Surname Hennseler - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hennseler: What does the surname Hennseler mean?
The last name Hennseler is of German origin. It is believed to derive from a toponymic surname meaning “from Hennstedt”, a place in Schleswig-Holstein. Alternatively, it may come from the Middle High German word “hansler”, which means a seller of livestock. It is likely that the name refers to a man who lived in or near Hennstedt and was in the business of dealing in cattle or other farm animals.
The name Hennseler is still common in Germany, particularly in the Schleswig-Holstein region, but has spread far beyond, with members of the name found in countries across the world.
Hennseler is not a particularly uncommon name, and there are numerous famous people who have gone by it. The German painter and sculptor Heinz Hennseler, for instance, was well known in the late 19th century, as was the Dutch classical composer Anton Hennseler. Today, current generations remember the renowned German-American actress Eda Hennseler, who starred in many films throughout the mid-20th century.
In sum, the name Hennseler is a German toponymic or occupational surname, referring particularly to the Schleswig-Holstein region, but which has expanded far beyond its point of origin. It is currently associated with a number of widely-known people, both past and present, adding to the significance of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisHennseler: Where does the name Hennseler come from?
Today, the last name Hennseler is most common in Germany and surrounding countries. It is particularly concentrated in the western region of the country, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Around the world, people with this last name can also be found in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and France, as well as in the United States and Canada.
The origin of the surname likely derives from the Germanic given name Heimwin, whose literal translation to English is “home friend”. It has been written in a variety of different ways over the centuries, including Hennsler, Hennseller and Hennsseler, with the variation Hennseler being the most common today.
The family name has racked up a few significant historical figures throughout history. Wilhelm Hennseler was a German politician and hauling contractor, who served as chief of the Prussian General Post Office. Johannes Hennseler was a German geographer and philologist, whose education was focused on physics, mathematics, and chemistry. Most notably, Uwe Hennseler was an East German footballer who was named to the East German Footballer of the Year in 1970 for his outstanding performance.
Regardless of the specific spelling, the last name Hennseler remains a testament to the densely populated region it comes from.
Variations of the surname Hennseler
The surname Hennseler is believed to have originated in the German area of Baden-Württemberg. Variations of the name include Henseler, Hensler, Hanseler, Hanselar, Hennsler, Hennslar and Hennselar. In non-German speaking countries, the surname is sometimes anglicized to Henseler, most notably in the United States.
The spelling, pronunciation and usage of the surname in Baden-Württemberg vary depending on the region and dialect. It is important to note that the first letter of the surname is sometimes pronounced as an 'H' and sometimes as an 'N'. For instance, the Low German variant of the name 'Hehnseler' is pronounced with the 'H'.
The variants and spelling usages are further complicated by the fact that it is a relatively new surname. Most records only date back to the 17th century, so the original spelling of the surname is unknown. It is believed that the variants arose as families spread out and modified the spelling to fit their local language and dialect.
Aside from spelling variants, the surname has a number of associated surnames. Hennseler is sometimes shortened to the more popular name 'Hansel', and it has several corresponding surnames in other languages such as Hainsel and Schonseler. Furthermore, 'Hennseler' is sometimes combined with other names to create hyphenated surnames such as 'Hennseler-Hainsel' or 'Hennseler-Schonseler'.
Despite the variations in spelling and derivatives, these all stem from the original German surname 'Hennseler'.
Famous people with the name Hennseler
- Robert Hennseler: German footballer who played as a forward for Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund.
- Wang Hennseler: German-born Chinese contemporary artist, renowned for his abstract sculpture.
- Julia Hennseler: German table tennis player and Olympic hopeful.
- Dennis Hennseler: German badminton player, winner of the 2010 German National Championship.
- Karoline Hennseler: German television presenter, journalist and actress.
- Lisa Hennseler: Winner of the 30th International Hans Tigger Award and Stage and Music Award in 2011.
- Augustin Hennseler: German swimmer who won three gold medals at the 1888 Olympic Games in London.
- David Hennseler: German coach and former professional volleyball player.
- Lars Hennseler: Member of Generation77, a German DJ and electronic music production group.
- Petra Hennseler: German economist, formerly a professor at the University of Augsburg.