Degen (surname)
Degen is a surname of Swiss, German or Croatian origin. There are numerous unrelated families sharing the name, which can originate in a number of given names beginning in Degen- ("hero"); compare the Degener surname, from the German given name Degenher. A family called Degen originally from Muotathal, Schwyz, rose to some prominence in the Swiss Confederacy in the 16th century. Members of the family were reeves in Riviera, Gaster, Blenio, Thurgau, and Landammann in March. This family was extinct in 1826. Notable people with the surname include: Carl Ferdinand Degen (1766–1825), Danish mathematician Árpád Degen (1866–1934), Hungarian biologist and botanist Hans Degen (1899–1971), German World War II general Ion Degen (1925–2017), Soviet and Israeli writer and physician. Michael Degen (1932–2022), German-Israeli actor Paul Degen (1941–2007), Swiss artist Silvije Degen (born 1942), Croatian politician Bob Degen (born 1944), American jazz pianist Bruce Degen (born 1945), American author and illustrator Sandra J. F. Degen (born c. 1955), American biochemist and molecular geneticist Jürgen Degen (born 1967), German footballer Philipp Degen (born 1983), Swiss footballer David Degen (born 1983), Swiss footballer References Surnames from given names German-language surnames