Surname von Janssen - Meaning and Origin
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von Janssen: What does the surname von Janssen mean?
The last name von Janssen is a German surname. It originates from the old Germanic personal name Jan, which is a form of Johannes or Joannes. People with this surname were likely part of a noble clan, as von in German simply means “of” or “from”. This indicates that the name von Janssen likely indicated either a territorial origin or a patronymic (describing a line of descent from an ancestor). It can be difficult to trace the precise origin of a particular family with this name, as there were likely multiple families with this surname over the centuries. However, one explanation for its origin is that it is derived from a locality known as Jansen or Janssen, a place name derived from the given name Jan. The von Janssen family likely hailed from this locale, giving rise to the surname. Additionally, in some cases, von Janssen may be a variant of the surname Janßen, which likely has the same origin. In either case, von Janssen was most likely a signifier of nobility or of a distinct geographical origin.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Janssen: Where does the name von Janssen come from?
The last name von Janssen is primarily a German surname, but is found all throughout Europe and other parts of the world. Today, the surname von Janssen is most commonly found in Germany, where it is the 897th most common surname in the country. It is also found in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, and Denmark.
Outside of the European continent, the surname von Janssen is found in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada mostly due to emigration from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the United States, the surname von Janssen is particularly concentrated in the states of Arkansas, California, and Texas. It is the 5,780th most common name in the United States and the 8,091th most common name in Canada.
Due to its Germanic origins, the von Janssens today are largely from a Protestant background. Many of its members have made significant contributions in the fields of politics, literature, and the arts. Despite the longstanding history associated with the von Janssen name, it is still relatively common today.
Variations of the surname von Janssen
The surname von Janssen has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Jans, Janss, Janssen, Janßen, Jansen, Janszin, Janszoon, and Yanszen.
The Dutch variants, Jans and Janss, are derived from the Greek and Hebrew names John and Johan, which mean ‘God has been gracious’. The second Dutch variant Janßen is derived from Johann. This variant is usually found in the south and west of the Netherlands as it is harder to pronounce in more northern areas.
The German variant Janssen is the most common spelling of the surname in Germany and derives from Johann. The German surname Janszin, is also derived from the Latin name Johannes and is mainly found in northeastern parts of Germany.
The related variant Jansen is found in both the Netherlands and Germany. It is derived from Johann and is the most common spelling of the surname in the Netherlands. Also from the same origin is the Dutch variant Janszoon, which is derived from the Latin name Dominus Johannes and is usually found in the Eastern provinces of the Netherlands.
The final Dutch variant Yanszen is a short version of the longer Janss which is derived from the Latin Johannes and is mainly found in the western parts of the Netherlands.
Overall, the surname von Janssen has many variant spellings and surnames of the same origin, the most prevalent of which are Janssen, Janss, Jansen, Janszin, Janszoon, and Yanszen.
Famous people with the name von Janssen
- Sebastian von Janssen, entrepreneur and investor
- Michelle von Janssen, PhD in Communications Science
- Carsten von Janssen, politician and social activist
- Emil von Janssen, German Air Force general
- Henriette von Janssen, opera singer
- Willy von Janssen, actor
- Michel von Janssen, Dutch physicist
- Alexander von Janssen, German theater director
- Michael von Janssen, German actor
- Karin von Janssen, German archaeologist
- Petra von Janssen, German biologist
- Mats von Janssen, ret. Brigadier General