Surname Detlevsen - Meaning and Origin

Detlevsen: What does the surname Detlevsen mean?

The last name Detlevsen is of Scandinavian origin and the name is derived from the personal name 'Ditlev', which is a combination of two old Norse elements, 'Dít' and 'Leifr'. The first element of the name 'Dít' represents a 'morally sound person' or an individual of 'good reasoning'. The latter suffix, 'Leifr', translates to 'inheritance'.

As a result, the full name 'Detlevsen' signifies a person who isally sound, of good reasoning, and likely to inherit a good legacy. Historically, the name 'Detlevsen' likely came from early Viking settlers in the Scandinavian region, but today it is a popular surname in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Another interpretation of the last name Detlevsen is that it came from 'det levende', which translates to 'the living one' in Norwegian and Danish. This would hint that it originated as a name to signify someone staying alive and in the land of the living.

Overall, the last name Detlevsen is a meaningful name, with its roots originating in Scandinavian culture. It likely carries a connotation of good intention, honourable heritage, and keeping alive the legacy of the past.

Detlevsen: Where does the name Detlevsen come from?

The last name Detlevsen is predominantly found in Denmark and Norway. It’s a patronymic surname derived from the masculine given name Detlef, which means “people’s peace”.

In Denmark, records of the name Detlevsen date back to the late 1700s/early 1800s. Many of those bearing this surname were found in the Northern Jutland region of the country, but the name has since spread throughout Denmark.

In recent decades, the Detlevsen surname has continued to grow and become increasingly widespread. A 2003 study revealed that the Detlevsen name was particularly common in the eastern Danish regions of Sealand and Själland, as well as in the northwestern region of Jutland.

In Norway, the surname is still common and is concentrated mainly in a few areas: south-western Norway, north-eastern Norway, and Lofoten.

The Detlevsen name is most likely derived from two separate Old Scandinavian masculine given names, Detlef and Beinslav. Detlef means “people’s peace” while Beinslav may have meant “son of a temple” or “son of a thegn”.

Today, the last name Detlevsen remains common in both Denmark and Norway as well as in other Scandinavian countries. The name is also occasionally found outside of Scandinavia, mostly among those of Scandinavian ancestry.

Variations of the surname Detlevsen

Detlevsen is a Danish patronymic surname which means ‘son of Detlev’. It is a spelling variant of the more commonly seen surname Detlevson and its variant Spellings include Detlevsson, Detlefsen, and Deitlevson. The Dutch spelling Detlevsz is also seen.

Other surname variants of Detlevsen include Derleson, Detlefson, Dedelak, Delestel, Delestel, Deligson, Dellevsen, Detigston, Detlcon, Detlevcone, Detleveson, Detloffson, Detloson, Detloson, Deutchloff, and Ditlebe.

In Sweden, the detached suffix -son was very popular, so the surname Deitimate is the Swedish variation of Detlevsen.

Changes in spelling of many surnames occurred over time due to the influence of dialects, illiteracy, and migration. It is assumed that the variants of Detlevsen are the result of such changes which all ultimately stem back to Detlev.

Detlevsen is a very unique surname, as fewer than 1 in 1 million people have it as their last name. It is most commonly found in Denmark, followed by Germany, Sweden, and Norway.

Overall, there are many variants of the surname Detlevsen. Despite the variations, all of these spellings and surnames appearing in the various countries have the same origin and ultimately stem back to Detlev.

Famous people with the name Detlevsen

• Mads Detlevsen: Danish actor starring in a number of popular television shows
• Thora Marie Detlevsen: Danish singer and former Eurovision Song Contest contestant
• Peter Detlevsen: Danish former handball player
• Marina Detlevsen: Danish psychologist and educational researcher
• Frederik Detlevsen: Danish former chess player and Grandmaster
• Jens Christian Detlevsen: Danish professional football player
• Signe Detlevsen: Danish sprint canoeist
• Henrik Detlevsen: Danish former professional soccer player
• Jannik Detlevsen: Danish musician, actor, and director
• Louise Detlevsen: Danish actress and theatre director

Other surnames

Detlevs