Surname Degens - Meaning and Origin
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Degens: What does the surname Degens mean?
The last name Degens is of Germanic origin and is a common Dutch surname. It is derived from the German and Dutch word degen, meaning “one armed with a sword” and was likely originally used to denote a profession or a military rank.
The surname Degens may have been used to denote someone who was a professional or highly skilled sword fighter. Alternatively, it could have been used to denote a nobleman or knight, since the use of swords was often linked with noble rank. It is likely that the surname was also popular among knights and other military or fighting men of the era. As such, the surname Degens likely has a strong association with valor and courage.
Furthermore, the surname Degens could have been used to describe someone who lived near a particular river, such as the Dutch river De Degen or the German river im Degen. In this case, the surname would have been used to denote someone who lived by the river, or perhaps was in a profession related to fishing, shipping, or river navigation.
In either case, the last name Degens is likely to have a strong association with valor and courage, as well as a connection to rivers and water. As such, it could be said to have both a practical as well as a symbolic meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisDegens: Where does the name Degens come from?
The surname Degens is most common in Germany today. According to an analysis conducted by Forebears, a genealogy publication, Degens is the 32,665th most common surname in Germany. Degens is also a relatively common surname in Belgium, with around 2,500 people bearing it.
Degens is thought to be a German or Germanic occupational surname which originated in the 4th or 5th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word “degan”, which means “servant” or “farmer”. Degens has been a family name in Southwest Germany and Switzerland since the Middle Ages.
The name Degens is also found in places such as the US, South Africa, Canada, and the Netherlands. In the US, the name is most commonly found in Wisconsin, where according to US Censuses it is the 589th most frequently occurring surname. It is also relatively common in the Netherlands, where it ranks as the 1,868th most common surname.
Overall, the surname Degens is most commonly found in Germany. However, it is also relatively frequent in a number of other countries, such as the US, Canada, and Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Degens
The surname Degens is derived from two different origins. The first origin dates to Germany, where the name was derived from a personal name, Degen, who was mentioned in Theodoric the Great’s court in the 6th century. The second origin is Dutch, where the name was derived from the Old Dutch word daga, meaning ‘day’. Variants of the surname Degens include DeGens, deGens, Degen, Degens and De gen.
Similar spellings for the surname Degens include Degens, Deagons, Degons, Degaines, Degenes and Degeness. These surnames have their own distinct origins and histories, although they have evolved from the same general root surname.
Surnames of the same origin as Degens include Degari, Dege, Degert, Degler, Degman, Dekeerle and De keerle. These surnames have a Dutch origin and were commonly found in Holland.
The surname Degens is a rather unique name, as it has two distinct origins, one from Germany and one from the Netherlands. In addition, the name has many different variants and similar spellings. The many unique spellings of this surname make it easy to recognise and identify those who have it.
Famous people with the name Degens
- Joseph DeGens: a Belgian knight, landlord and politician who served multiple terms in the Belgian Senate between 1846-1879.
- Dr Hans F. DeGens: a renowned eco-archaeologist and professor of prehistoric archaeology at Kiel University in Germany.
- Tony DeGens: an American artist known for his ‘Earth & Sky’ series of photographs of landscapes.
- Frank DeGens: a German footballer who played in the 1980's.
- Ernst DeGens: a German chess master who finish in 2nd place at the 1921 German Chess Championship.
- Jim DeGens: a British artist and sculptor born in London in 1963.
- Liesl DeGens: a Dutch gymnast who won a bronze medal at the 1951 European Championships in individual all-around.
- Ralph DeGens: an American actor, best known for his roles in various television series such as 'Sanford and Son' and 'The Jeffersons'.
- John DeGens: a Canadian sculptor and prize-winning medalist whose works were exhibited at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.
- Gregory DeGens: an American sound designer best known for working on many Hollywood films such as 'Blade Runner 2049' and 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'.