Surname Thewissen - Meaning and Origin
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Thewissen: What does the surname Thewissen mean?
The last name Thewissen is of Dutch origin, and is composed of two elements. The first element is the Old Germanic personal name Theuwit, meaning “people’s protector”, and the second element is the common suffix -essen, which means “descendant of”. Thus the name Thewissen indicates “descendant of Theuwit”.
Theuwit is derived from the Old Germanic element theud, meaning “people or nation”, and the Old High German element wizo, meaning “counsel” or “protection”. This is reflected in the modern Dutch word, twijgen, meaning “to advise” or “recommend”.
The name Thewissen is most common in the Netherlands, particularly in the province of Noord-Brabant. This suggests that it’s likely the surname originated in that area.
People with the last name Thewissen can be counted amongst many famous Dutch citizens such as the authors P.M.C. Thewissen, J.A. Thewissen and F.G.H. Thewissen.
In some parts of the Netherlands, the name is also spelled Theuwissen or Thewissen.
Thewissen is a proud last name that carries with it an honor associated with the Germanic roots—protection of people and nations—as well as centuries of impressive Dutch history.
Order DNA origin analysisThewissen: Where does the name Thewissen come from?
Thewissen is a surname with origins in the Dutch and German languages, with early records of the name dating back to the 1400s in the Netherlands. It is not overly common at present day, though it can be found primarily in the Netherlands and Germany.
In the Netherlands, Thewissen is most common in the province of Limburg, though it can also be found in other parts of the country. While there is no exact breakdown of the number of people who carry the Thewissen surname, a 2020 study by the Meertens Institute in Amsterdam determined that it was the 4,082nd most popular surname in the Netherlands out of 199,342 names recorded.
Thewissen is also found in Germany, particularly in the North Rhine-Westphalia region in the west of the country. A 2012 study by name popularity website Verwandt.de found Thewissen to be the 127th most popular surname in the state by population count, with an estimated 1,360 individuals recorded living in the area with the name.
In addition, Thewissen can be found in Belgium, spread primarily around the Flemish-speaking part of the country. A 2015 study conducted by Dr. Mannus Peeters determined that Thewissen was the 309th most common name in Flanders, with a total of 362 people recorded in the study as having the surname.
Though not overly common, Thewissen is still present today in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium as a unique, centuries-old surname.
Variations of the surname Thewissen
The common surname Thewissen is found worldwide, although it is mainly associated with people of Dutch and Flemish descent. Spellings for Thewissen can also include Thewisz, Theuwissen, Thewessen, De Thewissen, De Thewisz, de Theuwissen and de Thewessen.
Thewissen is derived from a patronymic form of the personal name Theuwis or Thewis, which originated from the (Old) Germanic masculine personal name Theudowich. Theudowich consists of the elements “theudo”, which means ‘people’ or ‘folk’ and “wig”, which means ‘combat’ or ‘battle’ essentially translating into ‘leader of the people’.
In some cases, the surname Thewissen has been replaced by similar sounding surnames derived from the same source. Such names include Teuwsen, Theuws, Theusen, Theusz and Theusser. These surnames were formed by a process known as metathesis or transposition, whereby the order of a syllable within a word is changed.
Surnames that are related to, but not the same as Thewissen include Thuis, Teusen and Thijs. Thuis is derived from the Dutch word “thuis”, which means ‘at home’ or ‘at the house’ and is therefore an occupational name for someone who was an estate manager. Teusen is derived from a diminutive form of the Dutch personal name Teuis. Thijs is derived from the personal name Thijmen, which is a form of the biblical name Matthias.
Overall, the surname Thewissen has many variants and spellings, and may be found among different related surnames.
Famous people with the name Thewissen
- Joern Thewissen: A prominent paleontologist and professor from Netherlands who is known for his work on the evolution of whales.
- John Thewissen: An American neuroscientist whose research focuses on the nervous systems of mammals, particularly marine animals.
- Anne Thewissen: A Dutch model and actress, appearing in television series such as “Verliefd op Ibiza” and “De Domme Doolhof.”
- Anja Thewissen: A German journalist and news anchor, she covers political and economic news for regional channels.
- Alexander Thewissen: A Dutch composer, director, and lyricist, best known for his work on the musicals “Lotta Lust” and “V for Vendetta.”
- Christian Thewissen: An Austrian cyclist and racing driver. He won the Austrian National Road Race Championships in 2005.
- Patrick Thewissen: A Dutch soccer player who currently plays for FC Utrecht.
- Michael Thewissen: An Australian-Canadian astrophysicist and professor at McMaster University.
- Cornelia Thewissen: A Dutch Olympic athlete who competed in the pole vault.
- Paul Thewissen: A stage and film actor from the Netherlands. His notable roles include “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.”