Where does “Sorensen” come from?
Sorensen is a Danish patronymic surname derived from Søren, itself from søn meaning "son," tracing through Old Danish sun and Proto-Germanic sunuz back to Proto-Indo-European suHnús.
Ancestry of “Sorensen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danish | Sørensen | — |
| 2 | Danish | Søren | traditionally popular in Denmark |
| 3 | Latin | Severinus | borne by several early Christian saints |
| 4 | Latin | Sevērus | severe, serious, strict, stern, stringent, austere, harsh, grave (in demeanor) |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | seɣwēros | severe |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | seǵʰwr̥ | overpowering |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | seǵʰ- | to hold; to overpower |