Surname Maßen - Meaning and Origin
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Maßen: What does the surname Maßen mean?
The last name Maßen is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word maz, meaning meaning "measure". It is a surname used for someone who was a measurer of goods for a living. The most prominent family members bearing the Maßen surname are the descendants of Martin Maßen, a 16th century German shoemaker and brewer who lived in the province of Ravensberg in present-day Germany.
The Maßen family had several branches, with some migrating to the United States, mainly to the midwest. By the 1800s, the Maßens were primarily settled in Missouri, Kansas, and other Midwestern states. The surname is still prevalent in the United States today, and can be found in records tracking back to the early 19th century.
The byname Maßen is also used as a locational surname in some areas, deriving from a place name where the family was believed to have originated or resided. The Maßen family name can be found on various European records, where it is listed as a surname among the Nobility in various German regions as well as in Austria.
The name Maßen is an apt representation of the hardworking, industrious spirit of the family, emblematic of their pursuit of physical and financial security. It remains a proud and meaningful surname for the numerous descendants today.
Order DNA origin analysisMaßen: Where does the name Maßen come from?
The last name Maßen is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands today. It has German origins and is likely derived from the German word maß, which means measure or size. It likely began as an occupational name, as it is believed that the first bearers of the name were measurers of grain or cloth, or even a type of tax collector.
The German spelling of the name has been noted in records as far back as the 1400s. It is varied regionally, but is generally written as Maßen, Massen, Maßmann, or Massmann. The variations can also be found in neighboring areas such as Switzerland, Luxembourg, and France.
In the Netherlands, the name has been recorded as Masse since as far back as the 1500s. Some Dutch families may have adopted the name while living in Germany or moved there after taking on the surname. Alternately, the Dutch spelling could be the result of families coming to the nation and adopting the spelling.
Though the surname has German roots, it can also be found in small numbers in other countries. Records of the name have been found in the United States, Canada, England, and other Scandinavian countries. Many of these individuals likely have ancestry that can be linked back to Germany.
Variations of the surname Maßen
The Maßen surname is a Germanic or Dutch surname derived from the word “mass”, meaning “measure”. This surname has multiple variants and spellings, including Masen, Maasen, Maesen and Massen.
In German, the surnames Massen or Maßen are most commonly found. Massen is typically spelled with two “s” while Maßen has an umlaut (or two dots) placed over the “a”. It also may appear with and without a double “s” before the ending “en”. For example, Massen, Maßen, Mâsen and Mâßen.
Massen is an Old German variation of the Maßen surname which comes from the personal name Mouse, an ancient Germanic name common in the Middle Ages. In Dutch, the most common variants are Maasen and Maesen. These variants typically are spelled with a double “s” and without the umlaut.
The surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and the United States. It is also found in Austria, France, Sweden, Denmark and Spain.
In the United States, Maßen has emerged as a distinct Americanized form of the Maasen surname, although most of its variant spellings can still be found. Maßen is sometimes found as a hyphenated surname, such as Masen-Maßen. Some of the more common Americanised variants include Massing, Masson, Masten and Maustin.
Other related surnames include Masyn, Masen, Macesen, Matson, Maessen and Maesen. All these surnames are derived from and have the same meaning as Maßen, which is ‘measure’.
Famous people with the name Maßen
- Andreas Maßen: a German former professional footballer
- Johannes Maßen: a German scientist, a corresponding member of the Royal Scientific Society of Gottingen, and an official at the Geodetic Institute in Frankfurt
- Hans Maßen: a German lawyer and former politician
- Cornelia Maßen: a German former rower
- David Maßen: a German actor
- Margareth Maßen: a Swiss professor and research mathematician
- Philipp Maßen: a German mathematician
- Richard Maßen: a German sculptor
- Stephan Maßen: a German former professional footballer
- Thomas Maßen: a German actor