Surname Szen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Szen: What does the surname Szen mean?
The last name Szen is a Jewish surname derived from the Yiddish word “szen”, meaning ‘a gift’ or ‘present’. Jewish families from central and eastern Europe began using the name sometime during the 19th century. It is likely that the original family bearing the name lived near a Jewish town or village where residents were expected to give gifts to one another during certain holidays.
The earliest documented use of the last name Szen dates back to the year 1852, when a man by the name of Meier Freidl Szen was born in Lviv, Ukraine. The surname is not common, and is mainly found in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and smaller parts of southeastern Europe.
Many Szens of the 19th century were involved in the garment trade, mostly making coats and hats for the local population. Later, those families who had already emigrated to the United States and Europe often opened tailor shops, specializing in fancy garments.
Today, the Szen family continues to have a strong Jewish identity. They value education, culture, and tradition, and practice their faith according to the laws of the Torah. Family events, such as birthdays and holidays, are celebrated with great joy and respect. As a result, the bond between the Szen family is very strong, and they continue to give gifts in memory of the original family name and honor its history.
Order DNA origin analysisSzen: Where does the name Szen come from?
Today, the last name Szen is most commonly associated with Germany, where it was found in various German records as early as 1548. Though its meaning is unclear, records suggest the family is of German origin and can be traced to Bavaria. Due to the family's popularity in Germany, it has migrated through generations and spread to other countries, including Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
Now, the last name Szen is commonly found throughout Europe, the United States, and Canada. In the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2016 data, Szen is the 1,509th most common surname. It is present in every state with the most being in New York, followed by California, Florida, and Arizona. In Canada, the name is the 1,707th most popular surname and is most common in Ontario and then Saskatchewan.
Overall, the last name Szen is quite popular and continues to live on through generations, reflecting its long history. Its presence in many countries is a testament to its strength, longevity, and reach.
Variations of the surname Szen
The surname Szen is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and can be found throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Variants and spellings of the surname include Szen(s), Szeny, Szenas, Szenys, Szene, Szenes, Szenery and Szenesz. The latinisation of the surname can also be spelt Sen(s), Sen(e)s - as it is commonly seen in Austrian documents. The surname is also found as Sayin in Ottoman documents from the 19th century.
The pronunciation and spelling of the surname is dependent on the country and language of origin, with the Yiddish and German spelling of the surname being Szen. In Poland, the surname is spelt Szen / Szeń or occasionally Szczeń. In Hungary, the surname is Szen/ Sen and in Ukraine, the variants are likely to be Szen, Szeny and Szenes.
Variants of the surname have also been seen around the world in different countries and languages, including Szenesz (Hungarian), Szennes (Hungarian), Szanecki (Polish), Szanesi (Hungarian, Polish), Szence (Slovak), Sense (Czech) and Santos (Spanish and Portuguese).
In the United States, the surname has also been seen as Sinsky, Szenes, Szens and Zen.
Surnames derived from the same root include Szenin, Szenok, Szenot, Szena, Szentes, Szendes, Szente, Szendo, Szentai, Szepes, Szepesy, Szepessy, Szentpeteri and Szemere.
It is likely that there are other variants and spellings of the surname due to the varying pronunciation and spelling of names in different countries and languages.
Famous people with the name Szen
- Stephen Szén
- Andor Szenes
- Noémi Szén
- Pali Székész
- Gábor Szén
- Jola Szécsi
- Arnold Szén
- Adam Szenes
- Karoly Szenberg
- Andras Szendrei
- Margit Szenesi
- Eszter Szenes
- János Szén
- Gyula Székács
- Pal Székács
- Éva Székedi
- Csaba Szén
- Géza Szenicsányi
- Smaranda Szén
- Zsolt Szenci
Other surnames
Comments or additions to the name "Szen"
23.12.2023
Ceen is our grandfather's name and the family is jewish. We think from Austria