Theunissen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The German surname Theunissen originated as a short form of the Roman name Antonius (the English Anthony.) It is the name of two major Christian saints, St. Anthony (ca.250-350,) who was the father of Christian monasticism, and Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), the Franciscan monk, who became the patron saint of Padua and Portugal. In granting their children holy names, medieval parents sought to reaffirm their Christian beliefs and to secure protection from the namesake. The name Tönsing is a Low German diminutive of the name Antonius, and Tönnies is a short form, as in Tönnies Alberdes, recorded in Lippe in 1571. Other German variants include Don, Ton, Thon and Dohn. The surname Theunissen, thus, comes about as a patronymic, a surname derived from the personal name of the father.

Early Origins of the Theunissen family

The surname Theunissen was first found in Westphalia and the Lower Rhineland, where the name Theunissen emerged in medieval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. The earliest mentions of the surname are Heinz Ton, who was recorded in Immenstaad in 1423, and Johann Tonsing, who was recorded in the area of Osnabröck in 1649.

Early History of the Theunissen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Theunissen research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Theunissen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Theunissen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tönnies, Tönies, Töns, Tönniges, Toenniges, Tuns, Tönsing, Tönsen, Tönnsen, Tönjes, Tönsmann, Tönsmeyer, Tönnissen, Thon, Thons, Thonissen and many more.

Early Notables of the Theunissen family

More information is included under the topic Early Theunissen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Theunissen Ranking

In Netherlands, the name Theunissen is the 273^rd most popular surname with an estimated 5,229 people with that name. 1 However, in South Africa, the name Theunissen is ranked the 826^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,408 people with that name. 2

Theunissen migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Theunissen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Cornelis Theunissen, who arrived in New York, NY in 1637 3
Aert Theunissen, who arrived in New York in 1641 3
Hermann Theunissen, who landed in New York, NY in 1654 3
Claes Theunissen, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1660 3
Jan Theunissen, who arrived in New York, NY in 1661 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Theunissen (post 1700) +

Gerald Joseph "Jerry" Theunissen (b. 1933), American vice president of Jeff Davis Bank in Jennings, Louisiana and politician, Louisiana State Senator from District 25 (1996-2008)
Michael Theunissen (1932-2015), German philosopher
Werner Theunissen (b. 1962), Swedish composer, producer and musician
Werner Theunissen (1942-2010), Dutch composer and musician
Nicolaas Theunissen (1867-1929), South African cricketer
Marthinus Wilhelminus S. Theunissen (1911-1983), South African two-time silver medalist at the 1934 British Empire Games and competitor at the 1936 Summer Olympics
James Theunissen (b. 1981), English cricketer
Corneille Henri Theunissen (1863-1918), French sculptor

Citations +

"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)