Surname Mense - Meaning and Origin
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Mense: What does the surname Mense mean?
The last name Mense is of German origin and means "manly". It is derived from the Old German word mensch, which means man.
The surname Mense is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages, when it was used to distinguish between a man and a woman. People who bore the surname were believed to be strong-minded, confident, and determined individuals.
Historically, people bearing the Mense surname have been notable for their contributions to German society in the fields of literature, science, and the arts. Notable people with the Mense surname include German theologian Gottlob Mense, German zoologist Alfred Mense, and classical architect Wilhelm Mense.
In modern times, Mense continues to be used as a surname in Germany and other countries, but is increasingly becoming a given name. It is also a popular choice for baby names due to its meaning of "manly" and connection to strong-minded people.
Order DNA origin analysisMense: Where does the name Mense come from?
The last name Mense is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the northwest region of the country. It is particularly common in the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. It ranks 28,921st in the most common last names in the world, where it's estimated that around 12,800 people currently bear the surname.
The Mense name is believed to have originated from the German words "mein," meaning "mine," and "sele," meaning "manor." It was common among noble families during the medieval era, often used in domains such as Brandenburg and Prussia. It is believed that the family's main place of residences during these times was near Berlin, in Wolfenbuettel, Altmutter, and Hirschberg.
The spelling of the name has changed over time - it was once spelled "Meyer," and also commonly spelled "Meyhens" and "Meyhens." The spelling eventually changed to the more modernized "Mense." Today, it is still a well-known name in Germany and in other German-speaking countries like Switzerland and Austria, but has also spread to other places in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Mense
Mense is a German surname that has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. In some cases, it appears in its original form, or with a variant spelling. Some spellings of the surname include Menses, Mens, Menze, Mense, and Mensey.
Variants include Menz, Minzes, Menzies, and Menzs. In addition, the surname has a few other forms, such as Mener and Mensmer, both of which do not appear to be common.
In some instances, Mense is spelled with an extra letter, such as Meense or Maense. There are also other variants related to the surname, such as the Dutch Menzes, Meins, and the English Mensen, Meissan, and Meisner.
The English surname Mens, which is often listed as an alternate spelling of Mense, has the same origin. It is derived from the Old French word mesne, which means "middle." The surname Mens is most common in the southwest of England, but variants of it appear in other parts of the country, including Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Finally, surnames related to Mense include Menter, Mensher, Menses, Meisner, Menschel, Menschinger, and Menschlin. These surnames are derived from the Middle High German root word "Mennschen," which means "human being." Some spellings and variants of Mense have disappeared over time, but it remains a popular surname in the German-speaking world.
Famous people with the name Mense
- Louis Mense (born 1994), American professional basketball player.
- Thomas Mense (born 1945), German physicist and professor of physics at the University of Bremen.
- David Mense (born 1968), former professional tennis player from Germany.
- Klaus Mense, German winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
- Steve Mense, retired professional strongman competitor from Germany.
- Richard Mense (born 1964), English former professional footballer.
- Hermann Mense (1874–1946), German artist and an important professor of painting at the Berlin College of Arts.
- Dirk Mense (born 1983), German professional cyclist.
- Markus Mense (born 1971), German professor of intercultural communication and media at the Technical University of Munich Bundeswehr.
- Horst Mense (1903-1969), German World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace.