Surname Thönnessen - Meaning and Origin
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Thönnessen: What does the surname Thönnessen mean?
Thönnessen is a patronymic surname, which means that it is derived from the given name of a person’s father, or in some cases from the mother’s maiden name. The structure of the name is composed of two parts: ‘Thön’ and ‘nessen’. ‘Thön’ is derived from an old form of a Germanic name usually spelled as “Thon”. This name in turn comes from the Germanic word ‘Thunaz’, which means ‘Thunder’ or ‘Thunder God’. The second part of the name ‘nessen’ is of Dutch origin and is found in several northern German and Dutch surnames. This element is derived from the word ‘nest’, which translates to ‘descendant of the house of’. The combined meaning of the name thus becomes ‘descendant of Thon’ and is usually passed from father to son.
The Thönnessen surname can be considered an example of a typical German surname. Today, the name is typically associated with Germany, most notably the North German province of Lower Saxony. In addition, some people with the surname can be found in the United States, having emigrated from Germany in the 18th and 19th century. Although the exact origin of the surname is contested, it remains an interesting example of a Germanic surname structure that has been used for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisThönnessen: Where does the name Thönnessen come from?
The surname Thönnessen is of Germanic origin and is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia today. In Germany, it is particularly common in the eastern regions. In the Netherlands, it is a fairly uncommon surname, but still found in small numbers throughout the country. In Scandinavia, the surname is most commonly found in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, where it retains its German origins.
Within Germany, Thönnessen is mainly found in the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia. In Brandenburg, it is particularly common in the east, including towns such as Eberswalde, Lebus, Cottbus, Oranienburg, and Sterprode. In Saxony-Anhalt, Thönnessen is particularly common around the town of Schmölln. In Saxony, there are a few towns with higher concentrations of the surname including Freital, Plauen, and Gera. Finally, Thuringia has a few small towns with higher percentages of the surname, such as Suhl, Gotha, and Eisenach.
Outside of Germany, Thönnessen can also be found in the Netherlands, as well as throughout Scandinavia. Whilst less common in these countries, the surname is still present in small numbers in each of them. It is particularly common in the Netherlands in North Brabant, while in Scandinavia, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden all have a few families with this surname.
Overall, Thönnessen is a fairly uncommon surname throughout the world, but is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. Concentrations of the surname can also be found in certain regions and towns throughout each of these countries.
Variations of the surname Thönnessen
The surname Thönnessen is of German origin, and can be spelled in various ways. Some variants include: Thoenessen, Thonnesen, Thoenis, Thoenes, Toennissen, and Toennesen. Additionally, some variants of the name Thönnessen include: Thoenissen, Thoennisen, Thoenies, Thoenesen, Thoenses, Thonisse, Tonisse, Toenessen, Thoonesen, Thonnissen, and Thoennesen.
The various spellings and surnames of Thönnessen can often be associated with different segments of German culture and heritage. Spelling variations of the name Thönnessen are found throughout Prussia, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The Thönnessen surname is derived from the Old Germanic words " thun", meaning "to do or make", and "niasso", meaning "holy or to put in". This supports the historical belief that the Thönnessen family traces its historical origins to a pre-Christian era.
Other variations of the Thönnessen surname include: Thoennesen, Thönissen, Thonenessen, Thonnesen, Thonnessen, Thonnessen, Thunessen, and Thuennessen.
The Thönnessen surname is also found in Denmark, where it is spelled as Taunsen. In Norway, the name is spelled as Thonnisen, and in Finland the spelling Thonisen is used.
In the United States, the Thönnessen surname is typically spelled as Thonessen, Thoenysen, Thoniesen, Thunessen, and Thoenisasen. These spelling variations are particularly predominant in the states of Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota.
In the United Kingdom, the spelling of Thönnessen is usually found as Thonnisen or Thonessen.
Ultimately, the various spellings and surnames of Thönnessen are indicative of the family’s diverse cultural roots and ancestral heritage.
Famous people with the name Thönnessen
- Carl Thönnessen (1895-1977), Norwegian Olympic sailor
- Stan Thönnessen (1930-2012), Norwegian footballer
- Tom Thönnessen (1891-1959), Norwegian painter
- Sigurd Thönnessen (1915-1988), Norwegian judge
- Are Thönnessen (1931-1976), Norwegian author
- A.C. Thönnessen (1921-1987), Norwegian diplomat
- Ann Gret Thönnessen (born 1979), Norwegian television personality
- Christian Thönnessen (1859-1927), Norwegian military officer
- Sonia Thonnessen-Stuhlmann (1946-2015), German anthropologist
- Christian Thönnissen (1901-1970), German botanist