Surname Peterhensel - Meaning and Origin

Peterhensel: What does the surname Peterhensel mean?

The last name Peterhensel is of German origin and can mean “Peter's corner” or “Peter's cornerstone.” The name may have originated as a habitation name – a name derived from the location where an individual originally lived or held land. This type of surname typically refers to a specific area within a region rather than an entire settlement.

The surname Peterhensel is likely derived from a combination of the Old High German “petar,” meaning “rock” or “stone,” and “hensel,” meaning “corner.” As such, it could have been the name given to someone from a family who owned a particular corner of land in a village or it could have been a description of a prominent family, a corner of which may have been distinguished by a large rock or stone.

The term “Peter” could also have been used to refer to a holy man or priest in medieval Germany, so the name could also refer to a person or family who had the spiritual stewardship of a corner of land and were responsible for its religious practices.

Today, the name Peterhensel is relatively uncommon and is found mostly in Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. In some cases, the spelling of the name has been altered over time, with variations such as Petherhensel or Pertherhensel.

Peterhensel: Where does the name Peterhensel come from?

The last name Peterhensel is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria. Although the spelling is not always consistent, the name is generally spelled Peterhänsel or Peterhensel. According to historical records, the last name can be traced back to the German language and is believed to have originated in the former province of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. The name Peterhensel is derived from the German word "hänsel", which means "tiny". This could suggest that the original individual with the name may have been a smaller than average person.

Today, the Peterhensel name is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada. In the U.S., it is commonly seen in Pennsylvania, New York, California, and Wisconsin. Many of those with this surname are of German descent and have German ancestry.

Interestingly, there is a small presence of the name in Russia and Serbia and this could suggest that perhaps the name was carried over there by German immigrants. This isn’t too far-fetched given the fact that those countries had strong German communities after the First and Second World Wars.

In short, the last name Peterhensel is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and other parts of Central Europe and North America. It is likely that the surname was brought to these places by German immigrants over the centuries.

Variations of the surname Peterhensel

The Peterhensel surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, each having their own unique origin and meaning. The most common variants of Peterhensel are:

1. Peterhansen– This form of the surname is an altered spelling of the German surname Peterhensel. It originated from the Middle High German "peters"(rock, stone) and "hanse"(enclosure, homestead), both of which were popular given names in the Middle Ages. The surname is thought to have been derived from an individual who lived near a rocky or stone enclosure.

2. Pieterse– This is a Dutch variant of the Peterhensel surname, and it also means 'rock, stone' in Dutch. It is believed that those with this variant of Peterhensel are likely descendants of Dutch immigrants and colonists.

3. Peterka– This surname is an amalgamation of the Middle High German "peters" (rock, stone) and the Old High German "kah" (nook, corner). It is likely derived from generations of individuals who lived in a rocky nook or corner.

4. Petersen– This surname is also derived from the Middle High German "peters," with the addition of the Old High German "sen," meaning "son of." This likely denotes that this or a similar variant was originally used to refer to the son of someone named Peter.

5. Peer– This is a shortened form of the Peterhensel surname, and is derived from the Middle High German "peters," as well as the Greek "pellos" (rock). This shorter version of the Peterhensel surname transferred to English in the medieval period.

Overall, the Peterhensel surname is one of many variants of this old Germanic name, and each of them has its own unique origin story and meaning.

Famous people with the name Peterhensel

• Robert Peterhensel: A prominent journalist, author, and lecturer on a variety of topics ranging from sociology and political science to metaphysics and spirituality.
• Charles Peterhensel: former chairman of American Media, Inc.
• Walter Peterhensel: World renowned nutritionist and health educator.
• Chester Peterhensel: Professional basketball player who played for the New Jersey Nets in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
• Barbara Peterhensel: Renowned lawyer and co-founder of The Peterhensel Law Firm.
• John Peterhensel: Founding Chairman of Japan-U.S. Business Circle.
• Sylvia Peterhensel: Tennis champion and professional Danish tennis player.
• Mary Peterhensel: Award-winning poet and story writer.
• John Jr. Peterhensel: Award-winning architect and co-founder of the Peterhensel Architectural firm in London.
• Frank Peterhensel: Professional photographer with over 50 years of experience in fashion, advertising, and editorial photography.

Other surnames

Peterhenze