Show ContentsAhrens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The colorful history of Germany provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Ahrens family. In the medieval era, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The ancient dukedom of Saxony derived its name from the Germanic tribe name the Saxons who inhabited the territory after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Early Origins of the Ahrens family

The surname Ahrens was first found in Saxony, where the family was well established by the Middle Ages. The name originated in the central German regions as a variation of the southern German "Arndt" and the northern German "Arnold." Early records show the name in Hamburg around the year 900.

Early History of the Ahrens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ahrens research. Another 215 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1779, 1792, 1809, 1825 and 1855 are included under the topic Early Ahrens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ahrens Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ahrens, Arens, Ahrends, Ahrendt, Ahren, Aren, Ahrren, Ahrrens, Ahrenz and many more.

Early Notables of the Ahrens family

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

Ahrens Ranking

In the United States, the name Ahrens is the 3,961st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


Ahrens migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ahrens Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Christian Ahrens, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1753
  • Hans Henr Ahrens, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
  • Johann Henrich Ahrens, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
  • John Conrad Ahrens, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1773
  • August Ahrens, who arrived in America in 1780 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ahrens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Heinrich Ahrens, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 2
  • Henry Ahrens, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County Pennsylvania in 1840 2
  • C Diedreck Ahrens, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1843 2
  • Charly Ahrens, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1844 2
  • Conrad Ahrens, aged 44, who landed in Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Margaretha" 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ahrens migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ahrens Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Johann Ahrens, who settled in Canada at the age of 36 in 1783

Ahrens migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ahrens Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Heinrich Gerhard Ahrens a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "South Australian" in 1837 3

Ahrens migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ahrens Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Josephine Ahrens, (b. 1862), aged Infant, German settler from Germany travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd May 1862 4
  • Mr. Carl Franz Ahrens, (b. 1836), aged 26, German blacksmith from Germany travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd May 1862 4
  • Mrs. Doris Ahrens, (b. 1838), aged 24, German settler from Germany travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd May 1862 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Ahrens (post 1700) +

  • Lynn Ahrens (b. 1948), American musical theatre lyricist
  • Silvia Poll Ahrens (b. 1970), Central American Olympic medal swimmer
  • Joseph Ahrens (b. 1904), German organist and composer
  • Dr. Karl Ahrens (b. 1924), German prominent engineer, business leader, and politician in Hanover
  • Marlene Ahrens Ostertag (1933-2020), Chilean silver medalist in Javelin throw at the 1956 Summer Olympics
  • Chris Ahrens (b. 1952), retired American professional ice hockey defenceman
  • Edward H. Ahrens (1919-1942), Navy Cross recipient, eponym of USS Ahrens (DE-575)
  • Janette Ahrens (b. 1923), American figure skater
  • Franz Heinrich Ludolf Ahrens (1809-1881), German philologist


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SOUTH AUSTRALIAN 1837-1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837SouthAustralian.htm
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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