I am a Lenss and my sister does alot of genealogy research on this family. My branch originates from Germany for sure, and from the Schleswig-Holstein region. The family name is apparently as popular in Germany as Smith and Jones are in the US. I have often thought that my father's great uncle (my dad born 1909) or hsi great great uncle was a hessian and deserted. I have been unable to confirm that through my sisters research, but I am still encouraged to think that they may be relations.