Surname Hänsgen - Meaning and Origin

Hänsgen: What does the surname Hänsgen mean?

The last name Hänsgen is of German origin, hailing from northern Germany and the surrounding countries. It was derived from the Middle High German term “hans”, which translates to “cock” or “bantam”. This term was most commonly used to refer to a farmer’s watchman, guard, or sentinel. During the Middle Ages, it was a common practice for farms and castles to have specific watchmen, often called “Hänsgens”, to guard their property from possible intruders or predators of all kinds.

Variants of the name could also be found in Denmark, including “Hansen”, “Hanson”, and “Anson”. In England, the name was transformed to “Hensgen”, “Henskin”, and “Hanskin”. In America, the name was anglicized to “Henslee” or “Hensley”.

The Hänsgen family often adopted a heraldic shield or crest consisting of a silver cock’s head with a red shield, accompanied by three swords and four stars above the shield’s top. This coat of arms is widely believed to symbolize vigilance and strength.

Today, the Hänsgen family is represented worldwide and continues to be victorious in its endeavors. It is a proud surname and stands for diligence, protection, and loyalty.

Hänsgen: Where does the name Hänsgen come from?

The last name Hänsgen is a relatively rare and uncommon surname today, with most carriers of the surname being found in the northern and eastern regions of Germany.

Hänsgen is an occupational name and is derived from the Middle High German words hanz, meaning “cup, goblet” and gänse, meaning “geese." Combined, the two words form the term hansgänse, a name for someone who was responsible for gathering geese, possibly as part of his job. Over time, the name Hänsgen was adopted as a last name for those and their descendants.

Records indicate that the family name derived from Hanz began to be used in Germany in the 13th century, with root names being located in various regions of Germany, including Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt and Thüringen. As of 2015, records from the Central Database of Arms indicate that the family name Hänsgen is still in use in modern Germany today, although the density of distribution for the family name is quite low. In Germany, the majority of those who carry the family name of Hänsgens today are concentrated in the northeast and eastern regions of the country.

In addition to Germany, this surname can also be found in the United States, although this is more likely due to recent immigration from Germany. The majority of carriers of the Hänsgen surname in the United States are located in various states, including New York, Texas, Connecticut and Illinois.

Variations of the surname Hänsgen

The surname Hänsgen is an Old Germanic name derived from the given name Hans. It is mainly found in Germany, and is sometimes spelled Hasen or Häsgen. According to records, it appears in its various spellings since the 14th century.

Hänsgen is probably the oldest spelling of the surname, and it is still the most common form today. It is also commonly used in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and the Netherlands. Other variants of the name include Hägen, Häing, Häring, Härng, Häsgen, Häsing, Hässgen, Hässtgen, and Hasgen.

In other languages, the surname is spelled differently. In Danish, it appears as Hansen, while in Norwegian and Swedish, it is spelled Hanssen. In Dutch, the spelling is Haesgen or Haasgen.

The same surname is also often found with the prefixes ‘de’ and ‘van’, for example: De Hensgen, De Haenen, De Häsen, Van Haenen, and Van Häsen. The surname is sometimes anglicized as Hansen, Handson, or Hanson.

In addition, some of the variants of the original surname Hänsgen have also developed into distinct surnames with their own spellings, for instance Hagen, Haining, Harng, Hasford, Hassman, and Hassel. Some variants of the name have been changed even further, such as Hansel, which is derived from the German word ‘Hans’.

Famous people with the name Hänsgen

• Maren Hänsgen: German model
• Helga Hänsgen: German actress and photographer
• Michael Hänsgen: German piano and organ player
• Ulf Hänsgen: German actor and composer
• Grete Hänsgen: German writer and journalist
• Friedrich Hänsgen: German naturalist and explorer
• Johannes Hänsgen: German painter
• Arnold Hänsgen: Austrian violin and viola player 9. Henry Hänsgen: German-American actor
• Alfred Hänsgen: German classical music composer
• Hubert Hänsgen: German contemporary of Mozart
• Hugo Hänsgen: German photographer, painter, and architect
• Ludwig Hänsgen: German conductor

Other surnames

Hänsge