Engelsen

Engelsen is a surname of Scandinavian origin, formed as a patronymic meaning “son of Engel.” The suffix -sen is common in Danish and Norwegian naming traditions and indicates descent from a person named Engel, a given name derived from Germanic roots that are often associated with the word for “angel” or “grace.” As a result, Engelsen is typically interpreted as indicating family lineage from an ancestor named Engel.

Geographically, Engelsen is most commonly found in Norway and Denmark, where patronymic naming practices historical ly produced fixed family surnames. The name also occurs in the Netherlands and among Dutch-speaking communities, reflecting broader Dutch patronymic patterns. Through migration and diaspora, bearers of the surname can be found in North America and other regions, especially in communities with Scandinavian ancestry.

In historical records, Engelsen can appear in various spellings and may have a number of regional variants that reflect local linguistic practices. Like other patronymic names, its use broadened from a simple descriptor of an individual to a hereditary family name over time, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries when many Scandinavian societies formalized surnames. Today, Engelsen persists as a family name across different countries, carried by individuals in diverse fields and communities. There are notable people with the surname Engelsen in public life, sports, and academia, reflecting its broad geographic and cultural reach.