Surname Poulsen - Meaning and Origin

Poulsen: What does the surname Poulsen mean?

Poulsen is a patronymic surname derived from the Scandinavian given name Poul, which is derived from the ancient Greek name Paulos. It is related to the French surname Paul or Paillard. Derived from the Latin Paulus, Poul is a popular name in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland, and is also used increasingly in other places.

The surname Poulsen is derived from the Old Norse word ‘pols’ which means a small pool of water. It originally referred to someone who lived near a pond or pool. It is common among Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian families and can also be used as a given name.

The Poulsen surname is found predominantly in Denmark, where it is the second most common surnames, and also found in Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. It is also commonly found in Germany, Canada, and the United States. In some countries, the spelling of the surname has been changed to reflect different languages, such as Poland and France, where it is spelled ‘Poulain’ or ‘Poulin’ respectively.

Overall, the last name Poulsen represents a proud Scandinavian heritage and the legacy of many generations of brave seafarers, farmers, and war veterans who sailed and settled in distant lands. They carried the name with them, with the promise of a better life and an adventure of a lifetime.

Poulsen: Where does the name Poulsen come from?

The last name Poulsen is most commonly found in Denmark, which is where it originates from. It is the fifth most common name in Denmark, where it dates back at least to the 1500s. Today, it is also very popular in Norway, Germany, and Sweden, as many people with this surname immigrated to these countries in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Poulsen is also commonly found in the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States.

In Denmark, this surname has a variety of spelling variants, such as Paulsen, Polsen, and Poelsen. Poulsen itself is also sometimes spelled as Poulson. In the US and Canada, the most common spelling is Poulsen, and the Dutch typically favor Paulsen.

All told, roughly 30,000 people living around the world have a variation of this rare last name, with the vast majority based in Denmark, Norway, or Germany. It is thought to have originally come from an ancient Danish name, "Poulesen" or "Poul's Son." The name has been endlessly transformed and adapted over the centuries by colonists, immigrants, and other people who shared the same last name.

Variations of the surname Poulsen

The surname Poulsen, with variations such as Paulson, Paulsen, Paulsson, Paalsson, Paalson, and Poulson, is a patronymic surname derived from the Scandinavian personal name Paul. In Denmark, Poulsen is the most common surname, followed by Petersen and Jensen.

Poulsen, which is based on the given name of Paul, first appeared in the 13th century in Denmark. It can also be a Norwegian variation of the Swedish surname Paulsberg, the Dutch surname Paulus, and the British surname Pool. Historically, many people adopted surnames to distinguish themselves from other people with the same given name.

Spelling variations of the surname include Poulson, Paalsson, Paalson, Paulson, Paulsen, Paulssen, Polshen, Polsen, Paulsberg, Palsson, Paulsar, and Paulus among others.

In the United States, the most common spelling of the surname is Poulsen. Poulsen is part of a longer Scandinavian tradition of surnames known as patronymics, in which a surname is formed from a father’s personal name. As a result, Poulsen literally translates to “son of Paul.”

Although derived from the same root, Poulsen and the other variations of the same origin all are individual and distinct surnames. It is possible to have multiple variations of a common surname and all be part of the same genealogical family tree. For example, descendants of the same individual might have different spellings of the same surname.

Famous people with the name Poulsen

• Peter Poulsen: a former professional Danish football player and current football manager.
• Per Poulsen: a leading Danish modernist architect.
• Kim Poulsen: a former professional Danish footballer and current football manager.
• Christian Poulsen: a former professional Danish footballer who played for several prominent European clubs.
• Søren Poulsen: a Danish businessman, the former CEO of Jyske Bank.
• Malene Poulsen: a Danish model and actress.
• Jim Poulsen: a former professional Danish football player and coach.
• Kaj Poulsen: a former Danish political figure and minister of health during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Jørn Poulsen: a former professional Danish football player and manager.
• Andreas Poulsen: a Danish radio host and television presenter.

Other surnames

Poulsson