Surname Thönnesen - Meaning and Origin

Thönnesen: What does the surname Thönnesen mean?

The last name Thönnesen is of German origin, derived from a location in Germany and its surrounding areas. It is believed to have originally referred to a person who came from the area surrounding Thönnesen. Thönnesen is a small town which is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

The Thönnesen surname likely originally referred to someone who was a resident of the small town, or of its surrounding areas. As a testament to the ubiquity of the Thönnesen family, this surname can now be found throughout Europe, the USA, and beyond.

The Thönnesen family has a proud history and an equally proud presence. The early family members were farmers, laborers, artisans and merchants based in Thönnesen and its surrounding areas, and many of these same families still live in the town today. They have a strong sense of pride and identity, and take great honor in the heritage of their family.

The Thönnesen surname is an example of the immense diversity of the German population. Its ubiquitous presence throughout Europe and the USA is a testament to the power of immigration and the success of the German diaspora. It is a reminder of the pride and determination which led the early Thönnesen family members to seek out a better life for themselves and their descendants.

Thönnesen: Where does the name Thönnesen come from?

The last name Thönnesen is predominantly found in parts of North Germany, particularly around the coastal region of the North Sea. In the wider Nordic region, it is also found in Norway, but at much lower levels.

According to the 2016 statistics, the highest concentration of Thönnesen was in the city of Emden located in Lower Saxony, Germany. Approximately 1 in every 3,142 people in Emden have the last name Thönnesen.

The most popular municipalities with Thönnesen were Leer and Plön in Schleswig-Holstein and Papenburg in Lower Saxony. Other cities in the Lower Saxony region with significant populations of Thönnesen include Delmenhorst, Oldenburg, and Bocholt.

The Thönnesen name is considerably less common in other parts of Germany with much lower concentrations in Bavaria and the Rhineland region. Contrary to popular belief, the name Thönnesen is not particularly common in Denmark.

Outside of Germany and its bordering countries, Thönnesen is still an infrequent last name. It appears in South Africa, Canada, and the United States, but the numbers, while increasing, are still too low to be considered significant.

Overall, the most common place to find the last name Thönnesen today is still the North German region and bordering countries like Denmark and the Netherlands.

Variations of the surname Thönnesen

The surname Thönnesen originates from the Old Germanic pre-7th century ‘Thun’ meaning thunder, and would have been an introduced personal name in the migration period of the 5th and 6th centuries. This name is most commonly found in Germany, Denmark and Norway. Spellings and variants of this surname include Thønnisen, Thunnesen, Thunnisen, Tønnisen and Thonnesen.

Surnames of similar origin to Thönnesen also exist in France, where elements of the name are found in the forms Tonissen, Tonis, Tonasse and Tonnesse. Common French surnames also include the name Tunous, derived from the Old French and Latin ‘tunus’, meaning stout or thickset.

In England the surname is found in the form Downs, derived from the Middle English personal name ‘Dun’, meaning ‘brown’ or ‘dark', and may be linked to the thunder name ‘Thun’. Other English surnames of similar origin include Thune, Thurman and Tunman.

In Scotland, forms of the name are found in the surname Thunie, and there are also Germanic variants such as Thunhausen, which are sometimes found in the United States. Further variants of the name can also be found including Donnas, Dunna, Donn and Donnis, which all have the same Germanic origin.

Famous people with the name Thönnesen

• Andreas Thønnesen: A Norwegian theatre director, actor, and professor at the University of Oslo.
• James Thønnesen: An American actor who is best known for his spell-binding performances in numerous theatrical productions.
• Dan Thønnesen: A Danish actor and comedian who has appeared in several films and television shows.
• Mette Thønnesen: A Danish fashion designer and innovator who is heavily involved in sustainability initiatives with her clothing line.
• Andreas Thønnesen: A Norwegian composer and recording artist renowned for fusing jazz, classical, and pop elements in his emotive works.
• Leonora Thønnesen: A Norwegian opera singer and actress who has mesmerized audiences across Europe with her powerful singing voice.
• Marie Thønnesen: A Swedish novelist and poet who specializes in the literature of the natural world and the human experience.
• Christoffer Thønnesen: An award-winning Danish chef who has made a name for himself by creating innovative dishes with seasonal, local ingredients.
• Albert Thønnesen: A Swedish actor who is mainly known for his prolific contribution to the stage as a playwright and director.
• Henrik Thønnesen: A Norwegian environmentalist and activist who has campaigned against the destruction of natural areas due to industrialization.

Other surnames

ThönnesThönnessen