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What are the most common surname prefixes or endings, for example Mc, Mac or -son?

Question #67018. Asked by crazycube.
Last updated Jun 26 2021.

dutch_frank_65
Answer has 7 votes
Currently Best Answer
dutch_frank_65
19 year member
12 replies

Answer has 7 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
In the Netherlands, this is probably the ending "son". In Dutch a son is called "zoon"
In names this changed into "sen". A few examples:
(Jan) John's son became: Jansen
(Piet) Pete's son became: Pietersen
These are the most used surnames in the Netherlands.

We do not have prefixes. We do have a lot of in-between-names which were an indication that a person was from a specific region or town. It translates into "from". In Dutch that is "van" in German "von".
In the US they often see this "van" as a prefix of the surname which is not correct.

Examples:
Jan van Vliet
Paul van Itterzon


Jun 16 2006, 6:54 AM
Gnomon
Answer has 3 votes
Gnomon
24 year member
1331 replies

Answer has 3 votes.
In Ireland, the most common prefixes are Mac or Mc meaning "son of" and "O'" meaning "grandson of".

Jun 16 2006, 8:46 AM
avatar
zbeckabee
Answer has 4 votes
zbeckabee
Moderator
19 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.
Neu is German for new: Neuman(n), Neuberger, Nieman(n), Nauman(n)."

If a name ends in -mann, -burg, -berg, lich, -stein or t(h)al, it is a likely indication that the name is German. But in certain settlement areas, these endings could also refer to Swedish and Russian Jewish backgrounds."

There are German place names ending in -burg (castle), -bruck (bridge); -furt (ford), -berg (mountain), -reuth, -rode (clearing in woods).
link http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~danecountyfamilies/genealogy/origins.html


Response last updated by gtho4 on Jun 26 2021.
Jun 16 2006, 9:31 AM
dino335
Answer has 3 votes
dino335
19 year member
79 replies

Answer has 3 votes.
My last name ends in sen. People are always misspelling it. I am of Norwegian descent(among other things). The Danes also use sen rather than son.

Jun 16 2006, 10:50 AM
avatar
zbeckabee
Answer has 5 votes
zbeckabee
Moderator
19 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 5 votes.
In honor of dino335 I offer the following:

Members of the noblilty use patronomikons as surnames. This takes the form of (name)-sen in Denmark and Norway and (name)-son in Sweden. Noble women use the suffix -datter, -dottir, or -dotter in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, respectively to indicate who their father was. Sometimes noble women keep this surname after marriage. Honorifics are "herr" for men and "fru" for women.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_family_name_etymology


Response last updated by satguru on Sep 10 2016.
Jun 16 2006, 11:08 AM
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