Surname Henseling - Meaning and Origin

Henseling: What does the surname Henseling mean?

The last name Henseling is of Germanic origin, originating from a location in Germany. The name is derived from a combination of two words; ‘Han’ meaning “home” or “place” and ‘Seling’ meaning “a free holder of a village or estate.” A Henseling was a landholder, likely someone of noble feed.

The earliest record of the name is from 1172, when a man by the name of Ulricus Henseling was documented in the town of Lorick. Records show that the Henselings were among the upper echelons of German society, and were deeply involved in politics and the military in the late middle ages.

At the dawn of the modern era, multiple branches of the Henseling family split apart, leading to various permutations of the name. Today there are a number of spelling variations of Henseling—Hansiling, Hainseling, Hanselin, and Hainsling, among others—all of which stem from the same source.

The name Henseling has a long and varied history, and those who bear it are said to have a deep-seated sense of honor and pride. Proud Henselings have gone on to make impactful contributions in fields ranging from music to politics, providing evidence of their proud heritage.

Henseling: Where does the name Henseling come from?

The last name Henseling is a German-origin surname that is not particularly common in modern times. However, it can still be found today mostly in areas of Europe, with a notable concentration of families with the name in north-central Germany. There is evidence of Henselings in the Netherlands, England, the United States, New Zealand, and other parts of the world, although records indicate that the highest concentration of people with this name live in Europe, with Germany leading the way.

The meaning of the surname is not clear; it could possibly be derived from a given name, like Hans, or even a place name from an area that the family may have been located long ago. The first recorded mention of the name in Germany is recorded in a 1403 document belonging to a man named Henselun de Ottersleve. Since that time, it has been the name of numerous families, often for several generations.

Today, Henselings have achieved prominence and recognition in various fields. In Germany, Henselings are cultural leaders, businesspeople, politicians, artists, athletes, and more. Additionally, individuals with the last name may be found in numerous countries, often having migrated for business or professional pursuits.

Variations of the surname Henseling

The surname Henseling is of German origin, and is closely related to the surname Hanselin. Both spellings are variations of the old German word “hans” meaning “little brother” or “junior.”

Henseling is most commonly seen as the phonetic spelled version of Hanselin. It has however also been found as Hänselin, Hänseling, Hensele, Henseling, Hensel, Hennsel, Hensle, Henssel, and Henslling.

Of the various spellings, Henseling is the most common variation found in records of German genealogy. The spelling is particularly common in north Rhineland of modern Germany.

Henseling is also a common surname in the United States, and can be written in a variety of ways such as Hensley, Hunseling, Hanzelin, Henslin, and Handsell.

Gone are the days when a single spelling for surnames was the norm. Today there are regional variations, but also international variations. Globalisation has ensured that these regional and international variations will likely continue to expand. People whose surname is Henseling today, may have any one of the many variations used by their ancestors in the past.

Famous people with the name Henseling

• Dr. Sabine Henseling: a German medical doctor, researcher, and professor of internal medicine at the University of Tuebingen in Germany.
• Adrianna Henseling: a professional dancer, yoga instructor, and aerialist based out of Los Angeles.
• Bjorn Henseling: a retired Dutch field hockey player who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
• Christian Henseling: a German musician, composer, and record producer based in Berlin.
• Jonathan Henseling: a Dutch-born philosopher.
• Justyna Henseling: a Polish former competitive figure skater who competed in the 1998 Olympic Games.
• Mark Henseling: a former Major League Baseball outfielder.
• Willem Henseling: a Dutch association footballer who played for the German Bundesliga side Hamburger SV.
• Francis P Henseling: a Dutch film director, known for his films made in both the Netherlands and Poland.
• Karolina Henseling: a Polish actress, best known for her role in the 2018 comedy movie “Czasówki.”

Other surnames

Henseli