Hanses

Hanses is a surname of German and Dutch origin. It is attested as a historical and contemporary family name in northern Germany and the Netherlands and among emigrant communities in North America. The form is one of several related surnames derived from the given name Hans, itself a form of Johannes, and it appears in varying spellings in regional records. Variants include Hansen and Hanssen, reflecting dialectal and orthographic differences across regions.

In genealogical and historical sources, Hanses appears in documents from the early modern period onward. Like other patronymic surnames, it became established as a hereditary family name through generations, and modern bearers may be dispersed across multiple countries due to migration. The name is relatively uncommon in contemporary usage, with no single dominant region outside its core Northern European origin.

See also Hansen (surname) for a closely related variant, and note that spelling and pronunciation of surnames can vary by country and era.