ancestry back to the earliest Lenses. However, regardless of its current geographical reach, this last name still carries with it a sense of pride in a longstanding trade and entrepreneurial spirit that has become such an integral part of family lore.
Order DNA origin analysisLense: Where does the name Lense come from?
The surname Lense is of German origin and has two possible derivations. The first is from the German or Dutch word "lens," meaning lentil. Alternatively, it may derive from "Lenz," a family name first found in the Middle East.
In modern times the surname Lense can be found throughout Europe, however, it is primarily concentrated in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The surname may have also spread to other countries with German immigration such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In Germany, the surname is prominent in the northern states, specifically the city of Hamburg. In Austria, the surname is most common in Vienna, Linz, and Salzburg.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the Midwest and the Great Lakes region. The states with the highest concentration of Lense’s are Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio.
In Canada, the surname is most common in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
In Australia, the surname is most prevalent in New South Wales and Victoria.
Overall, the surname continues to be relatively common in Europe and the German-speaking diaspora countries.
Variations of the surname Lense
The surname Lense has many variants and alternate spellings, including Lens, Lense, Lensing, Lents, Lensch, Lenske, Lenski, and Lensky. It is believed to originate from a place name in Germany, from the Middle High German word lense meaning a marsh. It is possible that the name refers to someone who was from a marshy area, or to a family that owned land near a marsh.
In other languages, the surname might be spelled differently, such as Lence in Polish and Czech, Lensch in Yiddish, Lents in Dutch, and Lendes in Lithuanian.
In many cases, the surname Lense is derived from a multiple spelling variants, which are often linked to Yiddish from Germany. Common variants include Latein, Ledens, Lejnds, and Lejns. Latein and Ledens mean "imported," referring to someone who came from Germany to another country.
The surname Lense is also found in many German-American families. Alternate spellings may include Lanse or Lanser, sometimes as a variant spelling of Lense.
The surname is also found among Ashkenazi Jews from Germany. Some variant spellings include Lansky, Lentsky, Lensky, and Lensch.
The surname Lense is also found among British people and may be found in documents as Lenses or Lence.
In sum, the surname Lense has many variants, spellings, and related surnames, including Lens, Lensing, Lents, Lensch, Lenske, Lenski, and Lensky, as well as Latein, Ledens, Lejnds, and Lejns among Yiddish names, as well as Lanse or Lanser and Lansky, Lentsky, Lensky, and Lensch among Ashkenazi Jews. Other spellings may be found among British people and other languages, including Lence and Lenses in British documents and Lence in Polish and Czech.
Famous people with the name Lense
- Emmylou Harris: Emmylou Harris is a singer-songwriter, musician, and author who has won multiple Grammy Awards.
- Jonas Lense: Jonas Lense is a German professional football player. He currently plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach.
- Max Lense: Max Lense is a German physicist and mathematician. He is best known for his work on general relativity theory.
- Michael Lense: Michael Lense is a German former professional football player. He played mostly for Schalke 04 and led them to winning the UEFA Cup in 1997.
- Jonny Lense: Jonny Lense is a German hip-hop producer and rapper. His music has been featured on MTV's RapFix Live and The Source Magazine.
- Wilhelm Lense: Wilhelm Lense was a German physicist and astronomer who made many important contributions to the field of astrophysics. He is best known for his work in measuring the positions of stars, expanding our understanding of the Milky Way galaxy.
- Ernst Lense: Ernst Lense was a German neurologist and neuropathologist known for his advancements in the study of brain tumors.
- Ludwig Lense: Ludwig Lense was a German Jewish lawyer, businessman, and art collector. He was instrumental in helping persecuted Jews escape Germany during World War II.
- Linda Lense: Linda Lense is an award-winning American jewelry designer. Her designs have been featured in acclaimed publications such as Vogue Magazine.
- Gustav Lense: Gustav Lense was a German accountant, museum curator, and politician. He was the first director of the Ruhr-Westphalia Museum of Art in Duisburg.