Why do so many Danish names end in Sen?

The most common Norwegian surnames were originally patronymic, commonly ending with the suffixes “-ssen”, “-sson”, “-sdatter”, “-sdotter” which is the genitive s plus the word sen or son for son or datter or dotter for daughter. In 1923, it was ordered by law that each family should have a single, hereditary last name.

How do Nordic surnames work?

The patronymic naming system was used in all of Scandinavia. That means a Scandinavian’s family name was formed by taking the first name of the natural father and adding sen, son, sson, søn, datter, dotter, or dottir to it. They carried their maiden surname throughout their life in the records.

Why do Danes have 3 names?

The first male child was usually named for the father’s father. The second boy was named for the mother’s father. The first female child was named for the mother’s mother. The second girl was named for the father’s mother.

Is Smith a Danish name?

SCHMIDT. A Danish and German occupational surname for blacksmith or metal worker. See also the English surname SMITH.

Is second forename middle name?

A second and/or middle name that some people have between their first name and surname.

What are the most common Danish last names?

The most common Danish family name surnames are patronymic and end in -sen; for example Rasmussen, originally meaning “son of Rasmus” (Rasmus’ son).

What is the naming law like in Denmark?

Danish naming law has changed alot through the years, for the simple reason that we have too many similar names which made it difficult to distinguish individuals. Therefore the state has tried to get people to change names several times, without much luck.

Are there any Danish last names with the suffix -sen?

Descendants of Danish or Norwegian immigrants to the United States frequently have similar names ending in the suffix “-sen” or have changed the spelling to “-son”. Approximately one-third of the Danish population bear one of the ten most common surnames. More than two-thirds have a patronym ending in -sen in their full name.

Is Denmark’s national identity in the Danish language?

However, for many people, the national identity lies in the Danish language. Danes rarely refer to Danishness, a term used for the first time in 1836, but that term has been a hotly debated topic since the increase of immigration in the 1960s and Denmark’s affiliation with the European Union (EU) in 1972.