Gustav Adolph Jensen
photo taken Nov 16, 1907
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
JENSEN FAMILY
-- Scandinavian Roots
We find the Jensen
name to be a Scandinavian patronymic which developed from the simple
statement "Son of Jens." "Jens" was a
personal name and is a variation of the common name John.
However, as Scandinavian
surnames were constantly changing with each generation and the systems
used were different from those of most of the other European countries, it
is much more difficult to trace direct family lineage.
Jensen is
an example of this, and if we simplify the fact that Jess Eriksen had a
son whom he called Peter this boy would then be known as Peter
Jenssen, perhaps we will then appreciate the difficulty of
genealogical research on Scandinavian surnames.
The JENSENS
have been widely recognized for their contributions to the world of art,
literature and culture. Johannes Wulhelm Jensen the
Danish lyric poet and novelist, who opposed the great George Brandes, was
awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, and several other Jensens
made their marks as musicians and composers.
Several spelling
variations exist for the Jensen surname including the older
form Jenssen and the modern Jenson and
Jenzen. Many surnames are subject to changes in spelling as
one generation follows another, but as this is also the case in basic
languages, it is quite understandable.
A Nicolas
Jenson who was born in the early part of 1400 holds the
distinction of having perfected the Roman type as we know it today.
This man was held in such high esteem that King Charles VII sent him to
work with Gutenburg (the man who invented movable type) in order to learn
the art of printing. It was this Nicolas Jenson
who created the first printing establishment in Venice in the year 1470.
No less than eight
grants of arms have been made to the Jensen name. All
of these were awarded in Denmark and the name spellings are similar, i.e.
Jensen. Two other grants of arms appear on the records
under the spelling of Jenssen. One of these was made
at Hambourg and the other at Holstein.
The coat of arms
illustrated shows a silver background on which is a left arm holding a
sword. The nobility of this family name appears to be confined to
grants bestowed upon it by the House of Oldenburg, which was the ruling
dynasty in Denmark at that time.
This article by
Charles Guarino and Albert Seddon appeared in the Fort Worth Press
on Thursday, November 30, 1967.
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