Surname Theunis - Meaning and Origin
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Theunis: What does the surname Theunis mean?
Theunis is a Dutch surname that originates from the given name Theunis, meaning “follower of Theun” and therefore belonging to the group of patronymic surnames. Patronymic surnames have their origin in the given name of a person’s father or ancestor and indicate that the bearer is related to that particular person. In this case, the original person with the given name Theun served as the male ancestor for all current day Theunis’s.
Theunis is thought tobe a Dutch variation of the Latin name Antonius, which is derived from the Etruscan name Anthone. The Latinization of the Dutch given name Theun eventually developed into Antonius. The name is thought to have originated from the root name Anthos, which was a byname meaning “flower” or “blossom” in Greek.
Theunis is typically a surname found in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany around the 16th century. During this time, the name was commonly used as the name of a child born in honour of a deceased ancestor with that name or as a result of a family member being named Theunis.
As suggested by its origin, the surname Theunis is associated with a legacy of bravery and valour, as indicated by its Greek root name which translates to “blossom” or “flower”. This connection indicates that the original Theunis was a brave and highly honourable character, paving the way for his legacy to be carried on through the generations and into those who bear the surname Theunis today.
Order DNA origin analysisTheunis: Where does the name Theunis come from?
Theunis is a surname found mainly in Flanders, that is, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium and also to a lesser extent in the Netherlands and France. The most common areas in Belgium for people with the surname Theunis are Flemish Brabant and Antwerp.
Outside of Belgium, Theunis can also be found in South Africa and the French-speaking Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. In South Africa, Theunis is a common surname among the Dutch Afrikaner population and is mostly found in the Western Cape province.
The origin of the surname Theunis is Dutch and is derived from the personal name Antonius, with the influence of the Dutch diminutive -tje. The personal name was first used as a given name in the Low Countries during the Middle Ages and eventually made its way to the surname.
Theunis remains a popular surname in Flanders, Belgium and among the Dutch Afrikaner population in South Africa. It is still relatively rare in other parts of the world and is likely a legacy of the presence of the early Dutch settlers in the Cape during the 17th century.
Variations of the surname Theunis
Theunis (also spelled Theunissen, Thunis and Thomson) is a Dutch or Flemish surname. It is an old patronymic or diminutive meaning 'son of Theunis'. The given name Theunis has several variant forms, including Teunis, Teun, Theun and Thonus. It is derived from the Germanic element 'theud', meaning ‘people’.
Theunis is mainly found in the Netherlands and Belgium, particularly in the Limburg and Zeeland districts. It is also found in France, Germany, Scandinavian countries, and throughout Central, Western and South Europe, as well as in some parts of the United States.
Variants of Theunis can be found in various spellings. The most common is Theunisse, a variant with an extra ‘s’ at the end, although other spellings include Theunessen, Theunesser, Theunisser, Thoenis and Theunsen.
Thomson is a variant of Theunis that is found mainly in Scotland and Ireland. The Scottish name Thomson is the anglicised version of the Dutch surname Theunis. Theonus and Thonis are other variants of the name in Scotland.
In many parts of the world, variations of the name Theunis can be found in other languages. These include Thonissen (German), Teunissen (Dutch), Tuonisen (Finnish), Taunonen (Estonian), and Tonnesen/Tunsen (Norwegian).
Famous people with the name Theunis
- Jean-Claude Theunis: Belgian painter.
- Donato Theunis: Dutch writer.
- Wilfried Theunis: Belgian professor and scholar.
- Gérard Theunis: French sculptor.
- Luc Theunis: Belgian actor, director, and theater instructor.
- Paul Theunis: Belgian artist and sculptor.
- Ghislain Theunis: Belgian journalist and author.
- Jean-Marie Theunis: Belgian poet and professor.
- Françoise Theunis: French actress.
- Edward Theunis: Dutch mathematician.