Surname Theunissen - Meaning and Origin

Theunissen: What does the surname Theunissen mean?

Theunissen is a patronymic surname, deriving from the given name Theunis or Teunis, both of which are pet forms of the name Antonius or Anton.

The prefix 'Teun' is derived from the Latin Antonius, which is itself derived from the Greek name Antonios, meaning ‘of value, worthy’ or ‘invaluable’. The suffix '-issen' is a diminutive, and particularly common in Dutch-speaking countries, used to express affection or familiarity.

Theunissen is a fairly common name in Dutch-speaking countries, particularly in the Netherlands, Belgium and South Africa, where it is thought to have been introduced during the 17th century Dutch colonisation of the region. It can also be found in some other countries around the world such as the United States of America, Australia and Germany, due to Dutch emigration.

The name Theunissen is often transliterated into English, and can be written in a number of ways, including Theunis, Teunis, Thunissen, Thunisssen, Thomissen and Thombsen, although these are all derived from the same original source.

Theunissen: Where does the name Theunissen come from?

Theunissen is a surname of Dutch and German origin. It is most commonly found in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. There are also some people with the last name Theunissen in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.

In the Netherlands, the surname Theunissen is fairly common in the southwestern regions, especially in the provinces of Limburg, Gelderland, and North Brabant. Theunissen can also be found in the provinces of Drenthe, Zeeland, Fryslân, Flevoland, and Utrecht. Theunissen is also sometimes found as an avatar name in online games.

In Germany, the surname is found mainly in the western and northern regions, including states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Saarland, Brandenburg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is also commonly encountered in the eastern regions around Berlin.

In the United States, the surname is surprisingly uncommon and does not appear in very many parts of the country. Nonetheless, Theunissen can still be spotted in certain states, including Pennsylvania, Oregon, California, Wisconsin, and New York.

Overall, Theunissen is a relatively uncommon surname in most parts of the world, though it is most commonly found in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Despite its low numbers, Theunissen continues to be upheld by a few scattered families throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Theunissen

Theunissen is a Dutch and Belgian surname that is thought to be derived from a diminutive form of the name Antonius, meaning “inestimable one.” Variant spellings and surnames of the same origin include Theunis, Theunisse, and Theunisser.

In Belgium, Theunis and Theunisse are more commonly used, while Theunissen is the spelling most often used in the Netherlands. Theunisser is the form of the surname most commonly used in Germany.

The majority of people bearing the surname Theunissen live in the Netherlands, while only a small number live in Germany. However, there are also significant populations living in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, United States, and Australia.

In some cases, the spelling of Theunissen has been Americanized to Thunissen, as well as Tunison, Thunissen, and Thunisz. Another spelling that has been used is Tunesman, though this form is more commonly spelled as Turnesman.

Spelling variations of Theunissen include Tennison, Teunssen, Theunsing, Theunsz, Theuwissen, Theuwsen, Thewnessen, Thewnissen, Thinaeuwen, Tinssen, and Tunissen. In some cases, married Dutch women bearing the surname Theunissen may also use a combination of their maiden and married names, such as Theunissen-Kraakman.

Famous people with the name Theunissen

• Laureus Sport for Good Ambassador, Susan Theunissen
• Ben Theunissen, Belgian gymnast and three-time Olympic medalist
• Rosalie Theunissen, Dutch actress
• Menna Theunissen, Dutch reality TV personality
• Herbert Theunissen, Dutch artist
• Jacob Theunissen, Dutch figure skater
• Florian Theunissen, German composer
• Annelize Theunissen, South African swimmer
• Jean-Marie Theunissen, Belgian film director
• Jean Theunissen, Luxembourg politician
• Joanna Theunissen, Dutch footballer

Other surnames

Theunis