Surname Tjarksen - Meaning and Origin

Tjarksen: What does the surname Tjarksen mean?

The last name Tjarksen is an old Danish surname derived from the given name Jørgensen or Jordansen. It most likely originated in the province of Jutland, which is a region on the Jutland peninsula of Denmark. The name was likely borne by a person from one of the many farms which had "Jørgen" or "Jorden" in their names.

The last name Tjarksen translates to “son of Jørgen” or “son of Jorden” as the suffix ‘-sen’ means ‘son of’ in Danish. The Tjarksen surname was likely adopted by families during the fourteenth century when commoners increasingly began to take on inherited surnames. This practice was encouraged by royal decrees in order for populations to be more easily identified and tracked, including for taxation and census records.

Today, the last name Tjarksen is commonly found in Scandinavia, Denmark in particular. It is also found in parts of the United States of America where descendants of Danish families have immigrated.

The name itself is a testament to the forefathers from whom the Tjarksen descendants are descended. It acts as a reminder of their lineage, providing a tangible connection to their Danish roots and heritage, and helping to affirm their identity.

Tjarksen: Where does the name Tjarksen come from?

The last name Tjarksen is not especially common today, however it is still found in several countries, primarily in Scandinavia but also elsewhere in Europe and North America. Tjarksen was traditionally a patronymic Scandinavian surname, derived from the given name "Tjark," which was derived from the Germanic personal name "Thiadric." As such, the surname is most commonly found in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, although it can also be found in Germany, Netherlands, and even the United Kingdom.

In North America, Tjarksen is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. Records show that the first Tjarksen to arrive in the US was Peter Tjarksen, who was recorded in the 1860 census. In the 2000 US Census, Tjarksen was recorded as a surname 166 times, spread out across 34 of the 50 states. In Canada, the name is almost exclusively found in Ontario and British Columbia, where there were records of 111 Tjarksen individuals in the 2006 census.

Therefore, the surname Tjarksen remains in use today, albeit relatively uncommon in comparison to other names. Nevertheless, it can still be found in areas of Europe and North America, particularly Scandinavia and western Canada.

Variations of the surname Tjarksen

The Tjarksen surname is a derivation from the last name of the same origin from the parts of Denmark, Holstein, and Schleswig. It is also spelt as Tjerssen, Tjerksen, Tijerssen, Tiarksen, Tyerssen, andTyerssen.

The Tjarksen surname originated in the Germanic area of Holstein in the 16th century, where most of the people had the last name beginning with “Tj”. This origin was adapted by the residents Schleswig-Holstein and all of Denmark over time.

The Tjarksen surname was then brought to America by the first German immigrants during the 19th century. One of the earliest Tjarksens to arrive was John Peter Tjarksen who settled in Iowa in 1850. Since his arrival, many other Tjarksens have arrived from Denmark and Holstein and spread throughout the United States.

The variants of Tjarksen can also be found in other countries related to German culture and language. In German, Tjarksen is spelt as Tiersen and Tercsen. It is also present in Dutch as Tiersen and in Scandinavian as Tiersan.

The Dutch surname Tiersen is generally believed to be derived from Middle Dutch tjeshoren meaning ‘heath-dweller’. The Swedish name Tiersen is derived from tigras meaning ‘ridge’.

In Scandinavia, people holding the Tjarksen name mostly live in the western and southern parts of the country. There are also many people with this name in Norway and Sweden.

Tjarksens found in North America often have their ancestral associations with the United Kingdom, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and Scandinavia.

In Sweden and Norway, Tjarksens are found in the counties of Akershus, Vestfold, Oslo, Telemark, Troms, and Nordland.

Other variants of the same surname Tjarksen include Tjerksen, Tjerssen, Tijerssen, Tiarksen, Tyerssen, and Tyerssen. All are rooted in the same surname of Tjarksen.

Famous people with the name Tjarksen

• Ole Tjarksen, Norweigian cultural leader and CEO
• Carl Tjarksen, renowned Norwegian businessman
• Anders Tjarksen, Nordic extreme sportsman
• Peder Tjarksen, Norwegian-American football professional
• Halvor Tjarksen, Norwegian Olympian
• Christian Tjarksen, Norwegian musician and composer
• Torkild Tjarksen, former Danish professional boxer
• Claus Tjarksen, Norwegian entrepreneur and investor
• Tor Tjarksen, Norwegian industrialist
• Søren Jakob Tjarksen, Danish entrepreneur and public figure
• Håkon Tjarksen, Norweigain technology investor
• Kaspar Tjarksen, Norwegian sports journalist
• Kaare Tjarksen, Norwegian-American writer
• Amund Tjarksen, Danish political leader
• Johan Tjarksen, Swedish corporate executive
• Anders Peter Tjarksen, Norwegian former politician
• Ole Tjarksen Jr., Norwegian contemporary artist
• Lise Tjarksen, Norwegian environmental advisor
• Ida Tjarksen, Norwegian tennis player
• Mikkel Tjarksen, Norwegian musician and composer

Other surnames

Tjarks