Surname Theissen - Meaning and Origin
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Theissen: What does the surname Theissen mean?
Theissen is a surname of German origin. The name may have originated as a patronymic, denoting "son of Thies," with Thies being a short form of the personal name Matthias or Matthäus (Matthew in English). Thus, the primary meaning of the surname Theissen would be "son of Matthäus." As with many surnames, it's likely that many distinct families adopted the name independently during the Middle Ages, so not all families who carry the surname will necessarily share the same ancestry. The spelling of the name may vary, with common variations including Thiesen, Thiessen, Thies, and Thys. As of today, it is prevalent in Germany and other countries with German-speaking populations.
Order DNA origin analysisTheissen: Where does the name Theissen come from?
The last name Theissen is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands today. According to WorldNames Public Profiler, the name is most prevalent in Germany with 1 in 261 individuals bearing the name, while it is more rare in the Netherlands where 1 in 2,283 individuals bear the name.
It is believed to be a patronymic or matronymic surname originating from the Germanic given name Theodoric, meaning 'ruler of the people.' Theodoric was a popular given name in Northern Germany from as early as the 7th century and was likely used as the basis for the surname.
In Germany, the most common regions where the name is found are located in the North West and South East of the country. In the Rheinland region, the name is found very frequently with 1 in 116 people considered to have the last name. The same is true of Schleswig-Holstein, which also has a very high rate of Theissen marriage.
In the Netherlands, the last name is more rare and concentrated primarily in the provinces of Gelderland and Friesland. In general, the name is found more in north and east Holland than elsewhere in the country.
Overall, Theissen is considered to be a relatively common and widespread name in both Germany and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Theissen
Theissen is a surname of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "theissin", which means "chief" or "lord". Variants of Theissen include Thiessen, Tessin, Teissen, Tesson, Tishen, Tiessen, and Thiesen. Other Germanic spellings include Deissen, Dietzen, Deitzen, Deth, and Teitsen.
In Germany, Theissen is an uncommon surname and is generally found in the western parts of the country such as the Rhineland. The surname is found in the Netherlands, especially in the eastern parts of the country such as Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe.
Variant spellings of the surname also exist in other countries. The Thiessen and Tessin surnames are found in Switzerland, while the Tiessen spelling is more common in eastern Europe. In the United States, Theissen, Thiessen, and Thiesen can be found most commonly among Mennonite and Amish communities.
The surname Theissen is associated with many variations, spellings, and surnames depending on its country of origin. While it is not particularly popular in any one country, it is evident that the Theissen surname shares a common Germanic root and is found across Europe and the United States.
Famous people with the name Theissen
- David Theissen: American actor and comedian who has appeared in numerous television shows such as Law & Order: SVU, Will & Grace and Arrested Development.
- Robert Theissen: German theologian and a leading figure in the "New Perspective on Paul." He is best known for his work on the social, religious and historical context of the New Testament.
- Phil Theissen: American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Ring Of Honor. He is also known as "The Chosen One" and is currently the holder of the ROH World Championship title.
- Tom Theissen: German racecar driver and a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- Susanne Theissen: German Olympic athlete who competed in track and field events. She won a silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics for the 4x400 meter relay.
- Helmut Theissen: Austrian ski jumper who competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics.
- Georg Theissen: West German slalom canoeist who won a silver medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
- James B. Theissen: United States Navy Admiral who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
- Christian Theissen: German archaeologist who specialized in the study of ancient civilizations.
- Ralf Theissen: German professor of Old Testament at the University of Heidelberg. He is a leading scholar in the area of theology, with a focus on the history and traditions of ancient Judaism.