The Haens Family Name

Some records give Hans; others give Haens. Both point to the same German family name. The name is generally explained as “A descendant of Hans”. The extra “e” in Haens is a spelling habit rather than a different name. Spellings drifted because names were written down by ear in parish books, tax rolls and passenger lists. You may also find the name written Haense, Hens and Haensse.

A coat of arms belongs to a particular family line rather than to everyone named Haens, so the heraldry linked to Hans is a starting point, not an automatic right. Want more than a summary? See the Haens family name pack.