Surname Boudewijns - Meaning and Origin

Boudewijns: What does the surname Boudewijns mean?

The surname Boudewijns is of Dutch origin and is a patronymic, derived from the given name "Boudewijn". The usage of the surname could indicate that the original bearer of the name had a father or ancestor with the given name Boudewijn. It's also possible that the given name Boudewijn is derived from a Germanic name "Bodo" which is derived from "bold" and "wig", meaning "bold battle".

Presently, Boudewijns is a fairly common surname in the Netherlands, particularly in Limburg region in the Southeast of the Netherlands. In Limburg, Boudewijns had traditionally been an important noble family, descended from the first Count of Loon. The family was recorded in numerous records of the Middle Ages, including a charter dated 1170 when one Lamberd of Boudewijns is mentioned as a witness.

Uncommon spellings of Boudewijns include Boudwijn or Boudwijns. The Boudwijn spelling has become more popular over the years due to its convenience of using one less letter. Nowadays, Boudewijns remains one of the most common surnames in the Netherlands, and the Dutch language is its native language.

Boudewijns: Where does the name Boudewijns come from?

The last name Boudewijns is most common in the – Dutch speaking – regions of Belgium, the Netherlands, and to a lesser extent France. The last name is particularly common in the Dutch province of Flemish Brabant, with a concentration of households with the name Boudewijns being found in small towns like Asse, Dilbeek, and Dilwerart. Other locations where the last name is common include the Belgian cities of Gent, Bruges, and Antwerp, as well as bordering Dutch cities like Roosendaal and Eindhoven.

The surname is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages in the southern part of the Netherlands. During this era, surnames began to appear in the region, primarily based on an ancestor’s place of origin, occupation, or a physical characteristic. In this case, the name Boudewijns was likely derived from a personal name, such as Boudewijn.

Today, most Dutch citizens with the last name Boudewijns are descendants of families who have lived in the same area for centuries, with some ties to the original Flemish roots of the name. As both Belgium and the Netherlands are members of the European Union, citizens of both countries are relatively free to move between the two nations, leading to a subtle expansion of the surname among European cities and nations.

Variations of the surname Boudewijns

The surname Boudewijns is a Dutch patronymic surname formed from the given name "Boudewijn", a variant of "Balduin". As a Dutch surname, it is most commonly spelled as "Boudewijns" but other variations can also be seen, including "Boudewijnsz", "Bodewijns", "Boudeweyns", and "Boudewyns". It can also be written in the Dutch spelling of "Boudewijns" or the French spelling of "Boudouin".

The surname Boudewijns has many variants and spellings. Variants include "Bodewijns", "Boudeweyns", "Boudouin", and "Boudewyns". The spelling variants of the name can be divided into two classes: as "Baudouin" and with a double "n" after the last syllable, as "Boudouin" and "Boudewijns". The extra "n" is usually dropped as people migrated to other countries and the name began to be written in different languages.

The surname Boudewijns is also found in other European countries and the Americas, often with different spellings and spelling variations, such as "Bauduinc", "Bodvinck", "Bodinck", and "Bauduin". This is due to spelling variations that occur over time and to the different languages spoken by individuals of the same family. In addition, surnames sometimes vary based on the country in which a person lives.

In the United States, individuals bearing the surname may have also adopted various surnames, such as "Boudin" or "Boudoin".

In some cases, individuals with the surname have anglicized their surname and created alternative spellings, such as "Bowdwin" or "Bodwin".

Variations of the surname are typically seen among individuals belonging to different family branches that have separated over time. For example, a branch of the Boudewijns family may be found in France, while another branch may be found in Germany. This may be due to migration and the adoption of local customs.

Famous people with the name Boudewijns

• Tim Boudewijns: Professional footballer for NAC Breda in the Eredivisie.
• Jan Boudewijns: Dutch excavator, restorer and antique dealer.
• Marijke Boudewijns: Dutch visual artist and sculptor.
• Dirk Boudewijns: Former professional cyclist.
• An Boudewijns: Dutch alpine skier.
• Joe Boudewijns: Belgian light middleweight professional boxer.
• Cindy Boudewijns: Dutch hurdling athlete.
• Stella Boudewijns: Dutch road and track cyclist.
• Tom Boudewijns: Belgian professional footballer for K.A.A. Gent in the Belgian First Division
• Roel Boudewijns: Director of the Dutch centre for environmental law.

Other surnames

Boudewijn