Johnsen
A Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning “son of John.”
The #4,528 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 39,426 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Johnsen is a patronymic surname built from the given name John plus the Scandinavian patronymic ending -sen, meaning “son of.” In literal terms, it means “son of John.” The name John ultimately comes from Hebrew via Latin and Greek, meaning “God is gracious.”
History
The surname is especially associated with Denmark and Norway, where -sen surnames became some of the most common hereditary family names. The historical excerpt notes Johnsen among the common patronymics in Copenhagen, alongside Jansen and Hansen, which fits its Scandinavian usage. In English-speaking countries, the spelling Johnsen often reflects immigrant or Norwegian/Danish family lines.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In Scandinavian naming, Johnsen and similar -sen surnames began as literal patronymics and often became fixed family names later than in much of western Europe.
From the historical record
“in the directory of Copenhagen, there are only two, MoUer and Smidt, that are not patronymics. The most common of all are Jansen, Johnsen, or Hansen, Petersen, Andresen or Andersen, and 32 PATRONYMICS.”
— The Teutonic Name-System applied to the family names of France, England and Germany