Surname Thoennißen - Meaning and Origin
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Thoennißen: What does the surname Thoennißen mean?
The last name Thoennißen originates from the region of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a habitational name, meaning that it is derived from the name of a place from which the original bearer of the surname originated. The name Thoennißen is derived from the various homesteads called ‘Thon’, ‘Thone’, ‘Thoen’, or ‘Thun’ which were named after the Old High German word ‘thun’, meaning ‘bramble bush’. In Germany, this type of place-name suffix denoting an inhabitant of a place was very common so many surnames evolved from it.
In terms of heraldry, Thoennißen is associated with the coat of arms bestowed to those who earned the proper rank and privilege to wear it. A coat of arms is a form of identification, design or symbol and is usually a combination of two or more different elements, colors, figures, and other elements such as an insignia. Thoennißen’s coat of arms depicts a black lion on a silver field, a symbol of strength and courage, and its name is associated with the word ‘Thoennißen’.
The Thoennißen surname is relatively rare and has been passed down through the generations in many different forms. While its origin might have been humble, it surely carries with it a sense of pride and legacy that only this unique name can bring.
Order DNA origin analysisThoennißen: Where does the name Thoennißen come from?
The last name Thoennißen is most commonly found in Germany today, particularly in Northern Germany in the Lower Saxony region. It is still relatively common in nearby countries such as Belgium and The Netherlands.
The name is derived from the German verb "tennissen" which means "to play tennis". At one point, this name was adopted as a surname by a family who enjoyed tennis. This was common practice in Germany.
The Thoennißen surname can also be found among German immigrants who have moved to the United States, Latin America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Over the last century, German surnames have become increasingly common among these countries due to the large number of German immigrants.
Today, the name Thoennißen is found all over the world, but the largest concentration of this surname can be found in Germany. This is due to the fact that there are many generations of families who have lived in Germany for many centuries who share the same surname.
Variations of the surname Thoennißen
The surname Thoennißen is a patronymic name derived from the popular personal name of Thoen, which is derived from the Germanic elements "tho" meaning 'the' and "anc" meaning 'ancestor'. The personal name Thoen can be found among the early records of Westphalia.
Variations of the Thoennißen surname include Toennissen, Thoenissen, Toenissen, Thoennesen, Toennesen, Thoenessen, Toenessen, Thoennig, and Toennig. Additionally, Toennies and Thoenies are Dutch variations of the Thoennißen surname.
Variations of the Thoennißen surname may have been derived from locations where early members of the Thoennißen family settled. These locations include Thon easily in Lippe, Toenisvorst in North Rhine-Westphalia, Thoenissen in Westphalia, Toenissen in Westphalia, and Thoennesen in Westphalia. Even though the locations are in different countries, the families may have had the same surname.
In addition to the variations of the Thoennißen surname stemming from locations, the spelling of the surname was sometimes also changed to reflect different dialects. In some cases, it was rendered with the letters ß instead of an s. In other cases, the letter ß was replaced with ss to create the Toennissen or Thoenissen form.
The Thoennißen surname is now most commonly found among the Dutch, German, and Scandinavian populations. It is also seen in various spellings among the English-speaking populations.
Famous people with the name Thoennißen
- Marcel Thoennißen: a German basketball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Max Thoennissen: a German multi-time European champion sailor and Alinghi sailor.
- Sarah Thoennißen: an American contemporary visual artist specializing in painting, drawing, and printmaking.
- Anna Thoennißen: German actress, best known for her role as "Carla" in the feature film Korken (2019).
- Angela Thoennißen: a German costume designer best known for her work on the TV series The Wild Hunt (2018).
- Jörg Thoennißen: a German actor who has appeared in numerous television shows and films.
- Sebastian Thoennißen: contemporary artist, designing and producing wearable art for urban environments.
- Frederik Thoennißen: a Danish supermodel and actor, best known for his campaign work for brands such as Calvin Klein and Emporio Armani.
- Michael Thoennißen: a German musician, songwriter and producer known for his work with popular rock/pop bands such as Alphaville and Savatage.
- Christian Thoennißen: a German football goalkeeper who currently plays for Hannover 96.