Surname Carstensen - Meaning and Origin

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V. Carstensen

Carstensen: What does the surname Carstensen mean?

The last name Carstensen is a patronymic surname derived from the Scandinavian given name ‘Carsten’. A patronymic surname is derived from the father's given name and can often be prefixed or suffixed with 'sen' or 'son'.

The root 'Carsten' is thought to be derived from the Old Norse personal name ‘Kári’. This name is thought to be composed of two elements; ‘Karr’ meaning ‘rock’, and ‘Steinn’ meaning ‘stone’. It is believed the given name was used in reference to somebody who was "as strong as a rock”.

Carsten is the most popular form of the name, however, other variations exist in various countries such as; Karston, Karsten, Karstein, Kaarsten, Kaersten, Carstens, and Carstensen. The spelling variants demonstrate the mobility of the surname over time, adapting to each new region.

The majority of records carrying the name Carstensen originate from the regions of Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. Many migrated to North America during the experiences of the Great Migration (beginning in the 16th century).

In conclusion, the surname Carstensen is derived from the Scandinavian given name ‘Carsten’, which is thought to be composed of ‘Karr’ and ‘Steinn’, meaning ‘rock’ and ‘stone’. Carstensen families can be found across Europe, with the majority living in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. They can be traced back to as early as the 16th century when they became part of the Great Migration.

Carstensen: Where does the name Carstensen come from?

The last name Carstensen is primarily used in Northern Europe, primarily in Denmark. It is the ninth most common last name in that country, with an estimated 30,000 people bearing the name.

The name is also common in Germany and the Netherlands but it is not as frequent as it is in Denmark. There are also some Carstensen families in the United States, primarily in the Midwest, and around 4,000 people in the United Kingdom who bear that name.

The most Europeans bearing the Carstensen name today are concentrated in Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. However, the name can be found in other countries as well, from the Scandinavian nations to the United States and beyond.

Variations of the surname Carstensen

The surname Carstensen has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The surname is derived from the medieval personal name “Carr”, which is of Old Norse origin. The variants of Carstensen include Karstensen, Kaarstensen, Kaastensen, Karestensen, Kärstensen, Kjcristensen, Kjærstensen, Kersstensen, Carrsensen, Carresen, Carstensen, Karsten and Kerstensen.

The variant spellings of Carstensen include Carsten, Carstenson, Carstonson, Kersten, Kjarsten, Kjersten, Kjerstin, Carstenon, Carstenen, Karstenon, Karstenen, Karrsten, Karrstenson, Karrstenson.

Surnames of the same origin of Carstensen include Carr, Karsten, Karaas, and Korsten. The name Carr is “the son of Carr” and is derived from “kar”, meaning a rock or stone. The alternate form Kersten is derived from “kristjan”, meaning Christ. The name Karaas is from “kara”, an Old Norse name that was derived from the element “karr”, meaning a rock or stone. The name Korsten is derived from the Old Norse words “kair” and “stain”, which means a smooth stone.

In Scandinavian countries, Carstensen can also be spelled “Kerseten” or “Kærstensen”, and in the Netherlands, it can also be spelled “Kèrsten”. In Germany, Carstensen can also be spelled “Karlstensen” or “Karstensen”. In France and English-speaking countries, the variations of the surname may include Carstensen, Carsten, Carstons, and Kartens.

The umlaut marks over the vowels in some of these variations represent a change in pronunciation (an shifting of the hard or sharp consonant blend in Scandinavian languages). The pronunciation of the variants of Carstensen is therefore phonetically similar to the pronunciation of the original surname.

Famous people with the name Carstensen

• Thomas Carstensen: a Danish professional footballer
• Jan Carstensen: a Danish actor
• Sune Carstensen: a Danish professional footballer
• Dennis Carstensen: a German footballer
• Jesper Carstensen: a Danish integrated designer and creative director
• Cornelius Carstensen: a Danish Baroque painter
• Henning Carstensen: a professional German footballer
• Jesper Carstensen: a Danish musician
• Morten Carstensen: a Danish professional footballer
• Thyge Carstensen: a former Danish professional footballer

Other surnames

CarstenCarstens