One of the questions we often get asked here at Andersen Dental Center is “It’s spelled AnderSON, right?” So, we thought we would help set the record straight with a little last-name history lesson. Here is why we are AnderSEN Dental Center, not AnderSON Dental Center.
Andersen/Anderson
The last name of Andersen and the last name Anderson both come from the same origin. They both mean “son of Anders, Andrew, Andre, Andress, Ondracek, and other name variations.”
The name “Andersen” derives from the original first name that changed into all of those versions of “Andrew” listed above. That name is “Andreas,” which means “manly.” Andreas was an apostle of Christ and was the older brother of Saint Peter. English translations of this name have turned it into “Andrew.”
Because of this, the name “Andreas” or its variations were almost exclusively names held by members of the church. However, the name gained popularity during the Crusades in the 12th century and versions of the name continue to be popular today.
Why “son” or “sen”?
There are records as far back as 350 BCE that show Europeans identifying themselves by naming their clan when they introduced themselves to a stranger. However, this was less of a name and more of a title.
As time went on and the human race grew, people began to need more specifics about to whom a person was related. The Irish were the first to actually use last names back in the 10th century and this practice spread throughout Europe. Sometimes people referred specifically to their family with their last names, and sometimes the last name just told others from which region or country a person came. Sometimes, the name chosen said the person was the “son” of a specific region or a particular person. This is where you get last names like Anderson – showing the person is the “son of Ander/Andrew.” It’s also where you get names like “Lewison,” which means the “son” of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
“Sen” was the common indication of “son” in Denmark, while “sdatter” was sometimes used to indicate that a woman was the daughter of a particular person. Therefore, Andersen is the last name most commonly given to sons of a person named Ander in Denmark.*
Where did “Anderson” come from?
Some of the oldest records of the last name “Anderson” are in Scotland. Many historians theorize that the name “Ander” or “Andrew” was so popular among Scottish people because St. Andrew is Scotland’s patron saint. In fact, legend has it that the remains of the disciple St. Andrew were brought to what is now the city of St. Andrew’s in Scotland.
In the many, many years that followed the popularity of the name “Andrew,” the spelling variations for the last name “Anderson/sen” have increased, but all are from the same origin. Spelling variations include Andison, Andersonne, Andersoun, Andirsoone, Anresoun, Androson, Andirston, Andrewson, Andreasen, and more.
However, no matter how you spell it, Andersen Dental Center will provide you and your family with the dental care you need to keep your mouth and body healthy.
References:
http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Andersen
https://www.houseofnames.com/andersen-family-crest
http://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/2015/06/09/what-your-scandinavian-name-ending-in-son-or-sen-means/
*Fun fact, Dr. Andersen’s first name is “Dane” which means, “from Denmark”.