Surname Henßen - Meaning and Origin
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Henßen: What does the surname Henßen mean?
The last name Henßen is a German surname originating from the proto-germanic language and is derived from Hanko, meaning ruler of the home. This name was popular in the Middle Ages and is an occupational name for a household steward. In the Middle Ages, the stewards of larger households were responsible for organizing and keeping track of servants, supplies and finances.
The Henßen surname is also associated with names originating from the Friesian and Dutch regions of the Low Countries, such as Hencken, Henkes and Henkman. These names indicate a connection to either a personal quality or a place of origin.
The Henßen surname is most commonly found in the Western Germany and Holland regions of the Low Countries, and the eastern border regions of France, such as Flanders.
Today, many people in the Nordrhein-Westfalen and Niedersachsen regions of Germany bear the Henßen surname, as well as in the Netherlands, France, United States, Canada, and Australia. In the Netherlands, the Henßen name is often spelled "Hensen".
In modern times, the surname Henßen is a symbol of tradition and family history, passing down through generations of German families. Though the original spelling may have changed over time, people who bear this name still share the same spirit for loyal hard work that their ancestors cultivated long ago.
Order DNA origin analysisHenßen: Where does the name Henßen come from?
The last name Henßen is most commonly found in Germany and Europe today. In Germany, it is among the top 1,000 surnames, according to the Digitales Sippenbuch (Digital Family Tree) database. It is especially prevalent in North Rhine-Westphalia, where about 13% of all people with the last name Henßen live. It is also found in other parts of Germany, as well as in the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
In the United States, the last name Henßen is much less common. According to the 2019 U. S. Census Bureau, only around 390 people in the United States have the surname Henßen. Most of them live in the states of Minnesota (111 people) and Texas (92 people). As for other countries, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have a few dozen people with this surname.
The origin of the surname Henßen is not known for sure, but it is believed to be derived from an Old Germanic personal name Hendes or Hengest, which means "warrior". It is also possible that the surname originated from a place-name, such as Henßen, a village in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Variations of the surname Henßen
The surname Henßen is a German locational surname derived from the Old German ahnso meaning edge, end, or corner. Variations, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin for the surname Henßen include:
Henesen, Heinsen, Hennesen, Hingsen, Hinessen, Henssen, Henssen, Hensing (originally Henzing), Ans, Anselm, Anso, Ansel, Anstedt, Anspach, Ansbach, and Acker.
Henessen is a variant spelling of the surname and is generally found in northern Germany. It is a contraction of Henßen and shortened Henesen. The spelling Heness may be found in Dutch records.
Hingsen is an alternate spelling of Henßen and can also be seen spelled as Hingse or Hinesen. This spelling is more likely to be found in northeast Germany.
Hinessen is another variant spelling of the surname. It is generally found in central Germany and is thought to be a contraction of Henßen with the suffix added for the purpose of explicit distinction.
Henssen and Henssen are two other variant spellings of the surname. They are usually found in northwest Germany and are the two most common variants.
Hensing is also another variant of the surname. It is believed to be derived from the surname Henzing and typically found in western Germany.
Ans is a locational surname that is believed to be derived from the Old German ahnso meaning end or corner. This surname can also be seen spelled as Anselm, Anso, Ansel, Anstedt, and Anspach.
Ansbach is a locational surname derived from the place in Germany of the same name, which was derived from the Old German ahnso, meaning corner.
Acker is a variant of the surname and is derived from the Old German word akker, meaning corner. It is seen mostly in northwest Germany.
Famous people with the name Henßen
- Friedrich von Henßen (1845–1925), German jurist and legal historian.
- Maximilian von Henßen (1785–1869), German politician.
- Johanna von Henßen (1870–1947), German geologist and palaeontologist.
- Wilhelm von Henßen (1751–1823), Prussian army general.
- Philipp von Henßen (1708–1758), Generalsekretär of the Prussian army.
- Poul Henßen (1930–2009), Danish former footballer and businessman.
- Wilhelm Henßen (1909–2004), German missionary in China.
- Johann Adam Henßen (1763–1839), German architect and civil engineer.
- Heinrich Henßen (1903–1991), German clergyman and theologian.
- Annegret Henßen (1931–2018), German author and sculptor.