When inquiring into family history it is important to have a basic knowledge about surnames in Denmark, both meaning and origin, as well as the Danish naming traditions.

Unlike in England, for example, surnames were generally adopted rather late in Scandinavia. This meant that most families until the mid-1800s did not have an actual family name as we know them today. Peoble were instead named according to the patronymic naming tradition where childrens last name derived from their fathers given name with the addition of a suffix meaning 'son' or 'daughter'. This naming tradition was commenly used throughout Scandinavia at the time of surname formation so it need therefore not surprise us that many Scandinavians today carries a surname of patronymic origin; in Denmark as many 58% of the total population.

Other groups of surnames derives from nicknames, place names, or an occupation. Furthermore, over the centuries the group of native names has been added to by new names by peoble migrating from the Duchy of Holstein or brought in by immigrants from Sweden and the many German States.

In the following articles you will find more about naming traditions, meaning and origin of surnames in Denmark.