Petersen is a common Danish

patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic. Patronymics are used, b ...

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

, meaning ''"son of

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

"''. There are other spellings. Petersen may refer to:

People

In arts and entertainment

Adolf Dahm-Petersen Adolf Dahm-Petersen (2 January 1856 – 29 January 1922) was a Norway, Norwegian voice specialist and Vocal pedagogy, singing teacher. Adolf Dahm-Petersen, son of Johan Frode Petersen (1819–1913) and Helena Thalia P. née Dahm (1828–1862), ...

, Norwegian voice specialist * Anja Petersen, German operatic soprano and university lecturer *

Anker Eli Petersen Anker Eli Petersen (born 7 June 1959 in Tvøroyri) is a Faroese writer and artist. He is most known for his many Faroe Islands postage stamp designs under the name Anker Eli. Many of his stamps depict scenes from Norse mythology, Christianity, o ...

, Faroese writer and artist * Ann Petersen, Belgian actress *

Chris Petersen Christopher Scott Petersen (born October 13, 1964) is an American former college football coach. He was the head coach for eight seasons at Boise State University; Petersen guided the Broncos to two BCS bowl wins in the 2007 and 2010 Fiesta ...

(born 1963), American child actor *

Devon Petersen Devon Petersen (born 4 June 1986) is a South African professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He won his first PDC European Tour title at the 2020 German Darts Championship. He reached his first ma ...

(born 1986), South African darts player *

Elmer Petersen Elmer Paul Petersen (September 4, 1928 – August 5, 2020) was an American sculptor who worked in metal. His most prominent artwork is the World's Largest Buffalo in Jamestown, North Dakota. Petersen lived and worked in Galesville, Wisconsi ...

, American artist *

Gustaf Munch-Petersen Gustaf Munch-Petersen (February 18, 1912 – April 2, 1938) was a Danish writer and painter. He wrote surreal prose poems, considered groundbreaking in his time, which have inspired later writers. Biography Gustaf Munch-Petersen grew up in a ri ...

, Danish writer and painter *

Joel Petersen Broken Spindles was a band solely consisting of Joel Petersen of Omaha, Nebraska, who also played bass, guitar and keyboards in the Faint. The band's music ranged from instrumental electronic songs to sparse piano pieces to rock-influenced pop ...

, bass guitarist *

John Hahn-Petersen John Hahn-Petersen (4 November 1930 in Frederiksberg – 4 January 2006) was a Denmark, Danish theatre, TV and movie actor. He made his debut in 1955 and starred in a number of productions, including ''Matador (Danish TV series), Matador'', ''Lan ...

, Danish actor * Josef Petersen, Danish novelist *

Patrick Petersen Patrick Petersen (born August 9, 1966) is an American actor best known for his role as Michael Fairgate in the television drama ''Knots Landing''. He played the role from episode one on December 27, 1979, to May 16, 1991, reprising the part for ' ...

, American actor *

Paul Petersen Paul Petersen (born September 23, 1945) is an American actor, singer, novelist and activist. He rose to prominence in the 1950s playing Jeff Stone on '' The Donna Reed Show''. Petersen pursued a singing career in the 1960s. In the 1980s and 1 ...

, American movie actor, singer, novelist, and activist * Robert E. Petersen, publisher, auto museum founder *

Robert Storm Petersen Robert Storm Petersen (19 September 1882 – 6 March 1949) was a Danish cartoonist, writer, animator, illustrator, painter and humorist. He is known almost exclusively by his pen name Storm P. Biography He was the son of a butcher ...

, Danish cartoonist, writer, animator, illustrator, painter and humorist *

Sandy Petersen Carl Sanford Joslyn "Sandy" Petersen (born September 16, 1955) is an American game designer. He worked at Chaosium, contributing to the development of ''RuneQuest'' and creating the acclaimed and influential horror role-playing game Call of Cthul ...

, American game designer *

Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen Jörn-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen (born 10 March 1960) is a German keyboard player, producer and composer. He was the keyboardist of the band Nena and co-wrote their world famous hit "99 Luftballons" as well as another great hit entitled "Irgendwie ...

, German musician *

William Petersen William Louis Petersen (born February 21, 1953) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Gil Grissom in the CBS drama thriller series ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' (2000–2015), for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award an ...

, American actor *

Wolfgang Petersen Wolfgang Petersen (14 March 1941 – 12 August 2022) was a German film and television director, screenwriter, and producer. His international breakthrough was the 1981 war film (1981), which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Directo ...

(1941–2022), German film director

In government and politics

Alicia O'Shea Petersen Alicia Teresa Jane O'Shea Petersen ( McShane; 2 July 1862 – 22 January 1923) was an Australian suffragist and social reformer. She was both the first woman to stand for the Parliament of Tasmania and the first woman to stand for a Tasmanian se ...

, Australian activist *

Alfonso Petersen Alfonso Petersen Farah (born 2 February 1961) is a Mexican physician and politician who served as municipal president of Guadalajara, Jalisco, from 2007 to 2009. Petersen studied medicine at the LaSalle University and the National Autonomous Univ ...

, Mayor of Guadalajara, Mexico *

Andrew Petersen Andrew Nicholas Petersen (March 10, 1870 – September 28, 1953) was a patternmaker and foundry company executive who served as a U.S. Representative from New York. Early life Born near Thisted, Denmark, Petersen immigrated to the United S ...

, member of the United States House of Representatives *

Carl Wilhelm Petersen Carl Wilhelm Petersen (1 January 1868 – 6 November 1933) was a German lawyer, politician for the German Democratic Party (German abbr.: DDP) and List of mayors of Hamburg, First Mayor of Hamburg (1924 – 29 and 1932 – 33). Petersen ...

(1868–1933), German politician and first mayor of Hamburg * Chap (John Chapman) Petersen, American, Virginia politician * Cynthia Petersen, Canadian judge * Elsebeth Kock-Petersen, Danish politician * Ewa Hedkvist Petersen, Swedish politician * Flo Bjelke-Petersen, Australian politician and writer * George Petersen, Australian politician *

Hans Christian Petersen Hans Christian Petersen (11 August 1793 – 26 September 1862) was a Norwegian politician and served as the ''de facto'' prime minister of Norway during the personal union of Sweden-Norway from 1858 to 1861. Early life Petersen grew up in t ...

, Norwegian politician *

Harald Petersen Harald Petersen (1893–1970) was a Danish politician who served as the minister of justice and twice minister of defence in the 1940s and 1950s. Early life and education Petersen was born in Store Damme, Møn, on 27 October 1893. His parents w ...

, Danish politician *

Hjalmar Petersen Hjalmar Petersen (January 2, 1890March 29, 1968) was an American journalist and politician who served as the List of Governors of Minnesota, 23rd Governor of Minnesota from 1936 to 1937, succeeding the late Floyd Olson. Background Hjalmar Peter ...

, American politician *

Jan Petersen Jan Petersen (born 11 June 1946, in Oslo) is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party. Petersen was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus in 1981, and was re-elected on six occasions. He had previously served as a deputy ...

, Norwegian diplomat and politician *

Joh Bjelke-Petersen Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen (13 January 191123 April 2005) was an Australian politician and farmer who served as premier of Queensland between 1968 and 1987, for almost 20 years, as state leader of the National Party (earlier known as the C ...

, Australian politician * Kim E. Petersen, (born 1956) American security and counter-terrorism expert *

Marita Petersen Marita Petersen () (née Johansen (); 21 October 1940 – 26 August 2001) was the first and to date only female Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands and the first female speaker of the Løgting (Parliament). She was elected to the Løgting in 1988 ...

, Faroese politician * Matthew S. Petersen, U.S. Federal Election Commission member *

Niels Helveg Petersen Niels Lolk Helveg Petersen (; informally Niels Helveg; 17 January 1939 – 3 June 2017) was a Danish politician. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 2000, having previously held the role of Minister for Economic Affairs between 1988 ...

, Danish politician * Olga Petersen (born 1982), German politician * P. Walter Petersen, American politician *

Søren Jessen-Petersen Søren Jessen-Petersen (born 1945) is a Danish lawyer and civil servant. He was named Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Kosovo and head of UNMIK on 16 July 2004. He held the position until the end of June 2006. ...

, Danish United Nations official

In music

Petersen Zagaze Mukubesa Mundia (born September 28, 1982), better known by his stage name Petersen Zagaze is a Zambian Reggae and Afro Dancehall recording artist and record producer from Lusaka, Zambia. He initially gained major recognition after his third singl ...

Zambian singer and songwriter.

In military

* Danny J. Petersen, American Medal of Honor recipient *

Forrest S. Petersen Forrest Silas Petersen (May 16, 1922 – December 8, 1990), ( VADM, USN), was a United States Navy aviator and test pilot. He was one of twelve pilots who flew the North American X-15, an experimental spaceplane jointly operated by the Air Force ...

, United States Navy admiral and aviator * Frank E. Petersen, retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general * Sigmund R. Petersen, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) rear admiral and fourth Director of the NOAA Corps

In religion

Johann Wilhelm Petersen Johann Wilhelm Petersen (1 July 1649 in Osnabrück – 31 January 1727 in Zerbst) was a German theologian, mystic, and Millennialist. Johann Wilhelm Petersen grew up in Lübeck and studied theology at the Katharineum in Lübeck, as well as ...

, German theologian, mystic, and Millennialist. * Johanna Eleonora Petersen, German theologian, exponent of Radical Pietism * Mark E. Petersen, member of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church) *

Ole Peter Petersen Ole Peter Petersen (April 28, 1822 – December 20, 1901) was a Norwegian-American clergyman. He is credited as the founder of Methodism in Norway and co-founder of Norwegian and Danish Methodism in the United States. Biography Ole Peter ...

, founder of Methodism in Norway

In sport

Alviro Petersen Alviro Nathan Petersen (born 25 November 1980) is a South African former cricketer who played for the Highveld Lions and for Lancashire until 2016 when he was banned from cricket for two years by Cricket South Africa after his involvement in ma ...

, South African cricketer *

Cal Petersen Calvin Louis Petersen (born October 19, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected ...

(born 1994), professional ice hockey goaltender *

(born 1964), American football coach * Ike Petersen, American football player * Johannes Petersen, Danish chess master * Lou Petersen, New Zealand dual-code rugby international * Matthew Petersen, Australian rugby player * Michael Petersen (baseball) (born 1994), American baseball player * Morten Petersen, Danish football player *

Nils Petersen Nils Petersen (; born 6 December 1988) is a German former professional association football, footballer who played as a forward (association football), forward. He appeared in the 2016 Summer Olympics and remains the first and only German footbal ...

, German football player *

Sara Petersen (badminton) Sara Runesten Petersen (born 8 May 1975) is a Denmark-born female badminton player from New Zealand. Career Petersen competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the mixed doubles with partner Daniel Shirley. They defeated Philippe B ...

, New Zealand badminton player * Sara Petersen (hurdler), Danish 400 metres hurdler *

Ted Petersen Ted Petersen (born February 7, 1955) is an American former professional football offensive lineman. He played for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts. Petersen ...

, football player * Thyge Petersen, Danish boxer

In other fields

* Anders Petersen (disambiguation) * Carl Petersen (disambiguation) * Grant Petersen, American bicycle company owner * Jack Petersen (disambiguation) * Johan Carl Christian Petersen, Danish seaman, interpreter, and Arctic explorer * Johanne Christine Petersen, Danish educator *

Julius Petersen Julius Peter Christian Petersen (16 June 1839 in Sorø, West Zealand – 5 August 1910 in Copenhagen) was a Denmark, Danish mathematician. His contributions to the field of mathematics led to the birth of graph theory. Biography Petersen's in ...

, Danish mathematician *

, Literary scholar and university professor * Rodney L. Petersen, American scholar of history, ethics, and religious conflict *

Ron Petersen Ronald H. Petersen, more commonly known as Ron Petersen, born in 1934, is a mycologist and professor emeritus at the University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (or The University of Tennessee; UT; UT Knoxville; or colloq ...

(born 1934), American mycologist with the standard author abbreviation "R.H.Petersen" * Sophie Petersen (1885–1965), Danish geographer

Other uses

Petersen (film) ''Petersen'' is a 1974 Australian drama film directed by Tim Burstall. ''Petersen'' was a box office success and received wide distribution in the UK and US under the title ''Jock Petersen''. ''Petersen'' is first and foremost a sobering critiqu ...

, a 1974 Australian drama film *

Petersen Automotive Museum The Petersen Automotive Museum is an automobile museum located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of the world's largest collections, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a nonprofit organiza ...

* Petersen Bay, Greenland *

Petersen graph In the mathematical field of graph theory, the Petersen graph is an undirected graph with 10 vertices and 15 edges. It is a small graph that serves as a useful example and counterexample for many problems in graph theory. The Petersen graph i ...

, famous for its special properties in graph theory * Petersen family, a particular family of seven graphs transformable to each other via Δ–Y or Y–Δ transforms