Surname Sohns - Meaning and Origin
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Sohns: What does the surname Sohns mean?
The last name Sohns is of German origin. It was traditionally an occupational name for people who worked with soured or fermented milk, such as buttermakers and cheese makers, as the German word "sohn" translates to mean "son" or "unborn". A derivation of this name is also believed to come from the German word "senn", which means herdsman or animal keeper, and was often given to those who owned large livestock which was used to provide the products that made up the dairy industry.
The Sohns surname has become more widespread throughout the world, with people bearing the name now living in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and across Europe. As the surname has spread, its literal meaning has been lost, and instead it has largely been remembered as a name marking an individual's German heritage and ancestry.
The Sohns name is still popular today, with numerous people holding this surname. As a result, many people have chosen to use this name as a middle name in order to honour their German ancestry and remember the humble occupational roots of the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisSohns: Where does the name Sohns come from?
The last name Sohns is of German origin, and is still most commonly found in certain regions of Germany today. It derives from the German words "sohn" and "sohns", which mean "son" and "sons", respectively. It was popular among ancestors who had several sons, or who were looking to distinguish their sons from their own fathers by taking the last name.
In the United States, the last name Sohns is found mainly in the Upper Midwest and Midwest regions, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. It is also found in small amounts in other states with a significant German-American population, such as Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
In Canada, the last name Sohns is most common in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. It is highly unlikely that this surname will be found outside of these provinces, as the majority of German immigrants who settled in Canada during the 19th and early 20th century mainly settled in the provinces previously listed.
In Germany, the last name Sohns is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. It is also common in Germany’s neighboring countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and Poland.
Given the regional clustering of Sohns in both the United States and Canada, it can be assumed that this surname is likely to remain concentrated in these specific areas for some time.
Variations of the surname Sohns
The surname Sohns derives from the Middle High German term "Zunne", meaning "son". It is a patronymic name, formed by adding the suffix "-s" to the personal name "Zun". Patronymic surnames are those names that are derived from the personal name of the father of the original bearer.
Variations of the name Sohns include: Sohn, Sonn, Sonns, Sones, Zion, Zon, Zohn, Zeon, Zehn, Zeonn, Zohnn, and Sohnssen.
Spellings specific to some regions that can be found include: Sohnse, Sauns, Sonse, Saune, Zunse, Soon, Sune, Soons, Zwons, and Saunce.
Surnames that share the same origin with Sohns include: Sons, Souhn, Sonnes, Soons, Sonce, Zauns, Sanz, and Sanders.
In some regions, the surname Sohns is spelled Zohns, and Zonson is sometimes used as an anglicized variation of the surname.
All in all, there is a seemingly endless array of variants and spellings of Sohns as a surname, with some clearly having the same root and origin, while others are slightly different and may merely be regionally specific. As such, discovering one's genealogical roots could prove to be a complex but rewarding endeavor.
Famous people with the name Sohns
- Fede Sohns: Uruguayan singer and guitarist
- Manu Sohns: Argentine tango singer and guitarist
- George Sohns: an Olympic swimmer
- Luca Sohns: German actor
- Jim Sohns: American political strategist and author
- Gaby Sohns: former German footballer
- Richard Sohns: German footballer
- Martin Sohns: Romanian composer
- Asher Sohns: former U.S. racing cyclist
- Lindy Sohns: American singer-songwriter and producer