Franzen
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Franz,” ultimately from the German form of Francis.
The #6,100 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 54,927 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Franzen is a patronymic surname built on the personal name Franz, the German short form of Francis. In this sense it originally meant “son of Franz” or more broadly “belonging to Franz.” The given name Francis ultimately goes back through Latin to the medieval name Franciscus, associated with the Franks.
History
The surname is especially common in German-speaking areas and also appears in Dutch and Scandinavian naming traditions. Like many patronymics, it became hereditary as family names stabilized from the late Middle Ages onward. In English-speaking countries it was often brought by immigrants from northern and central Europe.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same root behind Franzen also lies behind the name Francis and many related surnames across Europe.
Notable people named Franzen
- Jonathan Franzen (b. 1959)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.