Surname Tönnißen - Meaning and Origin
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Tönnißen: What does the surname Tönnißen mean?
The surname Tönnißen is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word tōn, meaning 'dove'. This could have been a nickname for a person considered to possess gentle, loving qualities, likened to that of a dove's. Alternatively, the name may have originated as a locational surname for someone who lived in an area that was home to a large dove population.
The earliest recorded use of the surname was in Rheinberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, in 1393, when Johann Tönnißen was documented as owning a property. The name has since spread throughout much of the German-speaking world, and variants are commonly found in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria and Denmark.
Tönnißen families have had a reputation for being adventurous and hardy, having played a big role in the colonization of southwest Germany in the 17th and 18th centuries. Religious objections stemming from the Reformation during the same period also saw many families flee to safer areas of Europe, eventually settling in other countries such as Lithuania, England, Poland and Hungary.
Today, the name Tönnißen is a reminder of the courage and fortitude of those who helped to forge a new and better life in a new country. It is a surname that speaks of the ambition and determination of those who came before us, and should be honoured for the legacy they left behind.
Order DNA origin analysisTönnißen: Where does the name Tönnißen come from?
The last name Tönnißen is most commonly found in Bremen, Germany, as well as in the surrounding North German states. It is an occupational surname, derived from the Old German word "Tunne" or "Tutze", which was a term for a laborer or worker.
Bremen is a state located in a coastal region in northwestern Germany. It is the smallest of Germany's 16 states, and is surrounded by Lower Saxony to the north and northwest, and the North Sea to the west. People of Bremen are known for having a strong sense of identity and culture, having a variety of dialects and traditional customs and foods that are shared by all its inhabitants.
The German municipality of Tönnißen is located in the district of Cuxhaven within Lower Saxony. It is believed that the original village was founded in 1254 under the name "Thonis". Throughout its history, it has undergone numerous changes to its name, eventually becoming Tönnißen in the mid-sixteenth century.
It is believed that the historic origin of the Tönnißen family in Germany was in Bremen, near the River Weser, sometime during the Middle Ages. From the late nineteenth century onward, many members of the Tönnißen family emigrated to other countries, such as the United States, but the family remains thriving in Bremen and the surrounding regions to this day.
Variations of the surname Tönnißen
The surname Tönnißen is a variant of the German surnames Tönnies, Tönnis, Tönnissen, and Toenniesen. It is a patronymic, derived from the personal name Antonius or Antoon.
Tnnies comes from the Greek name Antonios, which was derived from the Latin Antonius, a Roman family name. The name means "beyond price", and was very popular among the ancient Romans.
Tnniesen is a variant of the German Tönnißen and Tönniesen. This spelling adds an extra “en” and is probably derived from the Middle High German words “ton”, meaning “under”, and “heise”, which means “court”.
Tnnis is the German version of the surname Tönnißen, and it might refer to someone who is a member of the court of a lord. It is also a variant of the same personal name Antonius.
Lastly, Toenniesen is a variant spelling of the Tnniesen surname, and refers to someone who was a court member under the jurisdiction of a lord.
The surname Tönnißen is linked to other surnames related to the same personal name (Antonius). The various variants and spellings are Tnnies, Tnnis, Tnniesen, and Toenniesen. Each of these surnames may refer to someone associated with a lord’s court in the Middle Ages.
Famous people with the name Tönnißen
- Nicole Tönnißen: German actress best known for her role in The Wave (2008).
- Alexander Tönnißen: German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, he held a seat in the Bundestag from 2009-2017.
- Christine Tönnißen-Fox: German TV presenter and entrepreneur.
- Claude Tönnißen-Berger: French film editor who won a César Award for Best Editing in 1995 for her work on Jean-Jacques Beineix's film Mon ami.
- Susanne Tönnißen: German swimmer and former world record holder in the women's 400m freestyle relay.
- Johannes Tönnißen: German footballer who made 31 appearances for Borussia Mönchengladbach from 2006-2010.
- Tanja Tönnißen: German speed skater who won the bronze medal in the 1500m event at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
- Christian Tönnißen: German painter and sculptor.
- Henning Tönnißen: German footballer who made 29 appearances for VfL Bochum between 2002 and 2004.
- Steffen Tönnißen: German former professional footballer who made one appearance for VfL Bochum in 2004.