Surname Haenschen - Meaning and Origin
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Haenschen: What does the surname Haenschen mean?
Haenschen is a German surname meaning “little chicken”. It was historically a popular surname among people living in and around the village of Bohemia in today’s Czech Republic. The name likely originated as a nickname given to a small or young chicken, but it is also possible that it could have been a variant of “Hahn”, which means “rooster”.
While its usage is no longer common, the surname Haenschen still carries a fascinating and unique history with it. Before the formation of the modern-day Czech Republic, Bohemia was a region of central Europe populated by many different ethnicities. As a result, the use of Haenschen as a surname was not exclusive to Czech citizens but was also adopted by German, Polish, and other non-Czech settlers who lived in the area.
The modern Haenschen family has spread all over the world. With the increase in migration and globalization, the name Haenschen can now be found in countries as far away as South Africa, Australia, and the United States. Despite its small beginning as a Iittle chicken, the Haenschen family now spans oceans and repesents numerous cultures.
Order DNA origin analysisHaenschen: Where does the name Haenschen come from?
The last name Haenschen is most commonly found in Germany today. Records indicate that families with this name originated from Eastern European regions following World War II, likely having come from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.
Haenschen is most heavily concentrated in Germany, particularly the western region. The name can also be found in several other European countries, such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, the Netherlands, and France.
Outside of Europe, Haenschen is primarily found in the United States. Immigrants to the US brought the name with them as early as the late1800s. Haenschen can be found in several states, but is particularly common in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other Midwestern states that were heavily settled by German immigrants.
Haenschen is not a common name in other parts of the world. People with this last name have spread out to other countries, but they are not as heavily represented as they are in Europe and the US.
Haenschen is still an active surname in Germany and across Europe, and the US. Today, you are more likely to find family members in the US than in Germany, but it is still an active last name in both countries.
Variations of the surname Haenschen
The surname Haenschen has multiple variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations of Haenschen are Hainschen, Haensch, Hensch, Hennes, Hahnsch, Hasch, and Henschke. Other alternate surnames from this family are Haas, Haus, Haase, Hasse, and Hauke; as well as corresponding occupational names such as Hasselmann and Hasselbacher.
The roots of the Haenschen surname date back to Northern Germany, where the first recorded family line was found in 1587. Over the centuries, other families using similar spellings of the name settled in other regions of Germany, particularly in Prussia, Hesse, and Bavaria.
The most predominant spelling of the name can be found in the Prussia area, where the Haenschens had established themselves as farmers and cattle breeders. The Hassels of the Hesse region were predominantly butchers, bakers, and blacksmiths, while the more southern Haases of Bavaria were mostly shoe cobblers and tailors.
Another significant surname related to Haenschen is Hansen, which is the most common Danish and Norwegian patronymic surname. Similar spellings of this surname are found all over Europe, including Hanssen (Scandinavian), Hand(sch)en (German), Hansson (Swedish), and Hansson (Icelandic).
The name Haenschen has been adopted by many different countries, with families in the United States, Canada, Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand bearing this name. Haenschen has evolved to become one of the most common surnames found throughout the world today.
Famous people with the name Haenschen
- Christopher J. Haenschen, United States Army veteran from Illinois and director of trade and international affairs for the U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Walter Haenschen, former Royal Württemberg cavalry officer and Nazi Gauleiter or provincial leader of the state of Swabia during World War II
- Dieter Haenschen, German former footballer and manager
- Carl Haenschen, German former professional ice hockey defenceman and Olympian
- Fritz Haenschen, Austria 3-time alpine skier in the Winter Olympics
- Robert Paul Haenschen, musicologist specialising in the styles of the 18th century along with more contemporary works
- Carsten Haenschen, German former footballer and manager
- Justin Haenschen, former American-German professional wrestler
- Eillen Charlotte Haenschen, Canadian educator, author, and translator
- Rainer Haenschen, German politician and member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party in Germany