Andersen is a Danish and Norwegian patronymic surname meaning "son of Anders." The given name Anders itself is a Scandinavian form of Andrew, which derives from the Greek Andreas, meaning "manly" or "masculine." The name Andrew appears in the New Testament as one of the twelve apostles, the brother of Simon Peter. Saint Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece, and Romania, and his cult contributed to the widespread popularity of the name across Christian Europe.Distribution and VariantsAndersen is one of the most common surnames in Denmark, held by about 3.2% of the population. The root name Anders has also given rise to other Scandinavian patronymics such as Andreyev and Andreyeva in Russia, Andreu in Catalan, Andela and Andries in Dutch, and Andriessen as a Dutch patronymic. Variants like Andreasen, Andreassen, and Andresen, all with similar meanings, also appear in Denmark and Norway.Notable BearersUndoubtedly the most famous bearer is the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875), renowned for his fairy tales such as "The Little Mermaid" and "The Ugly Duckling." From the Wikipedia list, many other individuals with this surname have made significant contributions in fields like sports (ski jumper Alf Andersen), music (composer Aksel Frederik Andersen), and the arts (jeweler Adda Husted Andersen).Cultural SignificanceThe -sen suffix in Danish and Norwegian surnames directly indicates filiation, reflecting a long-standing tradition of patronymic naming that persists to this day, even as fixed hereditary surnames have become the norm. Names like Andersen thus serve as a window into Scandinavian family history and naming conventions.Meaning: Son of Anders (son of man/manly)Origin: Danish, NorwegianType: Patronymic surnameUsage regions: Denmark, Norway