Show ContentsJansen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Jansen family

The surname Jansen was first found in Northampton where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Jansen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jansen research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1096, 1455, 1476, 1487, 1504, 1510, 1600 and 1624 are included under the topic Early Jansen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jansen Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Jansen are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Jansen include: Janson, Jeanson, Jansen, Jansun, Jeansen, Janssen and many more.

Early Notables of the Jansen family

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

Jansen World Ranking

In the United States, the name Jansen is the 2,445th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Jansen is ranked the 6,301st most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Jansen is the 836th popular surname with an estimated 4,708 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Jansen as 824th with 887 people. 4 Netherlands ranks Jansen as 2nd with 83,120 people. 5 South Africa ranks Jansen as 132nd with 43,478 people. 6


United States Jansen migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Jansen or a variant listed above:

Jansen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Lorenz Jansen, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1605 7
  • Michael Jansen, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1609-1664 7
  • Roeloff Jansen, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1630 7
  • Gerhart Jansen, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1632 7
  • Lyntje Jansen, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1633 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jansen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Conrad Jansen, who settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1709
  • Wilhelm Jansen, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1796
  • Johann Arnold Jansen, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1796 7
  • Wilhelm Jansen, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1796 7
Jansen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Julian Jansen, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806 7
  • Christ Jansen, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 7
  • Bernard Jansen, aged 32, who landed in Missouri in 1846 7
  • Bernh Matthias Jos Jansen, who arrived in America in 1847 7
  • Daniel Jansen, aged 38, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Jansen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jansen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Abraham Jansen, who landed in Manitoba in 1879

New Zealand Jansen 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:

Jansen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Jansen, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Flying Mist" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 25th August 1862, the boat sank whilst waiting in port. 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Jansen (post 1700) +

  • Dan Jansen (b. 1965), American speed skater who won a gold medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics
  • Rudolf Jansen (1940-2024), Dutch pianist known for chamber music
  • Ernst Nicolaas Herman Jansen (1945-2023), Dutch neurologist, later known as Ernst Jansen Steur
  • Per Johan Jansen (1941-2022), Norwegian stage and film actor
  • Wilhelmus Marinus Antonius "Wim" Jansen (1946-2022), Dutch professional football player and manager from Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • Birger Jansen (1948-2016), Norwegian ice hockey player at the Winter Olympics in Sapporo in 1972
  • Johannes "Hans" J. G. Jansen (1942-2015), Dutch politician, Member of the European Parliament (2014-2015)
  • Ernest George Jansen (1881-1959), British administrator in South Africa, served as the governor-general of the Union of South Africa between 1951 and 1959
  • Johannes Henricus Gerardus Jansen (1868-1936), Dutch, a former archbishop of Uthrect and Roman Catholic Primate of the Netherlands
  • Floor Jansen (b. 1981), Dutch singer
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Jansen +

  • The Cornelius Jansen Family History by Betty Ann Miller.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  7. 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)
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook