Find out how popular the last name Thielsen is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Thielsen.

Thielsen, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Thielsen surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Thielsen in America

Thielsen is the 134929th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thielsen surname appeared 115 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Thielsen.

The history of the last name Thielsen

The surname Thielsen is predominantly of Danish origin, traceable back to the Scandinavian countries, particularly Denmark. It is believed to have originated around the early medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th or 13th century. The name Thielsen derives from the given name Thiel, which itself is a diminutive form of the name Theobald, a Germanic name meaning "bold people" or "people's prince". The suffix -sen signifies "son of", indicating patronymic origins typical of Scandinavian naming conventions.

The use of patronymic surnames was widespread in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries during the medieval period. Thiel, as a root name, derived from the Old High German elements "theud", meaning "people", and "bald", meaning "bold" or "brave". These elements combine to indicate someone of notable courage or leadership within the community. Variations of this surname are spelled as Tielsen, Thiessen, Theilson, and similar derivations based on regional dialects and phonetic interpretation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Thielsen surname appears in Danish church records from the late 16th century. A prominent early example is Anders Thielsen, documented in Aalborg in 1598. The name appears in numerous parish registers, indicating a relatively common use in local communities.

In historical manuscripts, the Thielsen surname can be found in connection with significant landholding and public office, particularly in Danish municipalities. In 1651, Johan Thielsen is recorded to have served as a landholder in the Jutland region, demonstrating the family’s integration into the local aristocracy. The name Thielsen occasionally appears in the regions influenced by Danish-Norwegian union, reflecting periods of migration and settlement.

One notable individual is Jens Thielsen (1786-1847), a Danish merchant who played a role in early 19th-century trade between Denmark and the Baltic states. Another is Niels Thielsen (1825-1897), a Danish engineer known for his contributions to railway construction, specifically the development of the Danish railway network during the mid-19th century. His works were crucial in modernizing Danish transportation infrastructure.

The name Thielsen also appears in the Danish emigration records during the 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting periods of Danish immigration to North America. For instance, in 1882, Hans Christian Thielsen emigrated to the United States, subsequently playing a role in the Danish-American community in Wisconsin.

In more contemporary history, Peter Thielsen (b. 1932), a Danish author, and historian, has made significant contributions to the preservation of Danish cultural heritage. Another modern figure is Søren Thielsen (b. 1965), a Danish biochemist, known for his research in cellular biology and contributions to medical science.

Throughout its history, the Thielsen surname has reflected the cultural and social evolution within Danish society, from medieval times through periods of migration and modernization. The surname carries a legacy of courage, leadership, and significant contributions to both local and international communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thielsen

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Thielsen.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Thielsen was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Thielsen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Thielsen, please contact us.

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