Surname Thönsen - Meaning and Origin
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Thönsen: What does the surname Thönsen mean?
The last name Thönsen is of German origin and its literal meaning is "son of Thön". Thön is an old German first name which has been in existence since before the 15th century, and is believed to be derived from a Germanic language, perhaps meaning 'the one' or 'the brave one'. The name has various other spellings and variants such as Thons, Thon, and Thonnesen, and is found mostly in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and several other German speaking countries.
Today, Thonsen is one of the most common family names in Germany. It is thought to derive from an old Germanic given name, with the suffix -sen being added to denote it as a patronymic (son of a Thön). Some believe that it may have meant 'son of Thun,' which was an old Germanic god.
Thönsen is also a common name in northern Italy including the Friuli Region. This could either mean that the name was adopted by Italian immigrants, or it could have originated from the Italian word “tosso”, meaning oak. The oak tree was a symbol of strength in the Friuli region even before Roman times.
In short, the last name Thönsen is of German origin, originating from an old Germanic given name. It is linked to a Germanic god, and also possibly to the Italian word “tosso” meaning oak, due to its prevalence in northern Italy.
Order DNA origin analysisThönsen: Where does the name Thönsen come from?
The last name Thönsen is primarily associated with Northern Germany and Denmark. It is one of the most common family names in both countries, and is found particularly along the coasts and in the north.
In Germany, Thönsen is most frequent in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also found in the eastern part of Lower Saxony, as well as in Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony. In Denmark, it is most common in the western part of the country, especially around Funen, on the islands of Als and Langeland, and in Haderslev in Southern Jutland. Further, it is found in eastern Jutland and in North Schleswig.
At the same time, Thönsen has spread to other countries, including Sweden, the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, there is a significantly larger concentration of the name on the West Coast than in other parts of the country, particularly in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho.
Overall, the high concentration of the name Thönsen in northern Germany and Denmark is readily recognizable, though the family has spread out to other countries over the years.
Variations of the surname Thönsen
The surname Thönsen is of German and Swedish origin. It is derived from the German personal name Thon, which is a diminutive of Anton or Anthony. It is also a patronymic surname, which is formed by adding "-sen" to the father's name. The spelling of Thönsen is the German and Swedish spelling.
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Thönsen include: Thoensen, Thönssen, Thonessen, Thonissen, Thonisen, Thonusen, Thornsen, Thorns, Thorne, Thornsrome, Thöne, Thorsen, Thorson, Thorsen, Thorsenheim, Thorssom and Thorsson.
The Dutch variant of Thönsen is Tonisson, while the Danish variations are Tonnesen and Tatensen. The English spelling of Thönsen is Thones.
In the United States, Thönsen has been Americanized as Thene, Thune and Thone. The French version of Thönsen is Thonn.
The surname Thönsen is shared by many families, as the spelling has changed over time and across regions. It is a popular surname in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and the United States.
Overall, the variant spellings, surnames and vast international origins of the surname Thönsen are an indication of its ancient roots and long standing traditions throughout Europe.
Famous people with the name Thönsen
- Max Thönsen: Danish actor who has starred in movies and TV shows such as 'Avengers: Infinity War' and series 'Badehotellet'.
- Regine Thönsen: German ice dancer who competed at the 1964 Winter Olympics.
- Rainer Thönsen: football manager who managed Emsdetten 05 and other football clubs.
- Anker Thönsen: Danish architect and urban planner who has designed several residential projects in Copenhagen.
- Curtis Thönsen: American actor who has appeared in several television series.
- Nicky Thönsen: Belgian artist known for her abstract-expressionist paintings.
- Edda Thönsen: Danish Olympic skier who won five national championship medals.
- Jens Thönsen: Austrian ski jumper who competed in the World Cup.
- Gert Thönsen: Danish rower and 4 time Olympic gold medalist.
- Morten Thönsen: Danish singer and actor who has starred in several stage productions.