Surname Simonsen - Meaning and Origin
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Simonsen: What does the surname Simonsen mean?
The last name Simonsen is a Danish patronymic surname derived from the given name Simeon, which is of Hebrew origin and means “hearing” or “listening”. The Simonsen surname is thought to have come into use around the seventeenth century, and persisted well into the twentieth and beyond.
Non–Scandinavian variants of this name include Simonson, Simons, Simonsen, and Simonsonne. Throughout continental Europe, many variants were created as spelling changed over time and as languages were affected by languages and other dialects.
Simonsen families have an interesting history and are known for having emigrated from European countries in large numbers to various locations all over the globe in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Many Simonsens were instrumental in founding and settling new communities, such as the Danish settlement of Westerlars in Australia in the early twentieth century.
The Simonsen surname remains a common surname in Scandinavian countries and carries with it an interesting history and set of meanings. Those who bear the name can take pride in being associated with leaders, immigrants, and the ocean all around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSimonsen: Where does the name Simonsen come from?
The last name Simonsen is quite common in the Scandinavian region. It originated in Denmark and is still most prevalent within the country. According to data from the Department of Immigration, Population and Integration, Simonsen was the 11th most popular surname in Denmark in 2020.
Simonsen is also quite common in Norway, although not as much as Denmark. It is the 51st most popular surname in 2020, according to the Norway Statistics Office. It also has some presence in Sweden, although it is not as common as it is in Norway and Denmark.
Outside of Scandinavia, Simonsen is still quite common in the United States, where it is the 1,209th most common last name. It is also found in Canada, Australia, and several other countries around the world.
Overall, Simonsen is a very common last name in Northern Europe, but is also quite common in other areas of the world, particularly the United States. It is likely to remain popular in the future as it is quite easy to spell and pronounce.
Variations of the surname Simonsen
The Simonsen surname has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common is Simonsen, which can also be spelled Symonsen or Symonson. These variations are all minor, yet the surname could apply to different families of the same origin.
Simoni is another variant of Simonsen, which has been found in Italy, while Symens, Symonsson, and Simonsson are found in parts of Scandinavia. Simonsdatter is a variation of the Simonsen surname that is historically found in Denmark.
In Germany, Simonsen can be spelled Symmonsen and Symmoshenko, and there is also a variant of Symonszen. These are all variations on the spelling of Simonsen.
Other spellings and surnames of the same origin include Symensson, Symonson, Symensdatter, and Sømonsen, which is the Danish form of Simonsen. In some parts of Europe, the Simonsen surname was also written as Szymonsen.
In addition to the spelling variations, Simonsen is also found as a patronymic surname. The patronymic surnames Simonsen, Simonsøn, and Symønsen become Simonsdatter when passed down to a female descendant.
In conclusion, the Simonsen surname has a variety of spellings, surnames, and patronymic variants from different parts of Europe. Most of the variants are minor—Simonsen, Symonsen, and Symonson—and the patronymic surnames are Simonsen, Simonsøn, and Symønsen. Simonsdatter is the female patronymic form, while the spelling Szymonsen occurs in parts of Europe, and Simoni is found in Italy.
Famous people with the name Simonsen
- Morten Simonsen: Morten Simonsen is a former Danish professional footballer who played for top European clubs such as Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Copenhagen, and Valencia CF. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Danish footballers of all time.
- Stig Simonsen: Stig Simonsen is a former Norwegian footballer who most notably played for Rosenborg BK and the Norwegian national team. He won numerous awards during his career, including the Norwegian Player of the Year in 1987.
- Kim Simon Simonsen: Kim Simon Simonsen is a former Danish swimmer who specialized in freestyle events. He won the bronze medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
- Christian Simonsen: Christian Simonsen is a Danish wheelchair basketball player who most notably played for FCK Håndbold. He is also a three-time gold medalist for Denmark at the Paralympic Games.
- Henrik Simonsen: Henrik Simonsen is a Danish operatic tenor who has performed at some of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera and Royal Opera House. He has sung with acclaimed conductors such as James Levine and Seiji Ozawa.