Surname Henßer - Meaning and Origin
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Henßer: What does the surname Henßer mean?
The German surname Henßer is derived from the Old High German word "Hansa," which is a term associated with the Hanseatic League- an alliance of German cities and merchant guilds that flourished in the 1400s-1700s. This word is related to the English word "Hansom," which comes from the same Germanic root word. The suffix "-er" was appended to the end of the word to denote origin, so that the name Henßer literally means “belonging to Hansa”.
The surname is most commonly found in the northern German region of Westphalia, likely centered around the large city of Dortmund. The city of Dortmund was once the capital of the north German duchy of Westphalia and was a major hub for trade during the Hanseatic League. Westphalian families were known to take on surnames reflecting their regional culture and that derived from the German language, so the usage of the word “Hansa” to denote not only heritage but also likely the city of Dortmund makes sense.
Over time, regional dialects of German further warped the spelling of the family name, leading to variants such as "Hencke," "Hence," and "Henser." Despite its evolution in spelling, the origin of the Henßer family is still traceable back to the Hanseatic League and its powerful stronghold over northern German trade.
Order DNA origin analysisHenßer: Where does the name Henßer come from?
The last name Henßer is a German surname that is still common in Germany today. This name has many variants such as Hensser, Henzler and Hentschel. Henßer is also common in parts of Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Poland.
Henßer first originated in the Middle Ages, and is thought to have been derived from the Middle High German words "henne" and "hennehâre", both of which are used with other surnames to signify someone who lived in a hen house or was a butcher.
Henßer families are found throughout Germany, but particularly in the cities of Berlin and Dresden on the east coast, and Heidelberg, Stuttgart and Mannheim on the west coast. In addition, the largest concentration of the Henßer family is in the Alsace Lorraine region of the Rhineland-Palatinate, an autonomous region in Germany.
In America, Henßer is not a common last name, although it can be found in urban centers of populations with German heritage. Some of the cities in America where Henßer can still be found include Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and New York City.
As the next generation of the Henßer family continues to spread across the world, the number of people with this last name is increasing in both Europe and America, making it a more and more common last name in both locations.
Variations of the surname Henßer
Variants of the surname Henßer could include Hencke, Henz, Henke, Hensmeyer, Hensche, Hensler, Henckel, Henckele, and Henckell.
The surname Henßer is primarily derived from a German language origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "henze" which was used to describe weavers, Meadows, or fields.
The German language is known for its long words and heavy use of compound letters. Several alternate spellings have been used throughout time and across languages to express derivations of the word "henze". One example includes the Dutch language variant of "Hensleer" which is still used today.
Common surnames with the same origin include Hencke, Henz, Henke, Hensmeyer, Hensche, Hensler, Henckel, Henckele, and Henckell. These variants are also found in Dutch, English, and other Germanic languages.
In addition, Henßer may have been adapted after the German Christian names of Hansel or Heinzel. In this case, the "er" indicates a patronymic surname.
Lastly, surname Henßer combined with the prefix "von" could indicate a noble origin. This demonstrates that throughout history, the name variant Henßer has been used for many different reasons and in many different forms.
Famous people with the name Henßer
- Ryan Henßer: American actor and comedian
- Alison Henßer: President and Executive Director of Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Union
- Tony Henßer:Executive Chef of the celebrity-favorite hotspot, Botanica
- Felix Henßer: German pianist, composer and improviser
- Mathis Henßer: German professor and historian of modern and contemporary architectural and urban development
- Raza Henßer: Pakistani artist and painter
- Christoph Henßer: German surgeon and former member of the German Air Force
- Sabine Henßer: German proponent of classical and modern ballet
- Peter Henßer: former German musician and singer
- Julian Henßer: German conductor and former cellist in the London Philharmonic Orchestra.