Surname Hänzgen - Meaning and Origin
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Hänzgen: What does the surname Hänzgen mean?
The last name Hänzgen is of German origin and is thought to derive from a nickname for a hard worker. In its earliest known forms, the name probably meant "the little hewer," a reference to the hard labour of chopping wood. Hänzgen is an occupational surname, which often denoted an individual's specific profession. The name could thus have been given to men who worked as woodcutters or loggers.
More specifically, the surname might refer to someone who collected or sold wood, such as a lumberjack or charcoal-burner. It could similarly describe someone who manufactured items from wood, such as a carpenter or cabinetmaker. These occupational roles were highly important for their communities, and the family name ‘Hänzgen’ could have arisen out of a group’s recognition of its talented woodwork artisans.
While the origin of Hänzgen is steeped in the trade of woodworking, the family name has dispersed throughout Europe and adapted to other places. It exists in different versions among various countries, and so the original meaning or implication may have altered differently in various contexts. For instance, while 'Hänzgen' could refer to a woodworker in Germany, it might mean something entirely different in Austria or Switzerland.
Today, if an individual has the last name Hänzgen, they may proudly carry the legacy of a hard worker who crafted valuable items from wood. They may also be part of a long-standing family tradition of woodworking that has spanned generations.
Order DNA origin analysisHänzgen: Where does the name Hänzgen come from?
The last name Hänzgen is used mainly today in German-speaking countries, specifically places such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is a fairly uncommon name, generally found in more rural communities and smaller villages.
In terms of recent records, the name traces back to at least Bavaria in the 14th century, and then to other various parts of Europe. In census records, the name is recorded having it’s earliest known origin in Strasbourg, France in 1546.
The meaning of the familyname is unclear, although it could have something to do with the German word “Hansen”, which translates to “the little enclosure”. The origin of the surname is unknown but it may have come from a nickname based on a location. As an example, a place such as Hänzgenhausen could have been the origin of the name.
Whether by name or origin, the name is still commonly found in German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, and in small villages and rural communities.
Variations of the surname Hänzgen
The surname Hänzgen is most commonly spelled as the German spelling, but alternative spellings include Handzegen, Hentzen, Handzgen, Hentsgen and Handcgum.
Variants of Hänzgen include Handgeen, Handzgin, Handzgin, Handgin, Hentsjin, Hentggen, Handzgeen, Hantzgeen, Hentsggeen, Heenzgeen, and Henszgeen.
Surnames with the same origin as Hänzgen include Hantgen, Hantzgen, Hentzgen, Handeen, Hentsgeen, Hantgien, Heenzgen, Hensyen, Heenzgien, Hensygie, Hensgien, Hensgyan, Handgien, Hantzgian, Hantsgen, Hentsyen, and Hentsgin.
The surname Hänzgen is a local name with its origins in Switzerland, in the Canton of Lucerne. It was likely derived from the Middle High German "henzge," meaning small-scale metalworker, someone who deals in locks or keys, or a smithy. The original bearer of this surname likely did the same work as these terms denote.
As the name spread over time, it took on variants and other spellings, including variants from other nations in Europe. These were more likely based on the sound of the original name, rather than spelling accuracy.
Famous people with the name Hänzgen
- Leonhard Hänzgen (1810: 1876), German mining engineer.
- Gotthilf Hänzgen (1777: 1845), German lawyer and Politician.
- Selma Hänzgen (born 1879), Spanish-German singer.
- Martha Hänzgen (born 1932), German soprano.
- Alfred Hänzgen (1922-1943), German fighter pilot.
- Stanislaw Hänzgen (born 1923), Polish Professor of Chemistry.
- Peter Hänzgen (1925: 2008), German sculptor.
- Gerhard Hänzgen (born 1936), German football player.
- Hans Hänzgen (born 1951), German singer.
- Andreas Hänzgen (born 1987), German football player.