Surname Tilsen - Meaning and Origin

Tilsen: What does the surname Tilsen mean?

The last name Tilsen is likely of German origin. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Tilo, which is a pet form of names that contain the element "Gode," meaning "God." The particle "Ne" added to the name could mean “from the new estate” and suggests the name originated with a person who lived on a newly acquired estate. Additionally, the particle "Ne" could mean “successor of” and imply that the ancestor whose name was turned into a family name was the descendant of someone with a similar name. This could explain why similar names can be found across Europe.

The surname Tilsen is a relatively rare name today, but it was likely more common in centuries past due its Germanic roots. It is thought to have first become popular in Germany during the Middle Ages when personal names began to be retained over many generations and passed down from father to son. As people moved around and eventually began to settle in other countries, the spelling of the name was modified, giving rise to its variants such as Tilson, Tilsen, and Tilzman.

Today, the Tilsen name is still used quite widely, especially in the United States, where it often takes the form of Tilson. Although the original meaning of the name is lost to time, it is still an excellent part of the family tree which quite literally puts roots down in history.

Tilsen: Where does the name Tilsen come from?

The last name Tilsen is most commonly found in Scandinavian countries such as Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It's also found in Finland and throughout Northern Europe. Tilsen is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Tilso, originally derived from a Germanic personal name meaning “people's protection”.

In Denmark, where the name is still most popular today, the earliest records date back to 1362 in the southern region of Jutland. In Jutland, the last name Tilsen appears in records of birth, baptisms, marriages, and deaths. In later years the name spread to other parts of the country, including the most populous city, Copenhagen.

Tilsen is also commonly found in Norway, where records show it has been used for centuries. In Norway, the Tilsen name appears on public records dating back to 1608 in Sogn og Fjordane. It is also found in Finnmark county in Northern Norway.

In Sweden, records indicate the name Tilsen began appearing as early as 1645 in Gothenburg. It is also found in the coastal city of Malmo and across Southern Sweden.

The Tilsen name continues to thrive in its Scandinavian homeland today. The local areas in greatest concentration are in the south of Norway, the western part of Sweden, and Eastern parts of Denmark.

Variations of the surname Tilsen

The surname Tilsen is derived from a Teutonic personal name, Till, Telo, or Tilo, derived from an ancient Germanic root which means ‘bold’ or ‘fierce’. It is also an anglicized form of the German surname Tils.

The variants of Tilsen include Tilson, Tilton, Tilzen, Tilsson, Tilsten, and Tilten. It is also spelled Tilesen, Tilssen, Tilcin, Tillcin, Tillson, Tilsin, Tiltson, Tiltsen, Tiltson and Tilstone.

For those of German descent, other variants, which incorporate a ‘v’, are also possible, such as Vilson, Vilzen, Vilsten and Viltsen.

The Swedish variant is Tilsäter, which can also be anglicized as Tillson, or Tilsetter.

Tilsen is also an example of a patronymic surname, as it is derived from a given name. As such, additional surnames which have the same origin are Tills, Tillmann, Tilmann, Tilman, Till, Tillin, Tillen, Tillsen, Tilens, Tilens, Tilson, Tylson, Tillson, Tillesen, Tilin, Tyllin and Tylin. Additional variants are Tilmanns, Tillmans, Tilsen-Saunders and Tilsen van den Vancourt.

Famous people with the name Tilsen

• Michael Tilsen: a popular American alternative hip-hop artist, producer, and percussionist.
• Katherine Tilsen: a prominent American author, professor, and environmental activist.
• Padma Tilsen: an Indian actress and model.
• Wim Tilsen: a Dutch graphic designer and entrepreneur.
• Klaus Tilsen: an influential Danish entrepreneur and business leader.
• Nathan Tilsen: an American basketball player and coach.
• Peter Tilsen: a popular Danish actor and comedian.
• Andrew Tilsen: an American wildlife photographer and filmmaker.
• Robert Tilsen: a Swedish poet and playwright.
• Reece Tilsen: an Australian actor and lecturer.

Other surnames

Tilse