Last Name Lauritsen

The surname Lauritsen is of Danish origin. It derives from the given name Laurence, which was brought to Denmark by the Normans during the Middle Ages. The Danish form of Laurence is Lauritz or Laurits. Over time, the -sen suffix was added to indicate family lineage. This naming pattern is common in Scandinavian countries and is a reflection of their patronymic naming system.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Lauritsen

The meaning and origin of the last name Lauritsen

The surname Lauritsen is of Danish and Norwegian origin, derived from the given name Laurentius, which itself originates from the Latin Laurentius, meaning "crowned with laurels." This name was borne by several early Christian saints, including Saint Laurentius of Rome. Over time, the surname evolved as a patronymic, indicating that it belonged to the son or descendant of a man named Laurentius. In Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Norway, patronymics were common forms of surnames. The spelling variation "Lauritsen" is most likely due to phonetic changes and variations in spelling over time.

Geographical distribution of the last name Lauritsen

The surname Lauritsen is predominantly found in Scandinavian countries due to its Danish origin. It is most commonly distributed in Denmark, where it ranks among the top 200 most common last names. A significant number of people with this surname can also be found in Greenland, an autonomous territory under the Kingdom of Denmark, due to historical colonization and migration. Smaller populations of Lauritsen are present in other Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden, as well as in various Danish communities across the world, particularly in North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand, due to emigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Lauritsen

The surname Lauritsen has several variations and spellings due to differences in transliteration, regional dialects, and changes over time. Some common versions include:

1. Lauritzen - This is one of the most common variations, with the additional 'z' replacing the 's' in some cases.
2. Laursen - A variant where the 'i' in Lauritsen has been replaced with an 'o'.
3. Laursen (Danish) and Laurson (Norwegian) - These are the Danish and Norwegian translations of Lauritsen, respectively.
4. Lawrisson, Lawryson - Older or less common variants that may have originated from different English transcriptions of the original Scandinavian name.
5. Lörtsén, Löritsen - These are the Swedish translations of Lauritsen. The spelling might change depending on the Swedish dialect.
6. Lawritsen, Lawritten, Lawriton - These may be less common misspellings or variations of the name.
7. De Lauritsen - A Frenchified version of the surname, often used by families of Scandinavian descent who adopted French forms after settling in French-speaking regions.
8. Van Lauritsen - A Dutch variation that includes "van," a common prefix in Dutch and Flemish surnames.
9. MacLauritsen - A Gaelicized version of the name, used by families of Scandinavian descent who adopted Irish names when settling in Scotland or Ireland.

Famous people with the last name Lauritsen

Notable individuals with the surname Lauritsen include:

1. Henrik Lauritsen (born 1967), Danish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for teams such as Brøndby IF and Ajax Amsterdam, winning multiple domestic titles and the UEFA Champions League.
2. Inger Christensen (1935–2009), a renowned Danish poet and novelist, best known for her works "Alfabet" and "Nordiska Kapitalismens Diktatur". She received several prestigious awards, including the Nordic Council Literature Prize.
3. Jørgen Lauritsen (1875–1960), a Danish track and field athlete who competed in the men's shot put at the 1900 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal. He also participated in the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 but did not win a medal there.
4. Leif Lauritsen (born 1952), a Danish actor who has appeared in numerous films and television series, including "Borgen" and "The Killing". He has received several awards for his performances, including the Robert Award for Best Supporting Actor.
5. Tove Lauritsen (born 1962), a Norwegian jazz singer who has collaborated with musicians such as Arild Andersen, Terje Rypdal, and Jan Garbarek. She has released several albums and received the Spellemannprisen award for Best Jazz Album in 2011.

Genealogical research on the last name Lauritsen

The Lauritsen surname originates from Scandinavia, specifically Denmark and Norway. It is derived from the given name 'Laurentius,' which means 'crowned with laurel.' The name became common among the Danes following the Viking Age, reflecting the influence of Christian saints named Laurentius.

The Lauritsen family can be traced back to medieval Denmark, where they were landowners and farmers. In Norway, the surname gained prominence in the provinces of Jutland and Trøndelag. Throughout the centuries, many Lauritsens emigrated from Scandinavia, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries, in search of better opportunities.

Notable Lauritsens include Niels Lauritsen (1875-1946), a Danish astronomer who discovered several asteroids; and Jens Peter Lauritzen (1863-1940), a Norwegian architect known for his contributions to Art Nouveau. Today, the surname is widely distributed across Scandinavian countries as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other nations where early Danish and Norwegian immigrants settled.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Lauritsen"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 28 July 2025

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