Johansen

Johansen is a surname of Scandinavian origin, particularly common in Norway and Denmark. It is derived from the given name Johannes, a Scandinavian form of John, which itself comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." The "-sen" suffix indicates "son of," making Johansen literally "son of Johannes."

The surname is widespread, with many notable individuals bearing the name across various fields. In sports, Norwegian footballer Tore André Flo, whose birth name is Tore André Johansen, is a well-known figure. In literature, the Danish author Helle Helle's birth name is Helle Merete Johansen. In the academic and scientific community, the concept of the Johansen test, a statistical test for cointegration, is named after Norwegian econometrician Lars Peter Hansen and his colleague, the economist Sverre Johansen.

The prevalence of the surname reflects historical naming conventions in Scandinavia, where patronymic surnames were common. As populations grew and spread, these patronymics became fixed family names. Variations of Johansen exist, including Johansen, Johanssen, and Johannessen, often reflecting regional spelling differences or slight historical shifts in pronunciation. The name continues to be a common and recognizable identifier in Scandinavian countries and among diaspora populations worldwide.