Danish Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Danish last names are a rich tapestry of history, tradition, and cultural significance. These surnames provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of past generations, offering insights into occupations, geographical origins, and even personal characteristics. Whether you're researching your own family tree or simply curious about the unique etymology of Danish names, this extensive list will provide you with a valuable starting point.
1. **Andersen:** Son of Anders. Anders is a Danish form of the Greek name Andreas, meaning "manly" or "strong."
2. **Christensen:** Son of Christian. Christian is a name of Greek origin, meaning "follower of Christ."
3. **Hansen:** Son of Hans. Hans is a Danish form of the German name Johannes, meaning "God is gracious."
4. **Jensen:** Son of Jens. Jens is a Danish form of the Hebrew name John, meaning "God is gracious."
5. **Nielsen:** Son of Niels. Niels is a Danish form of the Greek name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."
6. **Pedersen:** Son of Peter. Peter is a Greek name meaning "stone" or "rock."
7. **Petersen:** Son of Peter. Peter is a Greek name meaning "stone" or "rock."
8. **Sørensen:** Son of Soren. Soren is a Danish form of the Hebrew name Severinus, meaning "strict" or "severe."
9. **Larsen:** Son of Lars. Lars is a Danish form of the Greek name Laurence, meaning "laurel" or "fame."
10. **Madsen:** Son of Mads. Mads is a Danish form of the Hebrew name Matthias, meaning "gift of God."
11. **Olsen:** Son of Ole. Ole is a Danish form of the German name Olaf, meaning "ancestor" or "heritage."
12. **Poulsen:** Son of Poul. Poul is a Danish form of the Latin name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble."
13. **Thomsen:** Son of Thomas. Thomas is an Aramaic name meaning "twin."
14. **Knudsen:** Son of Knud. Knud is a Danish form of the Old Norse name Cnut, meaning "knot."
15. **Johansen:** Son of Johan. Johan is a Danish form of the Hebrew name John, meaning "God is gracious."
16. **Jakobsen:** Son of Jakob. Jakob is a Danish form of the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning "supplanter" or "he who seizes by the heel."
17. **Eriksen:** Son of Erik. Erik is a Danish form of the Old Norse name Eric, meaning "everlasting ruler."
18. **Bertelsen:** Son of Bertel. Bertel is a Danish form of the German name Bartholomew, meaning "son of Talmai."
19. **Jørgensen:** Son of Jørgen. Jørgen is a Danish form of the Greek name George, meaning "farmer" or "earthworker."
20. **Rasmussen:** Son of Rasmus. Rasmus is a Danish form of the Latin name Erasmus, meaning "beloved."
21. **Christoffersen:** Son of Christoffer. Christoffer is a Danish form of the Greek name Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ."
22. **Jessen:** Son of Jesper. Jesper is a Danish form of the Hebrew name Jasper, meaning "treasure" or "keeper."
23. **Nissen:** Son of Nis. Nis is a Danish form of the German name Nikolaus, meaning "victory of the people."
24. **Møller:** Miller. This surname indicates that the original bearer was a miller.
25. **Schmidt:** Smith. This surname indicates that the original bearer was a blacksmith.
26. **Hansen:** Son of Hans. Hans is a Danish form of the German name Johannes, meaning "God is gracious."
27. **Petersen:** Son of Peter. Peter is a Greek name meaning "stone" or "rock."
28. **Jensen:** Son of Jens. Jens is a Danish form of the Hebrew name John, meaning "God is gracious."
29. **Kristensen:** Son of Kristoffer. Kristoffer is a Danish form of the Greek name Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ."
30. **Larsen:** Son of Lars. Lars is a Danish form of the Greek name Laurence, meaning "laurel" or "fame."
31. **Andersen:** Son of Anders. Anders is a Danish form of the Greek name Andreas, meaning "manly" or "strong."
32. **Nielsen:** Son of Niels. Niels is a Danish form of the Greek name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."
33. **Sørensen:** Son of Soren. Soren is a Danish form of the Hebrew name Severinus, meaning "strict" or "severe."
34. **Pedersen:** Son of Peter. Peter is a Greek name meaning "stone" or "rock."
35. **Johansen:** Son of Johan. Johan is a Danish form of the Hebrew name John, meaning "God is gracious."
36. **Jakobsen:** Son of Jakob. Jakob is a Danish form of the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning "supplanter" or "he who seizes by the heel."
37. **Eriksen:** Son of Erik. Erik is a Danish form of the Old Norse name Eric, meaning "everlasting ruler."
38. **Bertelsen:** Son of Bertel. Bertel is a Danish form of the German name Bartholomew, meaning "son of Talmai."
39. **Jørgensen:** Son of Jørgen. Jørgen is a Danish form of the Greek name George, meaning "farmer" or "earthworker."
40. **Rasmussen:** Son of Rasmus. Rasmus is a Danish form of the Latin name Erasmus, meaning "beloved."
41. **Christoffersen:** Son of Christoffer. Christoffer is a Danish form of the Greek name Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ."
42. **Jessen:** Son of Jesper. Jesper is a Danish form of the Hebrew name Jasper, meaning "treasure" or "keeper."
43. **Nissen:** Son of Nis. Nis is a Danish form of the German name Nikolaus, meaning "victory of the people."
44. **Madsen:** Son of Mads. Mads is a Danish form of the Hebrew name Matthias, meaning "gift of God."
45. **Olsen:** Son of Ole. Ole is a Danish form of the German name Olaf, meaning "ancestor" or "heritage."
46. **Poulsen:** Son of Poul. Poul is a Danish form of the Latin name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble."
47. **Thomsen:** Son of Thomas. Thomas is an Aramaic name meaning "twin."
48. **Knudsen:** Son of Knud. Knud is a Danish form of the Old Norse name Cnut, meaning "knot."
49. **Holm:** Island, peninsula, or small wooded area. This surname often indicates the original bearer lived near a specific geographical feature.
50. **Nielsen:** Son of Niels. Niels is a Danish form of the Greek name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."
51. **Jørgensen:** Son of Jørgen. Jørgen is a Danish form of the Greek name George, meaning "farmer" or "earthworker."
52. **Petersen:** Son of Peter. Peter is a Greek name meaning "stone" or "rock."
53. **Hansen:** Son of Hans. Hans is a Danish form of the German name Johannes, meaning "God is gracious."
54. **Jensen:** Son of Jens. Jens is a Danish form of the Hebrew name John, meaning "God is gracious."
55. **Christensen:** Son of Christian. Christian is a name of Greek origin, meaning "follower of Christ."
56. **Larsen:** Son of Lars. Lars is a Danish form of the Greek name Laurence, meaning "laurel" or "fame."
57. **Andersen:** Son of Anders. Anders is a Danish form of the Greek name Andreas, meaning "manly" or "strong."
58. **Sørensen:** Son of Soren. Soren is a Danish form of the Hebrew name Severinus, meaning "strict" or "severe."
59. **Pedersen:** Son of Peter. Peter is a Greek name meaning "stone" or "rock."
60. **Knudsen:** Son of Knud. Knud is a Danish form of the Old Norse name Cnut, meaning "knot."