Surname Hermanussen - Meaning and Origin

Hermanussen: What does the surname Hermanussen mean?

The last name Hermanussen is of German origin and is derived from the personal name Hermann. The name Hermann is a combination of two Germanic elements: harja, meaning “army,” and mann, meaning “man.” The original bearer of the name would have been someone associated with an army group, for example, as a soldier, leader, or protector.

The name can also be interpreted to mean “man of Herman” and may have been derived from a godfather’s name, or perhaps honoring a warrior ancestor. The ending “-ussen” was a common German locative suffix meaning “from” or “in the vicinity of.”

Today, the surname Hermanussen can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with many still bearing this name in Germany, either as Hermanussen or Harmaenusen, the Dutch spelling.

The Hermanussen surname also has numerous variants, including Hermansen, Hermanse, Harmenae(u)se, Hermann, Harmens, Harmusen, Hermanessen, and Hermansen. In addition, many descendants of the original Hermann have adopted hyphenated surnames that combine the two elements, such as Harmen-Hermann.

No matter the spelling, this surname will always be connected to the original Germanic root name “Hermann,” which is associated with warriors, army groups, and protection.

Hermanussen: Where does the name Hermanussen come from?

The last name Hermanussen is a patronymic surname derived from a Germanic male personal name "Herman" (versus the French "Armand" or Dutch "Hermanus"). It is believed to have been created by the 12th century in Lower Saxony (Germany).

The last name Hermanussen is predominantly found in the Netherlands today. It is most concentrated in the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel, followed by Utrecht and North Holland. The last name is also fairly common throughout Germany where it is is found mainly in the western and central regions.

Outside of Europe, the last name Hermanussen can be found in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. It is most prevalent in the United Stated in the states of Ohio, Texas, Washington, and California.

Overall, the last name is not terribly common but has had a long and rich history, having origins well before the 12th century. Today it is mainly found in the Netherlands, Germany, and other parts of Europe, and also in certain states in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Hermanussen

The Hermanussen surname is derived from the Germanic personal name Herman, meaning “army man.” As part of German and Dutch immigration to North America, the surname is found throughout the United States, with variants spelled Hermanson, Hermansen, and even Harmanussen.

The Dutch spelling of Hermanussen is usually Hermanussens, although some people with the surname opt to spell it Hermenssen. It is also found spelled as Harmannussen and Hermanusson. All of these variants are based on the original German surname, Hermann.

In Germany, the surname is also found spelled as Hermans or Hermansohn. The name may have evolved from the German “Hermanns” derived from Herman, which meant either “army man” or, alternatively, a man who lived near an army camp. In addition, in German some of the variants of Hermanussen are spelled Hermanßen and Hermannßen.

In Scandinavia, variants of the surname include Hermannsen, Herman undoubtedly originating from the name Herman, “army man”. Moreover, in Westerbork, Netherlands, the family name is found as Hermansze or Hermanszoon, but usually either Hermanussen or Harmanussen.

The spellings Hermanussen, Hermansen, Hermanussens, Hermannsson, Harmannussen, Hermansze, Hermanszoon, Hermanßen, and Hermannßen all are part of the same surname origin.

Famous people with the name Hermanussen

• Rasmus Hermanussen: Danish professional footballer
• Mary S.C. Tryon Hermanussen: American underwater explorer
• Hans Hermanussen: German mountain climber
• Saskia Hermanussen: Dutch model
• Lisa Hermanussen: Danish neurologist
• Tina Hermanussen: Norwegian politician
• Derek Hermanussen: Canadian singer-songwriter
• Maartje Hermanussen: Dutch businesswoman
• Goni Hermanussen: Estonian author
• Klaus Hermanussen: German and Swiss entrepreneur

Other surnames

Hermanus