Surname Hensges - Meaning and Origin
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Hensges: What does the surname Hensges mean?
The last name Hensges is of German origin. It is a combination of the words "Hahn" and "Geschlecht", meaning cock and lineage respectively. Thus, the literal translation is "cock clan". The surname suggests that it originates from a family line that was known for their success in poultry, probably through breeding and trade. Though it’s unclear when exactly the Hensges surname was first created, records show that the earliest known Hensges ancestor is described as “Otto “Heinsege zu Lüder”, a knight from the municipality of Lüder in the Prussian province of Stettin (now part of Poland).
Throughout history, the name Hensges has been carried on with pride by many generations of the same family, with branches found all around Germany, the United States and Canada. The Hensges surname is associated with traits such as resilience, loyalty and strength of character, which embody the pride and service of its Medieval ancestry. It is also representative of a strong German-American heritage, linking German-benefit societies and cultural organizations across the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisHensges: Where does the name Hensges come from?
The last name Hensges is generally accepted to be of Germanic origin. Today, the Hensges name can mostly be found in Germany, the United States, and Canada. In Germany, the name is most prominent in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hamburg, and Berlin. In the United States, the name’s presence is largely centered in Wisconsin and New Jersey along with a handful of other states including Pennsylvania, New York, Iowa, Illinois, and Maryland. In Canada, the last name Hensges can be found primarily in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.
In terms of prevalence, the name is not particularly common in any of these regions, however its presence is notable enough that those with the same surname have been able to connect with each other through ancestry forums and other online sources. In addition, it has an interesting history dating all the way back to the 1300s and may very well be one of the oldest German surnames in existence. Though hard figures on the number of people with the last name are not readily available, the examples listed above demonstrate that the Hensges name is still widely distributed and has withstood the test of time.
Variations of the surname Hensges
Hensges is a German surname that is derived from the Middle High German words “hensch” or “hansch” which mean "a stocky, brave person." It is also thought to be derived from the given name Hans or Johannes. The German spelling of this surname is “Hensges”, however, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hensges includes:
Hensch, Henschke, Henschen, Henkes, Hensche, Henschel, Hensick, Hensky, Hensicker, Hensik, Hensl, Hensel, Henseler, Hayns, Hens, Henslee, Henshall, Hynczak, Hunsicker and Hensiger.
In the United States, the spelling of the surname Hensges may be Americanized, as immigrants often changed the spelling of their names to better fit the English language. American spellings of the surname include Heneges, Hengess, Henges, Henkes, Henks, Henkses, Henkus, Henkys and Henks.
The surname Hensges may also be found spelled as Hensge in Germany, and it has also been Anglicized to Hanes, Hance, Hanson and Hands. In addition, this surname may be found in various other countries, such as Finland, where it may be found as Henssen, in Denmark it may be found as Hanssen, in Hungary as Hanzsik and in Poland as Hanszka.
The surname Hensges has hundreds of variations spelling and surnames of the same origin, making it a very distinct surname that can be found in many parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Hensges
- Andrew Hensges: actor, composer, musician and producer.
- William P. Hensges, Jr.: a World War II veteran who was awarded a Navy Cross.
- Eric Hensges: a cinematographer best known for his work on television specials.
- Llewellyn Hensges: a professional football player who played for five teams across Europe.
- Ernest Hensges: a German geologist who was a pioneer in the field of sedimentology.
- Bill Hensges: a former Major League Baseball pitcher and manager.
- Rob Hensges: an American director, screenwriter, and producer.
- Christina Hensges: a German figure skater who competed in two consecutive Winter Olympic Games.
- Richard Hensges: a German racing driver who competed in the European Formula Three Championship.
- Marcel Hensges: a German athlete and hurdler who holds the record for fastest men's 110 m hurdles.