Surname Sohn - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Threads of Identity: A DNA Inquiry into my Ancestor Narratives

In an unexpected journey of self-rediscovery, my DNA test at iGENEA unveiled fascinating insights about my ancestors, the Sohns. This report discusses the profound influence of these revelations on my self-understanding and identity.

Z. Sohn

Sohn: What does the surname Sohn mean?

The last name Sohn is of German origin, and is derived from the word “sohn” which means “son”. It is thought to have originated as a patronymic reference to a male ancestor. In many cases, it would have been used to form the surname of a son whose father’s given name was also Sohn. The name would have been passed down from father to son, becoming a hereditary surname.

The Sohn surname can also be found in Jewish and some other cultures, often as an abbreviation of “Benjamin”. This could indicate that the family was of Jewish decent since Benjamin was a beloved figure from the Torah.

The name Sohn is quite common in many countries and regions of Europe. Sohn is one of the Twenty Most Common German Surnames, the seventh most common in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and is also listed as among the most common surnames in Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

In the United States, Sohn is still relatively uncommon. According to the 1990 US Census, it is the 16,215th most common name in the United States. However, some immigrants from Europe have carried the name to the US, and the surname has gained popularity since then.

In addition to being a surname, Sohn is also a given name, sometimes used as a first or middle name. It is often viewed as an uncommon way to honor a male ancestor, making it a meaningful and important name to carry on for generations.

Sohn: Where does the name Sohn come from?

The last name Sohn is most commonly found today in the countries of Germany and South Korea. In Germany, it ranks as the 81st most common surname, while in South Korea, it is the 57th most common. It is also present in Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and the United States in much smaller numbers.

In Germany, the Sohn surname is largely concentrated in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, and Bavaria. These states are largely located in the western, central, and south regions, respectively. Similarly, in South Korea, Sohn is mainly found in the central and western regions such as Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and Chungcheongnam-do.

The origin of the Sohn surname is uncertain, however, most sources point to two possible etymologies. The first one is the German word "sohn", meaning "son" in English, thus making the Sohn surname a patronymic moniker for a "son of" someone unnamed. The other etymology is the Korean word "son", which again means "son", making Sohn a patronymic surname for someone who was the "son of" an ancestor.

Regardless of its origin, the Sohn surname continues to be a common surname in Germany and South Korea. Its presence in other countries is scarce, but it still exists in small numbers.

Variations of the surname Sohn

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Sohn are:

• Soen

• Sohon

• Sehn

• Sahn

• Soehn

• Seon

• Sohnen

• Sen

• Son

• Soenen

• Sauen

• Soh

Sohn is an occupational surname deriving from the Middle High German word “son”, meaning a farmer or a rural inhabitant with the same name. It is also the root of many other surnames which also share the same meaning.

Some of these derivations include “Sehn” which means a person who works the land, “Sahn” which is a variation of Sohn, and “Soehn”, a spelling variant of Sohn which was used in certain regions.

Other variants and derivations include “Soen”, “Seon”, and “Sohnen”, all of which share their root with Sohn and the same meaning of “a person who works the land”. “Son” is another derivation which can either mean “son of” or a variation of Sohn, depending on which language it is used in.

Additionally, there are derivatives such as “Soenen”, “Sauen”, and “Soh”, which all share the same root and meaning as the surname Sohn.

Overall, the surname Sohn has many variants, spellings, and derivations, all of which can be traced back to the same root and meaning, and are believed to have the same origin.

Famous people with the name Sohn

• Emily Sohn: Science writer, author, and explorer
• Esther Sohn: Korean actress and singer
• Sung Kang: Korean-American actor
• Min-sik Choi: South Korean actor
• Steve Sohn: American film composer and musician
• Sun-woo Sohn: South Korean comedian
• David Sohn: Deputy Director at the Center for Democracy & Technology
• Joon Sohn: South Korean actor
• Soo-hyun Sohn: South Korean professor of sociology at Sungkyunkwan University
• Tae-hoon Sohn: South Korean actor
• Sohee Sohn: South Korean actor
• Aron Sohn: American singer-songwriter, record producer, and youtuber
• Andrew Sohn: Senior artist at Wizards of the Coast
• Sun-mi Sohn: South Korean actor
• Ricky Sohn: South Korean actor
• Taehyun Sohn: South Korean film director and screenwriter
• Hye-jin Sohn: South Korean actress
• Richard Sohn: Former comics editor at DC Comics
• Jung-eun Sohn: South Korean actress
• Felix Sohn: Korean-American actor

Other surnames

SohlSohlbachSohlerSohlmannSöhnchenSöhnelSöhngeSöhngenSöhngesSohniusSöhnleSöhnleinSöhnlinSohnsSöhnsSöhrenSöhrensSöhrnSöhrnsen