Surname Thönsing - Meaning and Origin
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Thönsing: What does the surname Thönsing mean?
The last name Thönsing holds a long and varied history, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the early 17th century in Germany. It is an occupational surname derived from the old Germanic word ‘dunsing’, meaning ‘lord of a fortified house’. The root word ‘dun’ essentially meant 'fortress’ or ‘stronghold’. The addition of the ‘Th’ serves to indicate possession and modify the word slightly to shift it from a basic occupational surname to one of nobility.
Those with the Thönsing surname were generally of higher social standing in the community and were often used to refer to the ruler of a fortified house. They would also have had important diplomatic and commercial roles to play in the surrounding regions, due to their strong position and connections within the aristocracy. It is believed that the name has grown in popularity across Europe and beyond over the centuries, with both variations of spelling and a multitude of derived variations.
Some of the alternate spellings of the Thönsing surname include Thonning, Thoning, Thonigs, Thönigs, Thoenig, and Thunings. Each of these different spellings are evidence of this particular surname branching out and becoming used more widely across different cultures.
So, the last name Thönsing is an occupational surname that is derived from the old Germanic word 'dunsing', which translates as 'lord of a fortified house'. This surname typically belonged to those of a higher social standing in the community, and through centuries of its use has taken on various forms and spellings.
Order DNA origin analysisThönsing: Where does the name Thönsing come from?
The surname Thönsing is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. It originated in the region of East Prussia which was located between the German and Polish borders. The name originated from a Germanic, sometimes Slavic, word “thunsen”, which means to “turn”, “turning” or “twisting”.
In 1871, Prussia was annexed by the German Empire and the Thönsing surname flourished. Today, the surname is most commonly found in Germany and Austria due to displacement of German speakers after World War II. In Germany, the surname is most concentrated in the rural provinces of Bavaria and Saxony. It is also slightly more common in the German regions of Leipzig and Dresden.
In Austria, the Thönsing family name is most prevalent in the states of Tyrol and Salzburg. It is also more common in the western part of the country, along Austria’s border with Germany.
The Thönsing surname is an old and distinguished one and continues to be found in many regions today. With its roots tracing back hundreds of years, it remains, today, a proud part of German and Austrian heritage.
Variations of the surname Thönsing
The surname Thönsing has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of Thönsing is Thoning. Other variants are Thaensing, Thaensing, Thonsing, Thonsingh, Thunsing, Tonsing and Thünissen.
The Thunsing and Tonsing variants can be traced back to the early Middle Ages in the northern German states of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg. They are thought to have originated from the personal name Thunse, a short form of the name Dietger or Diettrich. This personal name also led to the variant Thoning.
The variants Thaensing, Thaesing, and Thünissen are derived from a variant of the personal name Thunso which was found in the county of Mark in the western part of Germany in the 13th century. It is thought to have been a form of the personal name Theuderic, derived from the Germanic Theud, meaning “people”.
The Thonsing and Thonsingh variants are found mainly in the Netherlands. They are believed to be derived from the personal name Thonis or Thoenis, which is found in various German and Dutch place-names and is thought to be related to the personal name Teunis, derived from the Germanic Daegen, meaning “day”.
Famous people with the name Thönsing
- André Thönsing: German athlete, specialising in cross-country skiing
- Corinna Thönsing: German television presenter and model
- Elke Thönsing: German television presenter
- Klaus Thönsing: German actor
- Alfred Thönsing: German lawyer and jurist
- Jens Thönsing: German actor and director
- Reinhard Thönsing: German composer
- Werner Thönsing: German writer and poet
- Volker Thönsing: German chess master
- Willem Thönsing: Dutch water skier