The Jensen website is an ongoing project of growing the family tree. The 
purpose is not only to add branches and relations, but to trace these branches 
and ancestors as far back in time as possible.
   The name "Jensen" was given to the family in 1826 when Jens Laursen and Ane 
Kristine Jensdater married and had there first child Jens Jensen. They had 
five children, the 4th being Christian Jensen (father of Johannes "John" 
Jensen). Prior to about 1850 the surname (last name) of the the father was not 
passed on to the next generation. Denmark and all of the Scandinavian 
countries used a form of patronymics. The given name of a father was used as a 
surname for each of the children. The son's used the father's given name and a 
suffix that meant "son" and the daughter's used the father's given name and a 
suffix meaning "daughter". Visit the link below marked-Danish Naming Patterns 
to get a better understanding of this unique system of naming people. It will 
also give a better insight how, many of the children of Christian Jensen and 
Johannes "John" Jensen got their given (first) and middle names.
   According to Danish records Christian Jensen and his wife were working and 
living at a poorhouse in January of 1881. This is probaly why their son, 
Johannes "John" Jensen emmigrated to America in 1889 to seek a better life. 
Once married in America in 1893, Johannes changed his name to John and added a 
middle name of Christian (his fathers name).