 When inquiring into family history it is important to have a basic knowledge about surnames in Denmark, both meaning and origin, as well as the Danish naming traditions. Unlike in England, for example, surnames were generally adopted rather late in Scandinavia. This meant that most families until the mid-1800s did not have an actual family name as we know them today. Peoble were instead named according to the patronymic naming tradition where childrens last name derived from their fathers given name with the addition of a suffix meaning "son" or "daughter". This naming tradition was commenly used throughout Scandinavia at the time of surname formation so it need therefore not surprise us that many Scandinavians today carries a surname of patronymic origin; in Denmark as many 58% of the total population. Other groups of surnames derives from nicknames, place names, or an occupation. Furthermore, over the centuries the group of native names has been added to by new names by peoble migrating from the Duchy of Holstein or brought in by immigrants from Sweden and the many German States. In the following articles you will find more about naming traditions, meaning and origin of surnames in Denmark.
|
 This list covers the 100 most common surnames in present-day Denmark. It explains the origin and meaning of the name and provides information on ranking and numerical distribution. |
|
[Read more...]
|
|
|
A sub-group of the habitation names are those surnames that derive from the name of a farmstead, which often was owned by the family at the time when the surname was taken/formed. There were, of course, some farmhands who acquired surnames from the farmstead where they were employed, but these cases are exceptions. |
|
[Read more...]
|
|
|
A group of surnames are the so-called regional names—those names that indicate a families point of origin. You will also find these names in English surnames (e.g. French = from France) and in German surnames (e.g. Berliner = from Berlin). They are all nicknames although they in some way also are related to habitation names. |
|
[Read more...]
|
|
|
Another group encompasses the surnames deriving from nicknames/bynames, and many of these are among the oldest surnames in Denmark. This is a very broad and miscellaneous group of surnames that usually derive from mythological attributes of certain animals or the characteristics of the first bearer, for example a particular physical feature or the person's appearance (e.g. the color of hair or beard) or character. |
|
[Read more...]
|
|
|
Another group of surnames refer directly to the particular trade, craft or occupation of the first bearer. The group comprises easily recognizable names relating to agriculture, manufacturing, retail or to an office, rank, or status, and will therefore tell us what the first bearer did for a living. In this article you will find a group of the most common occupational names in Denmark. |
|
[Read more...]
|
|
|
Aabenraa
Surnames 
