Surname Theyssen - Meaning and Origin
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Theyssen: What does the surname Theyssen mean?
The surname Theyssen is believed to be of German origin, derived from the place name of Thiessen, which is found in Germany and other parts of Europe. The placename is a variant of the German word “tief” meaning “deep” and likely referred to someone or a family from a settlement that was located in a valley or was associated with a low-lying area. Over time, the surname Theyssen evolved from its origins to take on a few different forms, including Thiess, Deiss, and Teyss.
The original spelling of the name also changed slightly over time, transitioning from “Thiessen” to “Theyssen” which is now a more popular spelling of the surname. This family name can be found in records as far back as the 1500s, primarily in the area surrounding modern-day Germany.
Families carrying the Theyssen name tend to be involved in a diverse range of occupations, such as farming, carpentry, blacksmithing, engineering, and academic work. While their original home was in Germany, many descendants of the Theyssen family have spread and settled all over the world.
The Theyssen surname is a proud reminder of a bygone era, a time of exploration and settlement where brave individuals moved to new and uncharted lands to make a better life for their families and their descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisTheyssen: Where does the name Theyssen come from?
The Theyssen surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands and other parts of northern Europe. It is also found in the United States, where it has been carried by recent Dutch immigrants. The name is primarily found in rural areas of Holland, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium. In the US, the last name is most common in the Midwest and Gulf Coast states, where the descendants of Dutch immigrants can be found.
The name itself is believed to be derived from the Germanic phrase “dietsche”, meaning “the people”, and is a popular name among Dutch families. It is thought to have been adopted as a surname around the 14th century. The name is also found in some indigenous cultures in Mexico and Central America, where it is used as a single name.
There are several notable individuals who bear the Theyssen name: the 19th-century aristocrat and patron of the arts, Baron Adolph Wilhelm Freiherr von Theyssen-Vereinig, and the contemporary Dutch fashion designer Margaretha Ley-Theyssen.
The most famous bearer of the Theyssen name is likely industrialist Gustav Theyssen, the founder of the Theyssen Steel Works, the largest steel producer in the world in the first half of the 20th century. His family-owned business has since become ThyssenKrupp AG, a multinational conglomerate with operations in over eighty countries.
Variations of the surname Theyssen
Thessen is a German surname of patronymic origin, which means that it was originally formed by adding an affix indicating paternity to an existing name. It is derived from the name Matthäus, which is a German form of the name Matthew. Variations of the surname Thessen include Tessen, Tessin, Tyssen, Tysen, Tissen, Teissen, Teissin, Tissin, Tijsen, Tejsen, and Thyssen.
The surname Thyssen is the most well-known variant of the family name. It is a German toponymic and derives from various places in Germany, such as Thyssen in the district of Königsberg, Thysen in the city of Mühlhausen, Thysen in the district of Cuxhaven, and Thyssen in the district of Güstrow. The Thyssen family is an international dynastic family of industrialists, entrepreneurs, and bankers, originating from Germany. A prominent member of the family is August Thyssen, a successful early 19th-century German banker and industrialist.
German immigrants settled in English-speaking countries often name variations. Thessen may become Tissen, Teissen, Tessen, Tysen and Tijsen with immigration. Tesson is an Americanized version. In Russia, Teissen may be found as Teysen. In France, Tesson may appear as Tesset. In Ireland, Thessen becomes Tessin.
Many spelling variations exist for the surname Thessen. This is due largely to the absorption of non-German characters into the German language and dialects throughout the various eras of history. It is essential to recognize that every individual spelling of the name would have been used in some place and time in history by persons of that name. It is also important to note that the use of different spelling variations of a surname was also used by other families as well.
Famous people with the name Theyssen
- Rainer Theyssen: Rainer is the founder of the German Investment Company TUI AG. He is a business tycoon and serves on the Board of Directors of many organizations such as the European Roundtable of Industrialists, the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, and the Foreign Banks Association.
- Heinrich Theyssen: Heinrich is the father of Rainer and a German industrialist, philanthropist, and art collector. He founded the ThyssenKrupp Group, the largest steel producer in the world, and amassed an immense fortune during the interwar period.
- Hans-Peter Theyssen: Hans-Peter is a German entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder and CEO of Ventu AG, a technology-focused investment company.
- Gustavus Adolphus Theyssen: Gustavus Adolphus was a major figure in 19th century German industry and philanthropy. He founded the short-lived Banque des Rothschilds.
- Jean-Claude Theyssen: Jean-Claude is a French entrepreneur and executive who founded the company Aktor in 2009 and held executive roles in other numerous companies such as Philips, Nestlé, and Danone.
- Auguste-Louis Theyssen: Auguste-Louis was a German businessman and the former president of ThyssenKrupp AG. He was the grandson of Heinrich and father of Rainer.
- Franziska Theyssen: Franziska is a German fashion designer and entrepreneur. She started her own label in 1998 and has since built an impressive career as one of Germany's leading fashion stars.