Surname Jespersen - Meaning and Origin
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Jespersen: What does the surname Jespersen mean?
The last name Jespersen is of Scandinavian (Danish, Norwegian and Swedish) origin and is derived from the given name Jest, which is a reduced form of either Johannes or Jørgen. This pet form of the name also evolved in many parts of Europe, such as in Finland, where it is also a common last name.
The etymology of the name contains the Norse word "Jösurr" which means "son of Thor"; Thor being an important deity in Norse mythology. It is believed that this is a reference to Thor's son, Magni.
The name ultimately has a Germanic origin and was used as a patronymic, meaning that it was associated with the father of an individual and was passed down from father to son. Hence, individuals bearing the name are likely one generation removed from a person named Jest, Johannes, or Jørgen.
Today, Jespersen is a common last name throughout Scandinavia, especially in Denmark, where it is the 20th most common name. It is also a well-established name in other Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden and Norway. People with the surname can be found throughout the world, and in the United States, it is the 4155th most common name overall.
Order DNA origin analysisJespersen: Where does the name Jespersen come from?
The Scandinavian surname Jespersen is most commonly found in Denmark today, although the name is still common around northern Europe. The name is derived from the Old Norse name Eiriksson, meaning the “son of Erik”. The name has been shown to be relatively popular in Denmark since the 1900s, with around 7,500 individuals bearing the name Jespersen in the latest census count of 2021.
In addition to Denmark, the Jespersen surname is also common in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland today. It is also possible to find a scattered sprinkling of the name in cities where there is a large Scandinavian population, such as in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and even some cities in the United States.
The Jespersen surname typically originates from a patronymic base, such as Jens, Jep, or Jesse. Occasionally, it is found as a matronymic base instead, such as Maria or Petra. In terms of spelling variants, the name Jespersen is also known to appear as Jespersson, Jepsen, Jepson, Ibsen, and Eberson.
Overall, the surname Jespersen is most commonly found in Denmark, with a small presence in Scandinavia and cities across the globe.
Variations of the surname Jespersen
The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Jespersen is Jepsen, Jeppersen, Jespersen, Jespersohn, Yepson, Yipson, Ibsen, Ibbsen, and Jespbensen.
The origin of these different surnames and variants is most likely rooted in Denmark and Northern Germany. In the 19th century, patronymic surnames were very common in the Scandinavian countries, so it is likely that ‘Jespersen’ is derived from the given name 'Jesper'. This would mean that the surname originated from the root name 'Jesper', which is derived from Greek origin meaning 'treasurer'.
Variant spellings of the name can appear in different parts of Europe, but in Denmark, the prefix 'Je' is often added to the names prior to the surname, probably due to the influence of the French culture. Similarly, the suffix 'son' is added to many names in Northern Germany, implying that there is a Scandinavian connection.
The most notable variant of the surname is 'Jepsen', which is considered to be the most common variant of the name. It is thought to have originated in Westphalia, Germany, and is found mainly in Northern Europe, especially in Sweden and Norway.
From 1940's onwards, many variants of the surname have disappeared. For example, variants like 'Jespersen' and 'Jeppersen' were eventually shortened to Jepsen. Even Richard Jespersen, a former Prime Minister of Denmark, is listed as 'Richard Jepsen'.
There are many different variants of the surname Jespersen, but they are all likely to have originated from the same source.
Famous people with the name Jespersen
- Morten Gunnar Larsen Jespersen, Danish poet
- John Jespersen, Danish ice hockey player
- Tor Helge Jespersen, Norwegian actor
- Ove Jespersen, Norwegian sprint canoer
- Arne Jespersen, Norwegian football player
- Maren Jespersen, Danish footballer
- Isak Ulveseth Jespersen, Norwegian footballer
- Anyone Jespersen, Norwegian painter
- Claire Jespersen, Danish silver medalist at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
- Johan Falkenberg Jespersen, Danish zoologist