Henningsen

Henningsen is a surname of Danish and broader Germanic origin. It is a patronymic name derived from the given name Henning, a medieval form of Heinrich (Henry). The suffix -sen is common in Danish and Norwegian naming patterns, meaning “son of,” so Henningsen roughly translates to “son of Henning.”

Historically, the name is most common in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, with bearers also appearing in parts of Germany, the United States, and other regions due to migration and diaspora movements.

Notable people with the surname include Poul Henningsen (1894–1967), a Danish writer, critic, and designer renowned for his influence on Danish modernism. He is best known for designing the PH lamp series for Louis Poulsen and for the Artichoke lamp, works that helped define mid-20th-century lighting design and Danish aesthetic values. Henningsen’s multidisciplinary career spanned music, literature, architecture, and journalism, contributing to cultural debates in Denmark during his lifetime.