Danish Last Names: 53 Fascinating Surnames, Meanings, and Origins
Ever wondered why half of Denmark seems to be called Jensen or Nielsen? Step into a Danish phone book, and it feels like page after page of the same endings. For centuries, Danes used a patronymic system. In this system, a child’s surname came from the father’s first name plus “-sen” for son or “-datter” for daughter. Lars’s boy became Larsen, his girl Larsdatter. In 1828, Denmark made surnames fixed, freezing patronymics into family names that survive today.
In this guide, we’ll dig deep into the meaning and origins of Danish last names. You’ll see the 21 most common surnames, discover the rare ones that break the “-sen” mold. We will also learn how royal families and emigrants shaped naming traditions. Along the way, you’ll get stats from Statistics Denmark and a few surprising facts (like why Møller is the biggest non-patronymic surname). By the end, you won’t just know what these names mean. Instead, you’ll understand the world they came from.
21 Most Common Danish Last Names (With Meanings)
According to Statistics Denmark, about one-third of the population carries one of the top 10 last names. It’s not random by the way. It’s the frozen echo of the patronymic system, where each child once took their father’s first name with “-sen.”
Here’s a look at the 21 most common Danish surnames with their literal meanings and approximate counts:
| Rank | Surname | Meaning | Approx. Bearers* |
| 1 | Nielsen | Son of Niels (Nicholas) | ~236,000 |
| 2 | Jensen | Son of Jens (John) | ~233,000 |
| 3 | Hansen | Son of Hans (Johannes) | ~198,000 |
| 4 | Pedersen | Son of Peder (Peter) | ~140,000 |
| 5 | Andersen | Son of Anders (Andrew) | ~135,000 |
| 6 | Christensen | Son of Christen (Christian) | ~115,000 |
| 7 | Larsen | Son of Lars (Laurentius) | ~110,000 |
| 8 | Sørensen | Son of Søren (Severinus) | ~108,000 |
| 9 | Rasmussen | Son of Rasmus (Erasmus) | ~94,000 |
| 10 | Jørgensen | Son of Jørgen (George) | ~91,000 |
| 11 | Petersen | Son of Peter | ~86,000 |
| 12 | Madsen | Son of Mads (Matthew) | ~83,000 |
| 13 | Kristensen | Son of Kristen/Christian | ~80,000 |
| 14 | Olsen | Son of Ole | ~76,000 |
| 15 | Thomsen | Son of Thomas | ~70,000 |
| 16 | Christiansen | Son of Christian | ~68,000 |
| 17 | Poulsen | Son of Poul (Paul) | ~65,000 |
| 18 | Johansen | Son of Johan (John) | ~62,000 |
| 19 | Møller | Occupational: miller | ~60,000 |
| 20 | Mortensen | Son of Morten (Martin) | ~58,000 |
| 21 | Knudsen | Son of Knud (Canute) | ~55,000 |
*Numbers approximate, based on official data from Statistics Denmark.
17 Non-Patronymic Danish Surnames and Their Origins
Not every Dane carries a “-sen.” Some surnames step outside the patronymic mold, carrying echoes of work and landscape instead. These non-patronymic surnames often tell us what an ancestor did for a living or where they lived. They’re like signposts pointing back to daily life centuries ago.
Occupational Surnames
- Møller – “miller,” one of the most common non-patronymics, for those who ground grain.
- Smed – “smith,” the craftsman working with metal.
- Fisker – “fisherman,” a direct tie to Denmark’s coastal roots.
- Koch – “cook,” borrowed under German influence.
- Schmidt – “smith,” German-derived but widely adopted in Denmark.
Topographic Surnames
- Holm – “islet” or small island.
- Lund – “grove” or small wood.
- Dahl/Dal – “valley.”
- Skov – “forest.”
- Berg/Bjerg – “mountain” or hill.
- Strand – “beach” or shore.
- Eng – “meadow.”
Mini-Glossary of Common Roots
- gaard/gård – “farm” (e.g., Skovgaard = forest farm).
- vig – “bay” (e.g., Rosvig).
- by – “town” (e.g., Kirkeby = church town).
- hede – “heath” (e.g., Hedeager).
- bro – “bridge” (e.g., Broholm).
Old and Ancient Danish Last Names: 19 Forgotten Gems
Before surnames froze into place, Danes used bynames. These weren’t hereditary last names but colorful tags describing appearance, deeds, or places. Think of them as nicknames that stuck. Erik the Red was named for his fiery hair and beard. Harald Bluetooth, the king who united Denmark, carried a moniker thought to come from a discolored tooth. These weren’t “last names” as we know them but they seeded the culture that later birthed fixed surnames.
Some of these echoes survived into old Danish surnames that still appear today:
Rare and Ancient Surnames Still in Use
- Kierkegaard – “church yard,” carried by philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.
- Brodersen – son of Broder, an old Danish given name meaning “brother.”
- Aagaard – “river farm,” tied to land by water.
- Gammelgaard – “old farm,” rooted in place and history.
- Fenger – possibly linked to “catch” or “grasp,” an old occupational root.
- Blichfeldt – “shining field,” once tied to noble estates.
- Grønbech – “green stream.”
- Wulff – from the wolf, symbol of strength.
- Hviid – “white,” often referring to hair color.
- Bang – from the sound, or “field” in Old Norse.
- Abildgaard – “apple orchard farm.”
- Høeg/Høgh – “high,” used as a byname for tall men.
- Thygesen (old form) – from Thyge, meaning “Thor’s might.”
- Skovgaard – “forest farm.”
- Bjerregaard – “hill farm.”
- Holst – “man from Holstein.”
- Friis – “Frisian,” marking regional identity.
- Ravn – “raven,” a bird rich with mythological weight.
- Falk – “falcon,” another Old Norse symbol.
27 Rare and Unique Danish Last Names You Should Know
In Denmark, rare last names often point to landscapes, trades, or old bynames that never caught on widely. For emigrants, some of these names shifted abroad, taking on new spellings but keeping their old roots. Think of them as hidden gems in the Danish naming tradition; less common, but often richer in story.
Rare Danish Surnames with Historical or Regional Roots
- Kierkegaard – “churchyard,” made famous by philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.
- Bang – Old Norse for “field,” or linked to sound.
- Hviid – “white,” describing hair or complexion.
- Ravn – “raven,” a bird tied to Viking myth.
- Falk – “falcon,” symbol of strength and nobility.
- Wulff – from “wolf,” another animal-based name.
- Friis – “Frisian,” pointing to regional identity.
- Holst – “man from Holstein” (north Germany).
- Grønbech – “green stream.”
- Abildgaard – “apple orchard farm.”
- Blichfeldt – “bright field,” often tied to estates.
- Aagaard – “river farm,” rooted in place names.
- Skovgaard – “forest farm.”
- Bjerregaard – “hill farm.”
- Gammelgaard – “old farm.”
Occupational Surnames That Stayed Rare
- Fenger – possibly “catcher” or “one who grasps.”
- Koch – “cook,” more common under German influence.
- Munthe – from Middle Low German for “mouth,” linked to tolls or passage points.
- Fabricius – Latin for “smith” or craftsman.
- Schultz – “constable,” an imported German occupational name.
Diaspora Variants and Adaptations
- Møller → Moeller / Miller – adapted for English speakers.
- Sørensen → Sorensen / Sorenson – dropping the Danish letter ø.
- Jørgensen → Jorgensen – anglicized spelling.
- Høeg → Hoegh – simplified in records abroad.
- Bæk → Baek / Beck – meaning “stream,” reshaped for easier spelling.
- Laursen → Lawson – transformed in English-speaking countries.
- Knudsen → Knutson – common among emigrants to America.
31 Cool Danish Last Names for Writers and Gamers
Some Danish last names simply look and sound cool. They carry the feel of windswept coasts, Viking sagas, and quiet forests. For writers, role-players, or world-builders, these names are ready-made character hooks as they set a mood.
31 Aesthetic Danish Surnames with Meanings
- Ravn – raven, symbol of wisdom in Norse myth.
- Falk – falcon, sharp and swift.
- Storm – storm, fierce and untamed.
- Bang – Old Norse “field,” also sounds explosive.
- Hviid – “white,” ghostly and mysterious.
- Mørk – “dark,” perfect for brooding characters.
- Skov – forest, earthy and rooted.
- Lund – grove, calm and poetic.
- Holm – small island, tied to solitude.
- Dahl – valley, soft and lyrical.
- Berg/Bjerg – mountain, strong and solid.
- Friis – Frisian, a name with regional pride.
- Wulff – wolf, primal and powerful.
- Kirkegaard – churchyard, philosophical and haunting.
- Abildgaard – apple orchard farm, pastoral.
- Grønbech – green stream, fresh and flowing.
- Nørgaard – north farm, directional and place-based.
- Engberg – meadow hill, light and scenic.
- Vang – field or plain, simple and strong.
- Blichfeldt – bright field, noble sounding.
- Laustsen – son of Laust, sharp and uncommon.
- Thygesen – son of Thyge, rooted in “Thor’s might.”
- Fabricius – craftsman, Latin flair in Denmark.
- Hedeager – heath field, rustic.
- Broholm – bridge island, linked to place.
- Sorensen/Sørensen – son of Søren, a classic but with mystique abroad.
- Hoegh/Høeg – “high,” lofty and rare.
- Seidenfaden – silk thread, elegant and delicate.
- Skytte – archer, martial tone.
- Bonde – farmer, humble but proud.
- Stormholt – storm grove, modern compound with dramatic flair.
Tips for Writers and Gamers
- Tie the name to character traits. A warrior might be Ravn or Skytte; a philosopher could carry Kierkegaard.
- Use geography. Names like Holm, Lund, and Dahl instantly place a character in a natural landscape.
- Mix old and new. Compounds like Stormholt or Skovgaard feel authentic while sparking imagination.
- Check for authenticity. Tools like Nordic Names or Statistics Denmark help ensure you’re not making up something that breaks the cultural rhythm.
Danish Royal Family Last Names: Do Royals Even Have One?
Here’s the twist: the Danish royal family doesn’t actually use a last name the way ordinary Danes do. Royals in Denmark are identified by their titles and not by surnames. If you scan official documents, you’ll see them listed simply as “of Denmark.”
The current dynasty belongs to the House of Glücksburg, a branch of the larger House of Oldenburg. It’s a German-rooted royal house that has provided monarchs not only for Denmark but also for Norway and Greece. Yet “Glücksburg” isn’t something you’d see used in everyday Danish contexts.
Take Queen Margrethe II—she’s not “Margrethe Glücksburg” but “Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark.” Her son is Crown Prince Frederik, never “Frederik Glücksburg.” Titles carry the weight of identity; surnames would feel almost ordinary.
15 Common Danish American Last Names and Their Transformations
When Danes crossed the Atlantic in the 19th and early 20th centuries, their names often changed at Ellis Island. Clerks simplified spellings, dropped special letters, or swapped “-sen” for the more familiar “-son.” Over time, these shifts created new Americanized versions of old Danish names.
Here are 15 examples of how surnames transformed in the U.S.:
| Original Danish | Americanized Form | Meaning |
| Sørensen | Sorensen / Sorenson | Son of Søren (Severinus) |
| Jørgensen | Jorgensen | Son of Jørgen (George) |
| Møller | Moeller / Miller | Miller (occupation) |
| Nielsen | Nelson | Son of Niels (Nicholas) |
| Andersen | Anderson | Son of Anders (Andrew) |
| Pedersen | Peterson | Son of Peder (Peter) |
| Christensen | Christenson | Son of Christen |
| Larsen | Larson | Son of Lars (Laurence) |
| Hansen | Hanson | Son of Hans (Johannes) |
| Knudsen | Knutson | Son of Knud (Canute) |
| Johansen | Johanson | Son of Johan (John) |
| Olsen | Olson | Son of Ole |
| Poulsen | Paulson | Son of Poul (Paul) |
| Thomsen | Thompson | Son of Thomas |
| Baek / Bæk | Beck | “Brook” or stream |
The patterns are clear:
- ø → o (Sørensen → Sorensen).
- æ → ae (Bæk → Baek).
- -sen → -son (Larsen → Larson).
Related Article: American Last Names: Origins, Trends & 137 Examples
Pronouncing Danish Last Names: 11 Tips for Beginners
Danish surnames can look straightforward until you try saying them aloud. Letters twist, vowels shift, and the sound often feels softer than the spelling suggests. The trick is to think of Danish as a language that hums between sounds rather than hitting them hard. Here are 11 tips to help you pronounce common last names without tripping.
1. J = “Y.”
Jørgensen is pronounced like YUR-gen-sen, not “JOR-gen-sen.”
2. Ø = “UR” or “UH.”
Sørensen sounds like SUR-en-sen.
3. Æ = “AE” as in “cat.”
Bæk is close to Baek, meaning brook or stream.
4. Å = “AW” or “O.”
Ågård becomes AW-gor.
5. G can be soft.
Before “e” or “i,” it sounds almost like a “y.” Jørgensen’s middle syllable is softened, not a hard “g.”
6. D can vanish.
In some words, “d” is barely touched. Hviid sounds more like Vee than “Hvid.”
7. Double vowels lengthen the sound.
Møller is MUR-ler, with the “ø” stretched.
8. Stress the first syllable.
Most Danish surnames emphasize the start: AND-ersen, HAN-sen, NI-el-sen.
9. R can be throaty.
Danish “r” sits at the back of the throat, softer than the English version.
10. Final -sen is light.
Think of it as “sn” rather than “sen.” Hansen becomes HAN-sn.
11. Practice with rhythm.
Say a few names in sequence: Nielsen, Jensen, Hansen. They flow almost like a chant when said properly.
Quick Pronunciation Table
| Danish Letter | Common Sound | Example |
| J | Y | Jørgensen → YUR-gen-sen |
| Ø | UR/UH | Sørensen → SUR-en-sen |
| Æ | AE (cat) | Bæk → Baek |
| Å | AW/O | Ågård → AW-gor |
| G (before e/i) | Soft Y | Jørgen → YUR-yen |
| D | Silent/soft | Hviid → Vee |
Danish Last Names A–Z: 24 Examples by Letter
Danish surnames can feel like a sea of -sen endings, but when you sort them alphabetically, patterns emerge. Some letters dominate, like J and S, while others hide rarer gems. Think of this as a quick surname atlas: each entry points to a family’s origin, faith, or trade.
Danish Last Names Starting With K
- Kristensen – son of Kristen/Christian, rooted in devotion to Christ.
- Knudsen – son of Knud (Canute), tied to royal Danish history.
- Kirkegaard – “church yard,” made famous by philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.
- Kjær – from Old Norse, meaning “dear” or “meadow.”
- Koch – “cook,” imported via German influence.
- Kaas – noble surname, sometimes linked to chalk or limestone areas.
- Kragh – “crow,” a nature-based byname.
- Krogh – “corner” or “bend,” tied to farm names.
Danish Last Names Starting With S
- Sørensen – son of Søren (Severinus).
- Simonsen – son of Simon.
- Skovgaard – “forest farm,” a place-rooted surname.
- Storm – literally “storm,” dramatic and bold.
- Schmidt – “smith,” borrowed from German.
- Seidenfaden – “silk thread,” rare and elegant.
- Steen – “stone,” often used as both a surname and given name.
- Stærk – “strong,” an old byname reflecting physical power.
Danish Last Names Starting With J
- Jensen – son of Jens (John), one of the most common surnames in Denmark.
- Jørgensen – son of Jørgen (George).
- Johansen – son of Johan (John).
- Jespersen – son of Jesper (Casper).
- Juhl – “yule” or Christmas, festive roots.
- Jelling – tied to the town of Jelling, historic seat of Danish kings.
- Jantzen – variant of Jansen, son of Jan.
- Juul – meaning “wheel” or “yule,” also tied to noble families.
Danish Last Names A–Z: More Examples by Letter
Not all Danish surnames start with J, K, or S. Other letters hide families tied to places, trades, and even myths. Here’s a continuation through the alphabet.
Danish Last Names Starting With B
- Bang – Old Norse “field,” also linked to sound.
- Bjerregaard – “hill farm,” tied to rural estates.
- Bruun – “brown,” often a descriptive byname.
- Basse – “boar,” an old animal-based name.
- Brodersen – son of Broder (“brother”).
- Bach – “brook” or stream, common across northern Europe.
- Bundgaard – “bottom farm,” farm at a low point.
- Blichfeldt – “bright field,” noble origins.
Danish Last Names Starting With C
- Carlsen – son of Carl (Charles).
- Christensen – son of Christen (Christian).
- Clausen – son of Claus (Nicholas).
- Collin – historically a Jewish-Danish surname tied to merchants.
- Caspersen – son of Casper.
- Corneliussen – son of Cornelius, rare.
- Christoffersen – son of Christoffer (Christopher).
- Clemmensen – son of Clemens.
Danish Last Names Starting With D
- Dahl – “valley.”
- Damgaard – “farm by a pond or dam.”
- Dinesen – son of Dines (from Latin Denis).
- Due – “dove,” symbolic surname.
- Dam – “pond” or “dam.”
- Dybdahl – “deep valley.”
- Dorph – old noble surname.
- Dirksen – son of Dirk.
Danish Last Names Starting With F
- Falk – “falcon.”
- Friis – “Frisian,” regional identity.
- Fenger – possibly “catcher” or one who grasps.
- Fabricius – Latin “craftsman.”
- Foged – “bailiff” or law official.
- Fisker – “fisherman.”
- Faurschou – rare, tied to place names.
- Frost – descriptive, cold as ice.
Famous Danish Last Names in History and Culture
Some Danish surnames have traveled far beyond Denmark’s borders. They belong to writers, thinkers, scientists, and athletes. These last names are like chapters in global history.
- Andersen – Hans Christian Andersen, the fairy tale master who gave the world The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling. His surname, meaning “son of Anders,” became synonymous with storytelling itself.
- Kierkegaard – Søren Kierkegaard, the 19th-century philosopher and theologian, shaped existential thought. His name, “church yard,” is now tied to deep questions about faith and existence.
- Ørsted – Hans Christian Ørsted, the physicist who discovered electromagnetism. His surname, tied to an old farm name, now graces universities, streets, and even an energy company.
- Laudrup – Carried by Michael and Brian Laudrup, legends of Danish football. Their family name echoes across stadiums and highlights reels, representing Danish pride on the world stage.
Wrap-Up
Danish last names aren’t just labels. They are time capsules carrying echoes of farms, trades, saints, and Viking nicknames. A name like Nielsen links you to a father named Niels. Lund ties you to a grove. Møller reminds us of the millstones that fed whole villages. Each surname is both a map and a memory.
If you’re curious about your own name, explore it through Statistics Denmark’s name tool. You’ll find how many Danes share it today and where it ranks in the country’s living heritage. Stay tuned to BLN for more naming insights and history.
