507+ Danish Last Names [With Meanings]

Danish last names, like many other European surnames, have a rich history and diverse origins.

They often reflect a person’s occupation, location, or family lineage, and can reveal insights into Danish history and culture.

In Denmark, last names were not widely used until the 19th century when a law required individuals to adopt a surname.

Prior to this, individuals were identified by their first name and their father’s name, for example, “Hans Andersen” (Hans, son of Anders).

Today, Danish last names are unique and diverse, with some commonly derived from geographic features or occupations, while others are more unique and specific to certain families.

We have many Danish surnames to share in this article.

So let’s have a look 🙂

Common Danish Last Names (Most Common Danish Last Names)

Common Danish Last Names:

• Hansen – derived from “Hans”, a variation of the name John, meaning “God is gracious”
• Jensen – derived from “Jens”, a variation of the name John, meaning “God is gracious”
• Andersen – derived from “Anders”, meaning “manly” or “warrior”
• Pedersen – derived from “Peder”, a variation of the name Peter, meaning “rock” or “stone”
• Nielsen – derived from “Niels”, a variation of the name Nicholas, meaning “victory of the people”
• Christensen – derived from “Christen”, a variation of the name Christian, meaning “follower of Christ”
• Larsen – derived from “Lars”, meaning “laurel” or “victory”
• Rasmussen – derived from “Rasmus”, meaning “beloved” or “dear”
• Møller – derived from “Mølle”, meaning “mill”
• Sørensen – derived from “Søren”, a variation of the name Severinus, meaning “stern”

Popular Danish Last Names

Popular Danish Last Names:

• Jørgensen – derived from “Jørgen”, a variation of the name George, meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker”
• Frederiksen – derived from “Frederik”, a variation of the name Frederick, meaning “peaceful ruler”
• Poulsen – derived from “Poul”, a variation of the name Paul, meaning “small” or “humble”
• Kjær – derived from “kjær”, meaning “dear” or “beloved”
• Thomsen – derived from “Thomas”, meaning “twin”
• Jakobsen – derived from “Jakob”, meaning “supplanter” or “holder of the heel”
• Madsen – derived from “Mads”, a variation of the name Matthew, meaning “gift of God”
• Søgaard – derived from “Søgård”, meaning “sea farm”
• Berg – derived from “bjerg”, meaning “mountain”
• Eriksen – derived from “Erik”, meaning “eternal ruler”

Rare & Exotic Danish Last Names

Rare & Exotic Danish Last Names:

• Leth – meaning “lethargy”
• Krogsgaard – meaning “crooked farm”
• Møllerup – meaning “mill valley”
• Bille – meaning “bill” or “ticket”
• Kierkegaard – meaning “church farm”
• Goldschmidt – meaning “gold smith”
• Krøyer – meaning “twist”
• Klint – meaning “cliff”
• Hjort – meaning “deer”
• Ryberg – meaning “rye hill”

Uncommon & Unique Danish Last Names

Uncommon & Unique Danish Last Names:

• Gudiksen – derived from “Gudik”, meaning “dear God”
• Hemmingsen – derived from “Heming”, meaning “home ruler”
• Brøgger – derived from “brøg”, meaning “smoke”
• Boesen – derived from “Boe”, meaning “to live”
• Stisen – derived from “Stig”, meaning “path” or “way”
• Tengberg – meaning “thin mountain”
• Knudsen – derived from “Knud”, meaning “bold warrior”
• Teglgaard – meaning “brick farm”
• Bøgh – derived from “bøg”, meaning “beech”
• Borg – meaning “castle” or “fortress”

Danish American Last Names

Danish American Last Names:

• Hansen
• Jensen
• Andersen
• Pedersen
• Nielsen
• Christensen
• Larsen
• Rasmussen
• Petersen
• Jorgensen

Cool Danish Last Names

Cool Danish Last Names:

• Storm – meaning “storm” or “tempest”
• Frost – meaning “frost” or “freeze”
• Lynge – meaning “lightning”
• Skytte – meaning “archer” or “marksman”
• Bjerre – meaning “little hill”
• Falk – meaning “falcon”
• Holm – meaning “island”
• Kruse – meaning “curly-haired”
• Dahl – meaning “valley” or “dale”
• Friis – meaning “free”
• Juhl – derived from “jul”, meaning “Christmas”

List of Danish Last Names

List of Danish Last Names:

• Hansen
• Jensen
• Andersen
• Pedersen
• Nielsen
• Christensen
• Larsen
• Rasmussen
• Møller
• Sørensen
• Frederiksen
• Poulsen
• Kjær
• Thomsen
• Jakobsen
• Madsen
• Søgaard
• Berg
• Eriksen
• Jørgensen
• Leth
• Krogsgaard
• Møllerup
• Bille
• Kierkegaard
• Goldschmidt
• Krøyer
• Klint
• Hjort
• Ryberg
• Gudiksen
• Hemmingsen
• Brøgger
• Boesen
• Stisen
• Tengberg
• Knudsen
• Teglgaard
• Bøgh
• Borg
• Storm
• Frost
• Lynge
• Skytte
• Bjerre
• Falk
• Holm
• Kruse
• Dahl
• Friis
• Juhl

Rich Danish Last Names

Rich Danish Last Names:

• Rosenbaum – meaning “rose tree”
• Schack – meaning “chess”
• Bache – meaning “stream”
• Fabritius – meaning “craftsman”
• Dehn – meaning “deer”
• Knuth – meaning “knot”
• Giedde – meaning “pike”
• Reedtz-Thott – meaning “reed-thatched roof”
• Foss – meaning “waterfall”
• Bernstorff – meaning “bear village”

Old Danish Last Names

Old Danish Last Names:

• Absalon
• Bagge
• Bild
• Blom
• Bock
• Bredahl
• Budde
• Clemmensen
• Dreyer
• Egeberg

Long Danish Last Names

Long Danish Last Names:

• Møller-Jensen – a combination of “Møller,” meaning “mill,” and “Jensen,” derived from “Jens,” a variation of the name John, meaning “God is gracious”
• Nielsen-Sørensen – a combination of “Nielsen,” derived from “Niels,” a variation of the name Nicholas, meaning “victory of the people,” and “Sørensen,” derived from “Søren,” a variation of the name Severinus, meaning “stern”
• Christensen-Larsen – a combination of “Christensen,” derived from “Christen,” a variation of the name Christian, meaning “follower of Christ,” and “Larsen,” derived from “Lars,” meaning “laurel” or “victory”
• Rasmussen-Pedersen – a combination of “Rasmussen,” derived from “Rasmus,” meaning “beloved” or “dear,” and “Pedersen,” derived from “Peder,” a variation of the name Peter, meaning “rock” or “stone”
• Hansen-Frederiksen – a combination of “Hansen,” derived from “Hans,” a variation of the name John, meaning “God is gracious,” and “Frederiksen,” derived from “Frederik,” a variation of the name Frederick, meaning “peaceful ruler”
• Jørgensen-Kristensen – a combination of “Jørgensen,” derived from “Jørgen,” a variation of the name George, meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker,” and “Kristensen,” derived from “Kristen,” a variation of the name Christian, meaning “follower of Christ”
• Poulsen-Madsen – a combination of “Poulsen,” derived from “Poul,” a variation of the name Paul, meaning “small” or “humble,” and “Madsen,” derived from “Mads,” a variation of the name Matthew, meaning “gift of God”
• Søgaard-Thomsen – a combination of “Søgaard,” meaning “sea farm,” and “Thomsen,” derived from “Thomas,” meaning “twin”
• Andersen-Kjær – a combination of “Andersen,” derived from “Anders,” meaning “manly” or “warrior,” and “Kjær,” derived from “kjær,” meaning “dear” or “beloved”
• Jakobsen-Møller – a combination of “Jakobsen,” derived from “Jakob,” meaning “supplanter” or “holder of the heel,” and “Møller,” derived from “Mølle,” meaning “mill”

Girl Danish Last Names [Female]

Girl Danish Last Names [Female]:

• Hansen – derived from “Hans,” a variation of the name John, meaning “God is gracious”
• Jensen – derived from “Jens,” a variation of the name John, meaning “God is gracious”
• Andersen – derived from “Anders,” meaning “manly” or “warrior”
• Pedersen – derived from “Peder,” a variation of the name Peter, meaning “rock” or “stone”
• Nielsen – derived from “Niels,” a variation of the name Nicholas, meaning “victory of the people”
• Christensen – derived from “Christen,” a variation of the name Christian, meaning “follower of Christ”
• Larsen – derived from “Lars,” meaning “laurel” or “victory”
• Rasmussen – derived from “Rasmus,” meaning “beloved” or “dear”
• Møller – derived from “Mølle,” meaning “mill”
• Sørensen – derived from “Søren,” a variation of the name Severinus, meaning “stern”

Men’s Danish Last Names [Male]

Men’s Danish Last Names [Male]:

• Frederiksen – derived from “Frederik,” a variation of the name Frederick, meaning “peaceful ruler”
• Poulsen – derived from “Poul,” a variation of the name Paul, meaning “small” or “humble”
• Kjær – derived from “kjær,” meaning “dear” or “beloved”
• Thomsen – derived from “Thomas,” meaning “twin”
• Jakobsen – derived from “Jakob,” meaning “supplanter” or “holder of the heel”
• Madsen – derived from “Mads,” a variation of the name Matthew, meaning “gift of God”
• Søgaard – derived from “Søgård,” meaning “sea farm”
• Berg – derived from “bjerg,” meaning “mountain”
• Eriksen – derived from “Erik,” meaning “eternal ruler”
• Jørgensen – derived from “Jørgen,” a variation of the name George, meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker”

Famous Danish Last Names

Famous Danish Last Names:

• Hans Christian Andersen – Danish author and poet, known for writing fairy tales such as “The Little Mermaid”
• Niels Bohr – Danish physicist and Nobel Prize winner, known for his work on atomic structure and quantum mechanics
• Lars von Trier – Danish film director, known for his provocative and controversial films such as “Breaking the Waves”
• Jørn Utzon – Danish architect, best known for designing the Sydney Opera House
• Karen Blixen – Danish author, wrote under the pen name Isak Dinesen and best known for her memoir “Out of Africa”
• H.C. Ørsted – Danish physicist and chemist, discovered electromagnetism
• Bjarke Ingels – Danish architect, known for his innovative and sustainable designs
• Caroline Wozniacki – Danish tennis player, former world No. 1 and Grand Slam champion
• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau – Danish actor, best known for his role as Jaime Lannister in “Game of Thrones”
• Brigitte Nielsen – Danish actress and model, known for her roles in films such as “Red Sonja” and “Beverly Hills Cop II”

Danish Last Names That Start With A

Danish Last Names That Start With A

• Andersen – meaning “son of Anders”
• Andreasen – meaning “son of Andreas”
• Asmussen – meaning “son of Asmus”
• Andersen-Bruce – a combination of the surnames Andersen and Bruce
• Abildgaard – meaning “apple orchard”
• Amundsen – meaning “son of Amund”
• Albrechtsen – meaning “son of Albrecht”
• Asbjørnsen – meaning “son of Asbjørn”
• Aagaard – meaning “river enclosure”
• Arnesen – meaning “son of Arne”

Danish Last Names That Start With B

Danish Last Names That Start With B

• Bach – meaning “brook”
• Bjerre – meaning “barren hill”
• Brandt – meaning “fire”
• Berg – meaning “mountain”
• Buhl – meaning “hill”
• Børgesen – meaning “son of Børge”
• Bache – meaning “son of Bach”
• Bruun – meaning “brown”
• Bundgaard – meaning “farm by the slope”
• Bech – meaning “stream”

Danish Last Names That Start With C

Danish Last Names That Start With C

• Christensen – meaning “son of Christen”
• Carstensen – meaning “son of Carsten”
• Clausen – meaning “son of Claus”
• Christoffersen – meaning “son of Christoffer”
• Clemmensen – meaning “son of Clemens”
• Christiansen – meaning “son of Christian”
• Castberg – meaning “castle hill”
• Christoffersen-Valgren – a combination of the surnames Christoffersen and Valgren
• Carlsen – meaning “son of Carl”
• Christensen-Holst – a combination of the surnames Christensen and Holst

Danish Last Names That Start With D

Danish Last Names That Start With D

• Damgaard – meaning “enclosed field by a dam”
• Dalsgaard – meaning “valley farm”
• Danielsen – meaning “son of Daniel”
• Dahl – meaning “valley”
• Damkjær – meaning “oak near the dam”
• Dideriksen – meaning “son of Diderik”
• Dreyer – meaning “turner” or “lathe worker”
• Dreier – meaning “turner” or “lathe worker”
• Due – meaning “dove”
• Dahlgaard – meaning “valley farm”

Danish Last Names That Start With E

Danish Last Names That Start With E

• Eriksen – meaning “son of Erik”
• Engholm – meaning “meadow island”
• Enevoldsen – meaning “son of Enevold”
• Espersen – meaning “son of Espe”
• Engberg – meaning “meadow hill”
• Ebbesen – meaning “son of Ebbe”
• Elkjær – meaning “elk meadow”
• Eriksen-Østergaard – a combination of the surnames Eriksen and Østergaard
• Engelbrecht – meaning “angel bright”
• Egede – meaning “oak tree”

Danish Last Names That Start With F

Danish Last Names That Start With F

• Frandsen – meaning “son of Frands”
• Frederiksen – meaning “son of Frederik”
• Fenger – meaning “catcher” or “hunter”
• Fjord – meaning “fjord”
• Fisker – meaning “fisherman”
• Fogh – meaning “mist”
• Falk – meaning “falcon”
• Frederiksen-Lindstrøm – a combination of the surnames Frederiksen and Lindstrøm
• Funch – meaning “pleasure”
• Foss – meaning “waterfall”

Danish Last Names That Start With G

Danish Last Names That Start With G

• Gregersen – meaning “son of Gregers”
• Gundersen – meaning “son of Gunder”
• Hansen – meaning “son of Hans”
• Holm – meaning “island”
• Grau – meaning “gray”
• Grundtvig – meaning “ground swell”
• Goldschmidt – meaning “goldsmith”
• Graversen – meaning “son of Graver”
• Gudmundsen – meaning “son of Gudmund”
• Gade – meaning “street”

Danish Last Names That Start With H

Danish Last Names That Start With H

• Hansen – meaning “son of Hans”
• Hald – meaning “slope”
• Holmberg – meaning “island mountain”
• Holmstrøm – meaning “island stream”
• Henriksen – meaning “son of Henrik”
• Holst – meaning “a stick”
• Henningsen – meaning “son of Henning”
• Hjort – meaning “deer”
• Hansen-Schmidt – a combination of the surnames Hansen and Schmidt
• Hoffmann – meaning “steward”

Danish Last Names That Start With I

Danish Last Names That Start With I

• Iversen – meaning “son of Iver”
• Ingerslev – meaning “Inger’s meadow”
• Isaksen – meaning “son of Isak”
• Ipsen – meaning “son of Ib”
• Ibsen – meaning “son of Ibs”
• Isaksson – meaning “son of Isak”
• Ingemann – meaning “Inger’s man”
• Isager – meaning “ice island”
• Ingvordsen – meaning “son of Ingvor”
• Ibsgaard – meaning “Ib’s farm”

Danish Last Names That Start With J

Danish Last Names That Start With J

• Jensen – meaning “son of Jens”
• Johansen – meaning “son of Johan”
• Jørgensen – meaning “son of Jørgen”
• Jacobsen – meaning “son of Jacob”
• Jansen – meaning “son of Jan”
• Jensenius – meaning “son of Jens”
• Jacobsen-Widding – a combination of the surnames Jacobsen and Widding
• Juhl – meaning “yule”
• Jæger – meaning “hunter”
• Juhl-Sørensen – a combination of the surnames Juhl and Sørensen

Danish Last Names That Start With K

Danish Last Names That Start With K

• Kristensen – meaning “son of Kristian”
• Kjær – meaning “meadow”
• Kjeldsen – meaning “son of Kjeld”
• Knudsen – meaning “son of Knud”
• Kristoffersen – meaning “son of Kristoffer”
• Kjeldgaard – meaning “Kjeld’s farm”
• Krag – meaning “raven”
• Krogsgaard – meaning “crook farm”
• Korsgaard – meaning “cross farm”
• Kierkegaard – meaning “church farm”

Danish Last Names That Start With L

Danish Last Names That Start With L

• Larsen – meaning “son of Lars”
• Lund – meaning “grove”
• Lassen – meaning “son of Lars”
• Lorenzen – meaning “son of Lorenz”
• Laursen – meaning “son of Laurits”
• Lykke – meaning “happiness”
• Lundgaard – meaning “grove farm”
• Larsen-Ryberg – a combination of the surnames Larsen and Ryberg
• Leth – meaning “lethargy”
• Løkke – meaning “meadow”

Danish Last Names That Start With M

Danish Last Names That Start With M

• Madsen – meaning “son of Mads”
• Mortensen – meaning “son of Morten”
• Mathiasen – meaning “son of Mathias”
• Meier – meaning “dairy farmer”
• Mikkelsen – meaning “son of Mikkel”
• Møller – meaning “miller”
• Marcussen – meaning “son of Marcus”
• Markussen – meaning “son of Mark”
• Malmberg – meaning “ore mountain”
• Møller-Hansen – a combination of the surnames Møller and Hansen
• Munk – meaning “monk”
• Mortensen-Sørensen – a combination of the surnames Mortensen and Sørensen

Danish Last Names That Start With N

Danish Last Names That Start With N

• Nielsen – meaning “son of Niels”
• Nissen – meaning “son of Nis”
• Nielsen-Kudsk – a combination of the surnames Nielsen and Kudsk
• Nørgaard – meaning “north farm”
• Nørregaard – meaning “north farm”
• Nørgaard-Jørgensen – a combination of the surnames Nørgaard and Jørgensen
• Nymann – meaning “new man”
• Norup – meaning “north slope”
• Nielsen-Fredriksen – a combination of the surnames Nielsen and Fredriksen
• Nygaard – meaning “new farm”

Danish Last Names That Start With O

Danish Last Names That Start With O

• Olsen – meaning “son of Ole”
• Overgaard – meaning “upper farm”
• Olesen – meaning “son of Ole”
• Oxfeldt – meaning “ox pasture”
• Olesen-Schmidt – a combination of the surnames Olesen and Schmidt
• Overgaard-Thomsen – a combination of the surnames Overgaard and Thomsen
• Ohlsen – meaning “son of Ohl”
• Olesen-Sørensen – a combination of the surnames Olesen and Sørensen
• Ovesen – meaning “son of Ove”
• Olsen-Harild – a combination of the surnames Olsen and Harild

Danish Last Names That Start With P

Danish Last Names That Start With P

• Petersen – meaning “son of Peter”
• Pedersen – meaning “son of Peder”
• Poulsen – meaning “son of Poul”
• Pedersen-Kragh – a combination of the surnames Pedersen and Kragh
• Pedersen-Lund – a combination of the surnames Pedersen and Lund
• Poulsen-Peterson – a combination of the surnames Poulsen and Peterson
• Petersen-Larsen – a combination of the surnames Petersen and Larsen
• Pedersen-Christensen – a combination of the surnames Pedersen and Christensen
• Poulsen-Hansen – a combination of the surnames Poulsen and Hansen
• Pedersen-Hansen – a combination of the surnames Pedersen and Hansen

Danish Last Names That Start With Q

Danish Last Names That Start With Q

• Quist – meaning “twig”
• Qvist – meaning “twig”
• Quistgaard – meaning “twig farm”
• Qvistgaard – meaning “twig farm”
• Quist-Hansen – a combination of the surnames Quist and Hansen
• Qvist-Hansen – a combination of the surnames Qvist and Hansen
• Quistgaard-Larsen – a combination of the surnames Quistgaard and Larsen
• Qvistgaard-Larsen – a combination of the surnames Qvistgaard and Larsen
• Quist-Jensen – a combination of the surnames Quist and Jensen

Danish Last Names That Start With R

Danish Last Names That Start With R

• Rasmussen – meaning “son of Rasmus”
• Ravn – meaning “raven”
• Rossen – meaning “son of Ross”
• Rønne – meaning “rowan”
• Riber – meaning “stream”
• Roed – meaning “red”
• Rasmussen-Lund – a combination of the surnames Rasmussen and Lund
• Ravn-Sørensen – a combination of the surnames Ravn and Sørensen
• Rossen-Larsen – a combination of the surnames Rossen and Larsen
• Rønneberg – meaning “rowan hill”

Danish Last Names That Start With S

Danish Last Names That Start With S

• Sørensen – meaning “son of Søren”
• Svendsen – meaning “son of Svend”
• Schmidt – meaning “smith”
• Skov – meaning “forest”
• Steen – meaning “stone”
• Storm – meaning “storm”
• Søndergaard – meaning “south farm”
• Sønderby – meaning “south village”
• Sørensen-Kusk – a combination of the surnames Sørensen and Kusk
• Sørensen-Lund – a combination of the surnames Sørensen and Lund

Danish Last Names That Start With T

Danish Last Names That Start With T

• Thomsen – meaning “son of Thomas”
• Thorsen – meaning “son of Thor”
• Toft – meaning “meadow”
• Tran – meaning “crane”
• Trolle – meaning “troll”
• Thomsen-Andersen – a combination of the surnames Thomsen and Andersen
• Thomsen-Jensen – a combination of the surnames Thomsen and Jensen
• Thorsen-Larsen – a combination of the surnames Thorsen and Larsen
• Tranberg – meaning “crane mountain”
• Thorsen-Schmidt – a combination of the surnames Thorsen and Schmidt

Danish Last Names That Start With U

Danish Last Names That Start With U

• Ulrich – meaning “prosperity” or “power”
• Uldall – meaning “wool valley”
• Ulrik – meaning “prosperity” or “power”
• Ullerup – meaning “Ulle’s valley”
• Uhre – meaning “watch”
• Uldbjerg – meaning “wool mountain”
• Ussing – meaning “bear cub”
• Uldall-Jensen – a combination of the surnames Uldall and Jensen
• Ulrichsen – meaning “son of Ulrich”
• Ullmann – meaning “wool man”

Danish Last Names That Start With V

Danish Last Names That Start With V

• Vestergaard – meaning “west farm”
• Vinter – meaning “winter”
• Vang – meaning “field”
• Villadsen – meaning “son of Villads”
• Vinding – meaning “windy place”
• Vinterberg – meaning “winter hill”
• Vangsgaard – meaning “field farm”
• Vestergaard-Lund – a combination of the surnames Vestergaard and Lund
• Vanggaard – meaning “field farm”
• Vibe – meaning “willow”

Danish Last Names That Start With W

Danish Last Names That Start With W

• Wulff – meaning “wolf”
• Warming – meaning “warm”
• West – meaning “west”
• Winther – meaning “winter”
• Wulff-Sørensen – a combination of the surnames Wulff and Sørensen
• Warming-Larsen – a combination of the surnames Warming and Larsen

Danish Last Names That Start With X, Y, Z

Danish Last Names That Start With X, Y, Z

• There are no common Danish last names that start with X, Y, or Z. Last names starting with these letters are likely to be of foreign origin or rare.

Some uncommon Danish last names starting with these letters include:

• Xanthopoulos – a Greek last name meaning “son of Xanthopoulos”
• Yde – meaning “wide river”
• Zaki – a last name of Arabic origin meaning “pure” or “chaste”
• Zornig – meaning “angry” or “fierce”
• Ziegler – a German last name meaning “brickmaker” or “tiler”

FAQs – Danish Last Names

Conclusion – Danish Last Names

Danish last names have a fascinating history and reveal insights into Danish culture and society.

From common last names such as Hansen and Jensen to more rare and exotic names such as Krøyer and Klint, Danish last names offer a glimpse into the diverse origins and occupations of the Danish people.

Additionally, famous Danish people with last names such as Andersen and Bohr have made significant contributions to the fields of literature and science.

Whether you have a Danish last name yourself or are simply curious about Danish culture, learning about Danish last names can be an interesting and enlightening experience.

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