Jorgensen
A Danish and Norwegian patronymic surname meaning “son of Jørgen.”
The #1,728 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 14,893 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Jorgensen is a Scandinavian patronymic built from the personal name Jørgen, the Danish and Norwegian form of George, plus -sen, meaning “son.” In literal terms, it means “son of Jørgen.” The given name Jørgen ultimately goes back through Latin and Greek to a word meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker.”
History
This surname developed in Denmark and Norway during the period when fixed hereditary surnames became common from former patronymic naming practices. It spread widely through emigration to North America, where Jorgensen is a familiar Danish-American and Norwegian-American surname. Modern spellings often drop the Danish/Norwegian letter ø and appear as Jorgensen.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it comes from a patronymic system, Jorgensen originally changed from generation to generation before becoming a permanent family name.