Meaning & History
Addens is a Dutch patronymic surname meaning "son of Adde." The root Ade 2 is originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element adal meaning "noble." As a patronymic, Addens follows the common Dutch naming pattern where the suffix -ens (like -s) indicates descent from a given name.
Etymology and Formation
The surname Addens derives from the personal name Adde, which is a pet form of adal-based Germanic compound names such as Adolf or Adelbert. The sense of "noble birth or character" carried by the root element lent status to the original given name.
Distribution
While predominantly Dutch, the surname occurs sporadically in contiguous regions where Dutch naming conventions have spread, including Frisian areas and parts of northern Germany.
Related Names
Sources: Forebears — addens