Surname Jahnsen - Meaning and Origin
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Jahnsen: What does the surname Jahnsen mean?
The last name Jahnsen originates from northern Germany. It is found primarily in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, two states of the former independent country of Denmark. It is a patronymic name derived from the forename Jan, or Johannes in its longer variant. Jan is a biblical forename derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning “God is gracious” In Europe, this name has been popular for many centuries, and variants are found across many languages, from the Spanish Juan to the Greek Ioannes.
The original Germanic Jahnsen family likely traces its roots to the 14th-century Hanseatic League, an alliance of trading cities dedicated to protecting and expanding their commercial interests. In particular, the Jahnsen family may have sailed the waters of the North Sea as cogs, or two-masted merchant ships, between the Baltic and the North Sea for the benefit of the trading cities associated with the league.
The Jahnsen surname is today found mainly in northern Germany, Scandinavia, and the United States. Its presence in the United States likely stems from the 19th century, when many northern Europeans emigrated to the newly-formed country in search of opportunity and prosperity. Skillful tradesmen and farmers, the Jahnsens played their own important role in the settlement of America’s heartland and the building of its infrastructure.
Order DNA origin analysisJahnsen: Where does the name Jahnsen come from?
The last name Jahnsen is most commonly found in Germany today. According to the Ahnenforschung Jahnsen family tree, the Jahnsen surname originates from the Stühlingen region in Baden-Württemberg, a state in southwest Germany. Like many German last names, Jahnsen is a patronymic name derived from a first name, Johannes. Other regional variations of the last name include Johannsen and Jahnson.
The highest concentration of the Jahnsen last name is in Germany. In the 2020 population register, 450 people were recorded with the last name, mostly around southern Germany and Baden-Württemberg. However, Jahnsen is also a popular surname in the Netherlands, where around 280 people carry the name, mostly in the eastern provinces.
The Jahnsen surname is also not uncommon in Scandinavia, specifically in Denmark, where it is mainly found in Jutland, the largest region in the country. According to Danish records from 2020, there are more than 250 people with the name in Denmark. The Jahnsen surname is not as well represented in Norway and Sweden, with around 110 and 90 people respectively carrying the last name.
Overall, the Jahnsen last name is most commonly found in Germany, with small populations in other parts of Europe as well. The origin of the surname is in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and the variation Johannsen and Jahnson are also present in other countries.
Variations of the surname Jahnsen
The surname Jahnsen has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include the Dutch surnames Janseen, Janssen, Jahnsen, Janse, Jansen, Jenssen, and Janss.
The origin of this name is Germanic and it derives from the given name Johann (or spelled in English John). The year of origin for this surname is somewhere around the 14th Century.
The variant Janssen is the most common and widespread surname of this brewing. It is from the Low Countries and derives from the Old Dutch given name Jan. This surname can be found mainly in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, as well as in the United States, Canada, and other countries where it is still used.
The surname Jahnsen is somewhat rarer and is of Dutch origin. It is likely a variant of Janssen, but is spelled slightly differently. It is derived from the German given name Johann, a short form of the given name Johannes. This variant is most commonly found in the United States, Germany, and Austria.
But despite their differences, all of these surnames all have the same origin and are related, and its variants are all mostly found in the same areas.
Famous people with the name Jahnsen
- Jerry Jahnsen: professional American football player who played for the NFL's Chicago Bears in the early 1980s.
- Kristine Jahnsen: Norse actress and theatre director whose notable roles include the critically acclaimed Svenne Film and several other works.
- Stephen Jahnsen: American aviator and novelist, who is best known for his books Starstruck and The World Is a Mirror.
- Andrew J. Jahnsen: American jurist from the state of Indiana who served as a justice on the Supreme Court of Indiana and as the 43rd Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.
- Eirik Jahnsen: Norwegian former ski jumper who is one of the most successful Norwegian ski jumpers of all time.
- C.H.H. Jahnsen: Danish pastor and author, best known for his book The Nature of Man and His Life in Time and Eternity.
- Ehrhard Jahnsen: German artist, sculptor, and graphic artist whose work has been featured in multiple international exhibitions.
- Berthold Jahnsen: German painter and lithographer who was a prominent figure in the art scene of Hamburg in the 19th century.
- Ludwig Jahnsen: Danish chess player who won the Danish Chess Championship in 1952 and represented his country in the 1954 Chess Olympiad.
- Heiner Jahnsen: German-born Swiss geographer and glaciologist who held multiple professor posts, chief among them being the chair of geology at the University of Basel.