Surname Jungen - Meaning and Origin
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Jungen: What does the surname Jungen mean?
The last name Jungen is a topographic name for someone who lived near a young oak tree, derived from the Low German word jungen, meaning “young”. Over the centuries, the name has been adopted by many families throughout Europe, especially in Germany and Switzerland, and it continues to be a popular last name today.
The Jungen surname originated around the tenth century as a localized name in the Lower Rhine region. At that time, the name was used to describe a location where young oak trees were growing, and often it was simply a reference to new growth in the area. Over time, people adopted the Jungen name as their own, either as a nickname or signifying their relation to a particular place. For example, someone might take on the name if they attended church near a young oak tree or a family member lived near a young oak tree.
Today, Jungen remains a popular surname in parts of Europe and is shared by people from many cultural backgrounds. Although the original meaning of the name is lost to time, it has become a way to identify people with strong family ties, and often, it appears in documents dating back centuries.
In addition to its commonness as a surname, Jungen has also gained popularity as a given name, too, suggesting that there is a certain appreciation for the name’s historical significance. As such, the name Jungen is indicative of strength, legacy, and growth, making it an apt choice for many families.
Order DNA origin analysisJungen: Where does the name Jungen come from?
The last name Jungen is believed to have originated in Germany and is most commonly found there to this day. However, over the centuries the surname has spread throughout Europe and North America, particularly among those of German descent.
In Germany, Jungen is one of the top 1000 most popular last names (2020). The largest concentrations are found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony. In both Switzerland and the Netherlands, Jungen is considered relatively rare.
In the United States, Jungen is also very uncommon. The latest Census report (2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates) lists no more than 500 individuals with the Jungen surname. Interestingly, the largest group (approx. 190 people) is located in the state of Hawaii. The second largest concentration is in Pennsylvania, followed by California, Michigan, and Minnesota.
Overall, Jungen is considered quite an uncommon last name with only a few thousand people spread across the globe bearing it. The vast majority of them are located in Germany, with smaller numbers elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Jungen
Jungen is an occupational surname, deriving from a Middle High German word meaning “youth” or “youngster”. It is an altered form of Jungmann, which is derived from the same base element.
Common variants include Jugen, Juno, Junge, Jüngen, Jünger, Junger, Jüng, Jung, Youngen, Yonng, and Yonnen. These surnames may have also been spelled as Junge, Junk, Junker, Jounger, Jungher, Jungen, Junger, Jungken, Juncker, Yonge, Juncker, Yonge, Yongell, Yongk, Yonker, Yonkel, Juncker, Juncken, Jones, Yong, and Yonge.
In some regions, the Jungen surname became hyphenated with a location name. Some of the spellings resulting from this include Züngen-Wüstenfeld, Junge-Bolte, Jungen-Becker, Junge-Buk, Jungen-Gile, Jungen-Kunkel, Junge-Laing, Jungen-Morof, Jungen-Schmidt and Jungen-Schneider.
In many cases, Jungen surnames have been adopted into other languages. French variants include Jouant, Grandjean, GrandJean, Gendjean and Grandgeon. Dutch variants include Jongen, Juungen, Jonken, Jong, Jongs and Jonge. Polish variants include Jung, Yung, and Yongell. German dialectic variants include Yungen, Yung, Yonge, Yongell, Giun, Giung, Junck, Juncker, and Tungen.
The Jungen surname could have also morphed into other surnames, such as Johnson, John, and Jane. Alternative spellings of Jungen include Junge, Junagel, Yung, Yong, Jong, and Jones.
Famous people with the name Jungen
- David Janzen Jungen: Canadian sculptor and multidisciplinary artist.
- Erica Jungen: Nordic ski racer from Norway.
- Alexander Jungen: Swiss politician.
- Wilhelm Jungen: Austrian composer.
- Carolyn Jungen: Canadian politician, representing British Columbia.
- Peter Jungen: German Olympic silver medalist in Sailing (2000).
- Isabella Jungen: Swiss painter.
- Jakob Jungen: German Olympic gold medalist in Field Hockey (1972).
- Heinrich Jungen: Austrian composer and conductor.
- Jakub Jungen: Czech professional ice hockey player.