Surname Söhn - Meaning and Origin
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The Historical Journey of Söhn: Unraveling My Ancestry Through iGENEA DNA Test
After understanding my ancestry through an eye-opening iGenia DNA test, I am more than my given name. My surname 'Söhn', embodies a rich historical and cultural lineage dating back to the Middle Ages, revealing the stories of thriving societies and evolutionary shifts borne by my ancestors at the core of Central Europe.
Q. Söhn
read moreSöhn: What does the surname Söhn mean?
The last name Söhn is of German origin and is thought to derive from the Middle High German word 'sahe', which was used as a term of endearment and means 'son'. It has been used as both a given name and a surname over the centuries and was reinforced by Johann von Söhne, a crusader knight who was one of the first to bear this surname.
The name Söhn evolved from the Middle High German word ‘sohn' and is a patronymic surname, meaning it was derived from the name of the bearer's father.
In the German language, the addition of the umlaut, or double-dot, to a word can change the pronunciation and meaning. In the case of Söhn, the double-dot signifies a shift in the sound so that the 'o' is pronounced similar to a 'e' rather than an 'o'.
The most common meaning attributed to the name Söhn is 'son'; this fits with the fact that it was derived from an endearment. However, some argue that the name actually originates from a nickname derived from a personal trait, such as physical strength or a nickname given to a blacksmith.
In North America and throughout Europe, variations of the surname Söhn are found in many countries including England, France, Austria and Switzerland. As the world has become more globalized, so has the name. It has become particularly common to find Söhns in the United States and Canada as immigrants from Germany brought the name with them.
At the end of the day, the last name Söhn has no single, set meaning; what it may signify to one person may be different to another. It has a rich history of being used for generations, embodying the German values of family and tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisSöhn: Where does the name Söhn come from?
The last name Söhn is most commonly found in Central and Northern Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Historically, the name originated in the region of Germany known as the Rhineland.
In Germany, the Söhn family can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where records indicate they were found in the city of Odenkirchen and the village of Westerstede. More recent records indicate that members of the Söhn family had spread across Germany, with the highest concentrations in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Nuremberg.
In Austria, the Söhn surname appears to have been most common in the region of Upper Austria, though more scattered records can be found in other parts of the country. The small bare mountain village of Wimmer in the Tyrol region bears the highest concentration of the Söhn surname.
In Switzerland, the Söhn surname is found at a much lower rate. Most records indicate the name was given to a small population living in the city of Zurich.
Today, records indicate the Söhn surname still has a large concentration in Germany, but highest concentrations can now be found in the United States and United Kingdom. The surname has spread across America, particularly in the major metropolises of New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In the United Kingdom, the surname is most common in the greater London area.
Variations of the surname Söhn
Söhn is a German surname with multiple variants spelled differently across various regions. The most common variants are Soen, Soehn, Söen, Soehne, Söhn, Soehnl, Seuhn, Seuhne, and Seuhnl. Other versions such as Soehnle and Söhner are less common.
The variants of the surname Söhn are mainly connected with variants of the German spoken language in different regions. During medieval times, most families adopted one spelling to differentiate them from other families and then passed this version of the name down through the generations. Therefore any given Söhn family may have a different spelling of the surname, depending on where they lived.
In the Netherlands, the name is often spelled Soen, Soehn, or Söen, though Soehne and Soehnl are also common spellings. In Austria, the name is usually spelled Söhn, but occasionally Soehn or Soehnl may be used. In Switzerland, it is typically spelled as Soehnl or Seuhnl, but rarely as Söhn or Seuhn. In Northern Germany, the surname is often spelled Söhn or Soehn and in Southern Germany it is usually spelled Soehne, Soehnl or Seuhne.
The surnames Söhner, Soehnle and Soehnlen are all very rare variants of the Söhn name. These names are mainly found in more remote areas of Germany where the dialect and pronunciation requires the additional letters.
Overall, the variants of the Söhn surname are extensive, but mainly relate to regional variations in the German spoken language throughout Europe.
Famous people with the name Söhn
- Marlene Söhn: She is an award-winning scientist and professor for biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics at the University of Freiburg in Germany.
- Max Söhn: He is a lawyer of media and entertainment law in Berlin, specializing in copyright issues.
- Paul Söhn: He is a German-Italian film director and producer, who has been nominated several times for major European prizes.
- Heinrich Söhn: He was a famous German Afro-Uruguayan autodidact historian and professor at the University of Berlin.
- Leo Söhn: He is a neuropsychologist and psychotherapist, and was a student of Sigmund Freud.
- Franziska Söhn: She is a German journalist, TV-presenter and magazine-author.
- Uwe Söhn: A German theologian and nonfiction author of Die Kompassrose, about the origin of religion.
- Jakob Söhn: A German novelist and poet, author of Das grüne Himmelbett, a novel about female emancipation.
- Erica Söhn: Her artwork deals mainly with recognizable patterns and structures and is exhibited in different galleries in Europe.
- Bettina Söhn: A German biochemist and professor at the University of Bochum.