Petersen is a common

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, alt ...

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

, 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 sur ...

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

People

In arts and entertainment

* Adolf Dahm-Petersen, 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, ...

, Faroese writer and artist *

Ann Petersen Ann Petersen (22 June 1927 – 11 December 2003) was a Belgian actress. She was especially noted for her roles in ''Home Sweet Home'', '' Pauline & Paulette'', the children's serial ''Samson & Gert'', '' Captain Zeppos'', ''Wij, Heren van Ziche ...

, Belgian actress *

Chris Petersen Christopher Scott Petersen (born October 13, 1964) is a former American football coach who was most recently the head coach at the University of Washington. Previously the head coach for eight seasons at Boise State University, Petersen guided ...

(born 1963), American child actor *

Devon Petersen Devon Petersen (born 4 June 1986) is a South African professional darts player and a pundit for Sky Sports. He has qualified for the PDC World Championship on seven occasions with his best result coming in 2014, 2019 and 2021 when he reached th ...

(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, Wiscons ...

, 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 r ...

, 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 music of Broken Spindles ranged from instrumental electronic songs to sparse piano pieces to rock-infl ...

, bass guitarist *

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

, Danish actor *

Josef Petersen Josef Petersen (16 September 1881 – 22 November 1973) was a Danish author, known for many novels with historical motifs, often ancient or medieval, written from 1910 to 1949. Josef Petersen was the son of a vicar and was a maternal grandson of ...

, 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 William Paul Petersen (born September 23, 1945) is an American actor, singer, novelist, and activist. Petersen first rose to prominence in the 1950s playing Jeff Stone on ''The Donna Reed Show'', and transitioned to a singing career in the 19 ...

, American movie actor, singer, novelist, and activist *

Robert E. Petersen Robert Einar "Pete" Petersen (September 10, 1926 – March 23, 2007) was an American publisher who founded the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1994.Hevesi, Dennis (March 27, 2007)Robert Petersen, Publisher of Auto Buff Magazines, Dies at 80.''Ne ...

, 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 later creating the acclaimed and influential horror role-playing game ''Call ...

, 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 and producer. He is best known for his role as Gil Grissom in the CBS drama series ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' (2000–2015), for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Aw ...

, American actor *

Wolfgang Petersen Wolfgang Petersen (14 March 1941 – 12 August 2022) was a German film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for the World War II submarine warfare film ''Das Boot'' (1981). His other films include ''The Ne ...

(1941–2022), German film director

In government and politics

* Alicia O'Shea Petersen, Australian activist * Alfonso Petersen, 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 ...

, member of the United States House of Representatives * Carl Wilhelm Petersen (1868–1933), German politician and first mayor of Hamburg * Chap (John Chapman) Petersen, American, Virginia politician *

Cynthia Petersen Cynthia Petersen is a Canadian lawyer and judge. Petersen has been a judge for the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since June 2017. Before becoming a judge, Petersen was the Discrimination and Harassment Counsel for the Law Society of Upper Can ...

, Canadian judge * Elsebeth Kock-Petersen, Danish politician * Ewa Hedkvist Petersen, Swedish politician *

Flo Bjelke-Petersen Florence Isabel Bjelke-Petersen (née Gilmour; 11 August 1920 – 20 December 2017) was an Australian politician and writer. She was a member of the Australian Senate from 1981 to 1993, and was the wife of the longest-serving Premier of Queens ...

, Australian politician and writer *

George Petersen Wilfred George Petersen (13 May 1921 – 28 March 2000) was an Australian politician, affiliated with the Labor Party and elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. Early life and background Petersen was born in Childer ...

, 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 Hans Christian Petersen ...

, Norwegian politician * Harald Petersen, Danish politician *

Hjalmar Petersen Hjalmar Petersen (January 2, 1890March 29, 1968) was an American politician who served as the List of Governors of Minnesota, 23rd Governor of Minnesota. Background Hjalmar Petersen was born in Eskildstrup, Denmark to Lauritz and Anna Petersen, ...

, 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 re ...

, Norwegian diplomat and politician *

Joh Bjelke-Petersen Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen (13 January 191123 April 2005), known as Joh Bjelke-Petersen, was a conservative Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, during ...

, Australian politician *

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 * 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 sing ...

Zambian singer and song writer.

In military

Danny J. Petersen Danny John Petersen (March 11, 1949 – January 9, 1970) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War. Biography Petersen joined the ...

, 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 For ...

, United States Navy admiral and aviator *

Frank E. Petersen Frank Emmanuel Petersen Jr. (March 2, 1932 – August 25, 2015) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. He was the first African-American Marine Corps aviator and the first African-American Marine Corps general. Petersen retired fr ...

, 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

Mark E. Petersen Mark Edward Petersen (November 7, 1900 – January 11, 1984) was an American news editor and religious leader who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1944 un ...

, member of

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church) In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Quorum of the Twelve, the Council of the Twelve Apostles, or simply the Twelve) is one of the governing bodies in the church h ...

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 Pe ...

, founder of Methodism in Norway

In sport

Alviro Petersen Alviro Nathan Petersen (born 25 November 1980) is a former South African international cricketer who played domestic cricket in South Africa for the Highveld Lions and in England for Lancashire. A right-handed batsman, he has represented South Af ...

, South African cricketer * Cal Petersen (born 1994), professional ice hockey goaltender *

(born 1964), American football coach *

Ike Petersen Kenneth A. "Ike" Petersen (July 8, 1909 – August 6, 1995) was an American football running back who played two seasons in the National Football League with the Chicago Cardinals and Detroit Lions. He played college football at Gonzaga University ...

, American football player *

Johannes Petersen Johannes Petersen (unknown — unknown), was a Danish chess player, Danish Chess Championship winner (1920). Biography In the 1920s and 1930s Johannes Petersen was one of Danish leading chess players. In 1920, in Aalborg he won unofficial Danish ...

, Danish chess master * Lou Petersen, New Zealand dual-code rugby international * Matthew Petersen, Australian rugby player *

Morten Petersen Morten Roald Petersen (born 27 May 1978) is a Danish retired football central defender who spent most of his career with Lyngby Boldklub. He has played several games for the Danish Under-21 and Under-19 national teams. Petersen began his pr ...

, Danish football player *

Nils Petersen Nils Petersen (; born 6 December 1988) is a German professional association football, footballer who plays as a forward (association football), forward for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg and the Germany national football team, Germany national team. ...

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

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

, football player *

Thyge Petersen Thyge Alexander Petersen (28 May 1902 – 1 January 1964) was a Danish light heavyweight amateur boxer who competed in the 1920s. He won the European championship in 1925 and 1930. Biography Thyge Petersen was born on 28 May 1902 in Hors ...

, Danish boxer

In other fields

* Anders Petersen (disambiguation) * Carl Petersen (disambiguation) * Grant Petersen, American bicycle company owner * Jack Petersen (disambiguation) *

Johan Carl Christian Petersen Johan Carl Christian Petersen (28 June 1813 – 24 June 1880) was a Danish seaman and interpreter who participated in several expeditions in Northern Canada and Greenland in search of the missing British explorer John Franklin. Early life Pet ...

, Danish seaman, interpreter, and Arctic explorer *

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

, 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 of the University of Tennessee. He was the editor-in-chief of the journal ''Mycologia'' from 1986 to 1990. See also *:Taxa named by Ron Petersen References< ...

(born 1934), American mycologist with the standard author abbreviation "R.H.Petersen" *

Sophie Petersen Sophie Clausine Petersen (1885–1965) was a Danish geographer, geologist, educator, photographer and writer. While she contributed much to teaching methods at the gymnasium (i.e. high school) level, especially in connection with requirements fo ...

(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 critiq ...

, a 1974 Australian drama film *

Petersen Automotive Museum The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of the world's largest automotive museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a nonprofit organization specializi ...

* 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 is n ...

, famous for its special properties in graph theory