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The Hanson/Henson/Hansen surname in its various forms has its origins in those parts of Northern Europe where it was common to form a surname by adding -son or -sen to the individual's father's name. Originally the surname changed each generation but the practice of passing on fixed surnames spread gradually to everywhere except Iceland. Families also often had to adopt a fixed surname earlier than their closest relatives if they migrated to a region or country where this was required of them by the local administration.
English (Yorkshire and Lancashire): from the Middle English personal name Hann or Hand + son; see Hand 5. Irish: variant of Hampson . Americanized form (and a rare Swedish variant) of Swedish Hansson . Americanized form of Norwegian Danish Dutch or North German Hansen and Hanssen . Jewish (Ashkenazic): metronymic from the female personal name Hanna 6.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022